• ARISTOBULUS III (King HEROD's 17-year old brother-in-law) becomes High Priest in Jerusalem.

• HANANEL becomes Jewish High Priest in Jerusalem.

King HEROD defeats the Nabatean Arabs and annexes Esbus.

Earthquake shakes Jerusalem and destroys Qumran (Mesad Hasidim, 'Stronghold of the Pious').
September 2: Near Actium (off North Western Greece) – HEROD's Roman patron MARK ANTONY is defeated (with CLEOPATRA who escapes) by Admiral AGRIPPA for OCTAVIAN (AUGUSTUS) in a great naval battle. (AUGUSTUS later founds a city near this naval encounter named Nicopolis, 'city of victory').

OCTAVIAN adds Gaza, Gadara, Hippus, and some coastal cities, to HEROD's territory, after confirming his kingship.
• JESHUA (Aramaic version of Joshua, son of PHABES) becomes High Priest in Jerusalem.
In Palestine – A Sabbath year for the land.

In Rome – OCTAVIAN celebrates his victory at Actium (31BC) with a great triumphal procession.
In Dacia – MARCUS CRASSUS of Rome's great Licinian family leads a military campaign against the Dacians (north of the Danube).
In Palestine – HEROD executes his wife MARIAMNE in a fit of jealousy stoked by his sister SALOME.

January 16: In Rome – OCTAVIAN, at a meeting with the Roman Senate, shrewdly renounces all his powers and territories and hands control over them to the Senators and the Roman people.
In response, the Senate grants him the right to stand for the consulship, and allow a fellow consul to put forward his candidacy alongside him, giving the appearance that the Roman Republic had been restored.
The Senate also grants OCTAVIAN an 'extended' province of Gaul (France), Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus for ten years under his control (areas containing most of Rome's military legions).
In Egypt – An earthquake causes damage to a number of buildings,

In Eastern India – The Andhra dynasty replaces the Kanva dynasty, and rules.
In Rome – Imperator CAESAR AUGUSTUS becomes Consul for the eighth time and his partner TITUS STATILIUS TAURUS becomes Consul for the second time.
Politician and poet GAIUS CORNELIUS GALLUS dies (b.70 BC).
In Athens – DIOTEIMUS ALAIEUS is one of the city's Archons.

• SIMON (son of BOETHUS) becomes Jewish High Priest in Jerusalem.
A Sabbath Year of the land in Palestine.
In Rome – Unease of the increasing autocracy of OCTAVIAN is neutralised by him persuading the Senate to make him a tribune, a representative protector of the Roman Republic.

In Jerusalem – HEROD the Great (president of the Olympic Games) begins a complete remodeling of the Jewish Second Temple, including the fort Baris which he renames Antonia after MARK ANTONY.
King HEROD now takes control of the Jewish High Priest's vestments.
Cities of Panias and Gaulanitis are placed under his rule and he rebuilds Samaria (Shomron) and names it 'Sebaste' (Greek form of 'Augustus') after OCTAVIAN.

In Rome – OCTAVIAN formally takes the name AUGUSTUS ('revered'/'sacred'), and changes the fixed speaking order in the Senate to allow random discussion. He also imposes fines for non-attendance, and limits compulsory Senate meetings to twice a month. (Baker 2006:166).
AUGUSTUS negotiates a treaty with Parthia and the captured Roman military standards are returned. (See 55 BC). The standards are brought back to Rome as a victory, placed in the temple of Mars the Avenger, and a triumphal arch is dedicated.

May 30: In Rome – At the top of the Aventine hill (by arrangement of AUGUSTUS) priests receive the First Fruits from the citizens, for distribution during the Games, and in return distribute to them sulphur, tar and torches to be burnt by every citizen in a private cleansing ritual before the Games (reputedly held only every 110 years).
May 31 to June 3: In Rome – The 'Games of the Ages' is first celebrated in three days of visually impressive sacrifices at the city's temples – to Diana (goddess of fertility and childbirth), to Mother Earth (goddess of vegetation, regrowth and bountiful produce) by sacrifice of a pregnant sow, to Apollo (god of peace and art), and to Jupiter (Rome's patron god), rather than the gods of the underworld previously celebrated. (Baker 2006:179).
This is then followed by seven days of chariot races, Latin and Greek theatre tragedies and comedies, stunt riding, animal hunting and mock battles. On the last day a special song is presented to the citizens by two choirs dressed in white (representing victory); a choir of twenty-seven boys , and a choir of twenty-seven girls.

In Palestine – a Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.

An edict by AUGUSTUS confirms the right of Jews to send their shekel to the Jerusalem Temple.

In Palestine – a Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.

Some have speculated that a planetary conjunction of Jupiter (signifying 'king') and Saturn (signifying 'Palestine') was the "star" of Bethlehem seen by the Wisemen from the East, to move them to travel to Jerusalem (over more than a year, according to Herod's calculation for his mass infanticide) in search of Israel's new-born king, but this is unlikely for the following reason.

End June/Begin July: In Jerusalem – ZACHARIAH the priest is visited in the Temple during his priestly service by the angel GABRIEL regarding the coming conception and birth of his son, JOHN (the Baptist).
c.December: The same GABRIEL informs MARY (virgin daughter of HELI, and the granddaughter of MATTHAT) that she will conceive by the power of God, and that her aged cousin ELIZABETH (wife of Zechariah the priest) is already six-months pregnant.

February: A massing of three planets occurs in the constellation Pisces, when Jupiter, Mars and Saturn come within 8 degrees of each other, which some suspect may have been the Magi's 'star'. (This event occurs only once every 800 years, approximately, and would have had great significance to the astronomers/astrologers of the time). (See: March, 5 BC).

March: Chinese records indicate a nova at this date, in southern Aquila, which some suspect may have been the star of the Magi but this does not explain the conclusion of the Magi about its meaning.

c.End March: JOHN THE BAPTIST's birth; his father ZECHARIAH is healed of his dumbness when he asserts the child's name as given by the angel, and he is filled with the Spirit and prophesies about his child.
c.April: JOSEPH, engaged to the young virgin MARY (Mariamne), finds that she is pregnant and being righteous decides to (privately) legally end their engagement to marry, but is then told in a dream by God's angel –

Late September: MARY, daughter of HELI of the tribe of Judah, gives birth to JESUS in a stable in a cave behind the Bethlehem inn.

Magi (probably Zoroastrian) react to an astrological sign of the birth of a Jewish king and set out for Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews. (Catacomb depictions of these Magi show them in Persian clothing).

c.Year end: Magi from the East arrive at HEROD's court in Jerusalem to honour a new-born Jewish king, but are redirected through the Scripture prophecy in Micah 5:2 to Bethlehem.
They visit child JESUS in a Bethlehem house, leave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh;
Warned in a dream, the Magi return to their land without informing HEROD. (Matt.2:12).
Warned in a dream, JOSEPH evacuates MARY and the child JESUS to Egypt (Matt.2:13), probably financed by the Magi's gifts.

Jerusalem – To protect his dynasty, King HEROD orders the killing of all boy children under two-years-old in the Bethlehem district, according when the Magi's 'star' had appeared (Matt.2:16; Jer.31:15). This act of Herod is consistent with his brutal behaviour in March the following year a few weeks before his death.

March 13: King HEROD removes MATTHIAS as High Priest for possible complicity in the destruction of the great golden eagle which HEROD had placed over the main entrance to the Jerusalem temple.
In Jericho, near King Herod's residence – The two rabbis, JUDAS and MATTHIAS, who incited destruction of the golden eagle, and at least 40 of their disciples who had carried it out, are burned alive. This night there is an eclipse of the moon (Josephus Ant.17.6).
• HEROD appoints JOAZAR as High Priest with popular support.

c.End March or early April: King HEROD the Great dies, five days after executing his own son ANTIPATER (first child of his first wife, DORIS).

Various Jewish factions revolt, but order is restored by the Roman legate of Syria VARUS who takes command of Judea, Samaria and Galilee, crucifying thousands and selling many into slavery.
Rome re-establishes governance and divides HEROD's kingdom among his sons:

In Judaea – JOSEPH returns with MARY and child JESUS from Egypt, but after hearing that ARCHELAUS' rules in Judaea he is warned in a dream and settles in their hometown Nazareth in Galilee instead of Bethlehem (Mat.2:19-22). (See March, 3 BC)
In the Jordan Valley, near the Dead Sea – The Qumran settlement is rebuilt and occupied.
• ELEAZAR (son of BOETHUS) becomes High Priest.

c.March: In Jerusalem – HEROD's son ARCHELAUS kills 3000 Jews in the Temple and surrounding area at Passover who resist his rule (Jos. Wars. 2.6.2). He travels to Rome to be formally awarded rule over Judea.
While he is away resentment against Roman and Herodian authorities boils over into anarchy. Various Jewish would-be-kings exploit Jewish nationalism and cause chaos.
Pentecost: Judaea is 'full of robberies'. This is probably the time referred to by Josephus when ATHRONGES, a false Jewish Messiah, and his four brothers caused much violence and took many lives (Josephus Ant. 17.278-284). Many soldiers and civilians are killed and buildings burnt, including the Temple's cloisters.
Roman administrator VARUS of Syria re-establishes peace and crucifies 2000 of the worst offenders (Jos. Ant. 17.10; Wars 2,4,3), and confiscates about 400 talents from the Temple treasury (Jos. Wars. 2,3).
• JESHUA (son of SEE) becomes Jewish High Priest.

September 11: Date for the birth of JESUS according to ROY A. REINHOLD of the Messianic-Judaism sect, using the false equidistant-letter-skip method of abusing Holy Scripture for 'Bible Codes', and so placing the Christ's conception as 13 December 4 BC/BCE.

In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath year for the land.

Caesar AUGUSTUS issues a decree permitting all Jews within the Roman Empire to follow their own customs: that is – meet in synagogues; send money to Jerusalem; be exempt from any civic activity that would violate their sabbath or their consciences. (Jos. Ant.16:162-5).
"Caesar Augustus, pontifex maximus, holding the tribunician power, proclaims:

Jews comprise about ten-percent of the population of the Roman Empire.
In Germania – Roman General TIBERIUS, under order of Emperor AUGUSTUS, quells revolts (1–5).
In Rome – GAIUS CAESAR and LUCIUS AEMILIUS PAULLUS are appointed as consuls.
In Athens – AREIUS PAIANEIUS becomes Archon.

In Germania – Five German tribes are unified by MARBOD, King of the Marcomanni. The unification of these tribes represents a direct threat to Rome in the area that will later become Silesia and Saxony.
In Rome – The rule of Emperor AUGUSTUS is renewed for a ten-year period.
LUCIUS AELIUS LAMIA and MARCUS VALERIUS MESSALLA MESSALLINUS are appointed as consuls
In Athens – MENNEAS becomes Archon.

In Rome – Emperor Caesar AUGUSTUS summons TIBERIUS to Rome, and names him as his heir and future emperor.

In Rome: A young senator, EGNATIUS RUFUS, insists on standing as an independent candidate for consulship, with popular support.
But he is tried and executed for 'conspiracy', because his candidacy was not approved by AUGUSTUS and he refused to withdraw his nomination. (Baker 2006:167).

The (hybrid) 'Fourth Beast' of Daniel 7:7 has now fully arrived, with –

annual salary of a Roman soldier is now fixed at 900 sesterces, with the promise of a pension of 12,000 sesterces upon retirement from the army. (Minimum subsistence for a peasant family is estimated at 500 sesterces per annum about this time). The Roman army is estimated to now consume half the total annual budget of the Roman Empire.

• JOAZAR (son of BOETHUS) becomes High Priest in Jerusalem.
King ARCHELAUS antagonises his Jewish subjects and they appeal to Rome.
SIMON the Essene interprets ARCHELAUS' dream. He is deposed accordingly, by Rome, and exiled to Gaul.

is annexed by Emperor AUGUSTUS and becomes part of the Roman province of Syria.

JUDAS the Galilean (Judas of Gamala), with ZADOK the Pharisee, found the Zealots (a theocratic-nationalist sect) and revolt against the Roman tax census. (Many years later, after the birth of Christianity, GAMALIEL I makes reference to the end of this JUDAS' in his advice to the Jewish Sanhedrin regarding the Christian leaders whom they had arrested; Acts 5:37).

In Rome – Emperor AUGUSTUS banishes Rome's famous poet OVID to the frontier town of Tonis (now Constantia) on the Black Sea (at the time a miserable frontier post) for his licentious influence among the people expressed in his poem 'The Art of Love' (Baker 2006:180).

April 29, Passover: In Jerusalem – JESUS of Nazareth visits the Temple at age 12 (He turned 12 c.September 8AD), questions the Jewish Bible teachers, and asserts to His parents the absolute priority of His relationship to God. (Lk.2:46-49).

In Rome – The Roman law Lex Papia Poppaea completes the Leges Juliae/Julian Laws, imposing penalties (under influence of AUGUSTUS) for celibacy and childlessness in an effort to increase the Roman population.
In central Europe (Germany) – German forces under ARMINIUS (HERMAN), chief of the Cherusci people, ambush and destroy three Roman legions (17th, 18th, and 19th) under PUBLIUS QUINTILIUS VARUS in the Teutoberg Forest. The legions are wiped out and VARUS commits suicide.

AMBIVIUS becomes governor of Roman Judaea.
In Tarsus, Cilicia – SAUL (שאול התרסי‎, the future apostle Paul) is probably born about this time, and is registered with both Jewish (Saul) and Roman (Paul) citizenship.

ANNIUS RUFUS (RIFINUS) is governor of Roman Judaea.

August 19: AUGUSTUS, first emperor of the Roman Empire (27 BC-AD 14) dies in Nola, near Naples, Italy (age 75).
September 17: TIBERIUS (Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero) formally succeeds his adoptive father AUGUSTUS as Roman emperor.
The Roman Senate appoints GERMANICUS to command their forces in Germania.

• ISHMAEL (son of PHABI I) is appointed as Jewish High Priest, in the place of ANNAS, when VALERIUS GRATUS becomes governor of Judaea.
VALERIUS GRATUS becomes governor of Roman Judaea.

• ELEAZAR (son of ANNAS) replaces ISHMAEL as Jewish High Priest – by order of GRATUS.

• SIMON (son of CAMITHUS) replaces ELEAZAR as Jewish High Priest – by order of GRATUS.

shakes the Middle East destroying towns in Anatolia/Asia Minor, such as Ephesus, Sardis, and Philadelphia.

In Rome – GERMANICUS (brother of CLAUDIUS, father of CALIGULA), adopted heir of the Roman emperor TIBERIUS, is given special powers over all the governors of the eastern Roman provinces and installs ARTAXIAS as sovereign of Armenia.
TIBERIUS  appoints GNAEUS PISO governor of Syria as a counter-balance to GERMANICUS.

• JOSEPH CAIAPHAS (ANNAS' son-in-law) becomes Jewish High Priest – by order of GRATUS.
GERMANICUS conquers the kingdoms of Cappadocia and Commagene, turning them into Roman provinces.

In Antioch of Syria – Immensely popular GERMANICUS dies suddenly and there is suspicion in Rome that the governor of Syria, PISO, had arranged his death under instruction from jealous cousin TIBERIUS and chief imperial advisor SEJANUS.
In Rome – The emperor TIBERIUS has an image of Isis, an Egyptian deity with a growing cult in the Roman world, thrown into the River Tiber. The cult's priests are crucified.

In Rome – Emperor TIBERIUS expels 10,000 Jewish men from Rome because of the crimes of four Jewish con-men: 4000 are sent to the military in Sardinia to die of malaria and neglect, and 6000 are banished.
GNAEUS PISO, governor of Syria, returns to Rome where his alleged poisoning of GERMANICUS, adopted son and heir of the Roman emperor Tiberius, is investigated by the Senate; he commits suicide before a verdict is reached. GERMANICUS' widow, AGRIPPINA, suspects TIBERIUS of having engineered her husband's death.

PONTIUS PILATE (or Pontius Pilatus), a knight of the Samnite clan of the Pontii, is appointed governor of Judaea (Prefect – Praefectus Iudaea) through the intervention of SEJANUS, a favourite of emperor TIBERIUS.
In Jerusalem – PILATE orders Roman military standards to be displayed in the city to which the soldiers would offer sacrifices. After five days of protest by the populace, PILATE agrees to remove the standards.
In Caesarea (Caesarea Maritima) – PILATE later builds an imposing temple to TIBERIUS known as the Tiberium. (See June 1961 discovery).

Now ends Year-483 of the angel GABRIEL's prophecy to DANIEL of 490 years for the full restoration of Israel (ignoring the Hidden Time) –

c.October 24: In Judaea – JESUS of Nazareth is baptized by JOHN and, under instruction of the Holy Spirit, retreats into the Judean desert for prayer and to be tempted by Satan (Mk.1:12; Lk.4:1). (This is the 15th year of TIBERIUS according to the Syrian calendar).

The angel Gabriel had said to the prophet Daniel:

under the Holy Spirit's anointing begins His ministry with the message –

– JESUS violently cleanses the Temple's Outer Court ('Court of the Gentiles') to protect its function as a place of prayer 'for all nations' (Isa.56:7).

In Rome – LUCIUS CALPURNIUS PISO and MARCUS LICINIUS CRASSUS FRUGI become consuls.
The Roman emperor TIBERIUS retires to Capri, where he spends the last decade of his life.
He is saved from a landslide by SEJANUS, commander of the Praetorian Guard. SEJANUS thus becomes all-powerful in his influence.

In Syria-Palestina – JESUS the Christ continues His teaching and healing in presenting the true character of God –

PILATE takes money from the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct for Jerusalem. In reaction, Galilean nationalists (Zealots) are most prominent in the protest. PILATE's disguised troops slaughter them in the Temple courts during their protest.
HEROD ANTIPAS ruler of Galilee takes offence that his subjects are massacred without the acknowledgement of his jurisdiction over them (Lk.13:1-2). (This rift is healed in 30 AD when PILATE sends JESUS to HEROD because He comes from Galilee, Lk.23:12).
In Germania – Roman legions are transported by fleet to fortress of Flevum on the Rhine to operate against the rebellious Frisians, but the Frisians negotiate a treaty with the Romans at the River Rhine, avoiding conquest.

c.August 29: In Machaerus, Peraea – King HEROD has JOHN the Baptist is beheaded at the request of the daughter of HERODIAS (Matt.14:3-11).

The Romans capture Serdica (modern Sofia in Bulgaria), named after the Celtic tribe the Serdi.
In Galilee – Transfiguration of JESUS, as physical revelation of the kingdom of God resident in Him as a human being, and the appearance of MOSES and ELIJAH discussing His coming death with Him (Mk.9:1-13; Lk.9:28-36).

warns His hearers that they are facing their last year to produce the fruit of faith in response to His ministry or be 'cut down' as a nation!

JESUS, in the Temple at the climax of the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, publicly challenges the spiritually-'thirsty' to come to Him (in contrast to the Jewish water-pouring ceremony at the Altar on that day), with the promise that those who do will experience the same ministry of the Spirit through themselves (Jn.7:37-38).

In Europe – The Romans found the city of Tournai in Belgium.
In Judaea, Palestine –

Satan now enters into Judas Iscariot in order to secure Christ's crucifixion (see John 13:27), thinking this would negate/defeat His messiahship, and not understanding the hidden prophecy of this in Isaiah 53 as applying to the Messiah, or of God's Hidden Time, as also did none of God's angels either (including Gabriel).

now encourages His faithful disciples with –

conclude the Meal with a hymn (probably Psalm 118).

9 AM: JESUS is crucified naked beside the highway outside Jerusalem;

Pharisee Rabbi YOCHANAN BEN ZAKKAI is reported in the Jewish Talmud to have rebuked the Sanctuary for its great doors opening of their own accord (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 39b) – probably caused by the same power of God which tore the holy Veil and extinguished its nearest candelabra.
The Jewish Talmud however understandably tries to attribute this physical disturbance to their Temple building's 'anticipation' of its coming destruction 40-years later in the First Jewish War against the Romans.

His mother MARY (Mariamne), MARY wife of Cleopas, SALOME, MARY of MAGDALA and other women, prepare spices to add some dignity to His hurried burial. (Hebrew inclusive-counting method means that the 'third-day' is the day-after-tomorrow. Ex.19:10-11; 1 Sam.20:12).

Jerusalem Temple it is the Offering of the barley sheaf, as first fruit of the harvest.

Matthias is chosen to replace the dead Judas Iscariot, among Christ's twelve apostles to the twelve tribes of Israel (being one of only two who meet the minimum qualification of being an eye-witness of the ministry of JESUS from His baptism until His ascension), as the approximately 120 disciples await the Baptism of the Spirit for their ministry to begin (Acts 1).

So, for Israel as a nation, the countdown for repentance now begins, in terms of Christ's prophecy over the city of Jerusalem.

years later, ex-Pharisee SAUL of Tarsus, writes with profound sorrow of heart –

In Rome – Emperor TIBERIUS returns from Capri.
LUCIUS AELIUS SEJANUS, commander of the Roman Praetorian Guard is named as co-Consul to the Emperor Tiberius, but is THEN brought before the Senate, accused of plotting to overthrow the Emperor TIBERIUS, and executed October 18 (See 27 AD). NAEVIUS SUTORIUS MACRO Macro becomes Guard commander in his place

In Rome – GNAEUS DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS and LUCIUS ARRUNTIUS CAMILLUS SCRIBONIANUS become onsuls.

In Rome – SERVIUS SULPICIUS GALBA is consul.
A financial crisis developes due to poorly chosen fiscal policies, land values plumme, and debt is increased. These actions lead to a lack of cash, a crisis of confidence, and much land speculation. The primary victims are senators, knights and the wealthy. Many aristocratic families are ruined, and Emperor TIBERIUS founds a credit bank.

In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Armenia – Romans intervene militarily.
In Europe – The original inhabitants of Dacia revolt against the Sarmatian tribe of Iazyges who had enslaved them.

In Jerusalem – Deacon STEPHEN is stoned to death by the Jewish religious leadership supported by SAUL of Tarsus in an unplanned violent reaction of the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 6:11-8:2).
Rabbi SAUL of Tarsus ravages the church in Jerusalem, almost emptying the city of its Christians, except the Twelve apostles (Acts 8:1-3).
SAUL leaves for Damascus to continue his pogrom there and bring the captives to Jerusalem (Ac.9:1).
In Damascus – Conversion of SAUL of Tarsus after his blinding by the Lord JESUS en route to that city (Acts 22:16).
In Parthia – TIRIDATES III becomes king.

In Syria Palestina – LUCIUS VITELLIUS becomes Roman governor.

In Parthia – LUCIUS VITELLIUS defeats ARTABANUS II in support of TIRIDATES III.
PONTIUS PILATE is ordered to Rome by VITELLIUS to stand trial for cruelty and oppression, including the execution of persons without proper trial (some Samaritans).
VITELLIUS travels to Jerusalem to be there for the Jewish Passover, returns the High Priest's vestments to Jewish control, and replaces the high priest. (Source: Josephus).
• JONATHAN (son of ANNAS) becomes High Priest.
MARCELLUS becomes Roman governor of Judaea and Samaria.

partly by King HEROD ANTIPAS' divorce of his daughter, King ARETAS IV Philopatris of Damascus/Nabatea (who tried to arrest SAUL of Tarsus after his conversion, for his provocative preaching, 2 Cor.11:32-33, cf Acts 9:23-24) in battle defeats HEROD ANTIPAS (who had killed John the Baptist) inflicting heavy losses.
According to Josephus, the Jews believe that HEROD's defeat is God's punishment for his killing of John the Baptist (Antiquities 18.5.2).
Roman Emperor TIBERIUS orders his governor of Syria, VITELLIUS, to capture or kill Aretas, but he is reluctant to support Herod and abandons his campaign upon Tiberius' death in 37 AD.

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