Some New Testament Background and History

Jesus was born to Mary and adopted into the family of Joseph, who was a descendant of King David.

We know next to nothing about his life until his public ministry, which began with his baptism by John in the Jordan River.

Jesus's public ministry begins, according to the Gospels, with his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.  It lasts anywhere from one to three years and seems to consist in large part in preaching, teaching, and performing various miracles, such as the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, along with many cures of the sick and disabled.

His verbal teaching seems to have involved in large part the use of various "parables," by which He attempted to communicate the character of "The Kingdom of God."  (Remember that he is talking to people who have been prepared by the prophets for the coming of God's anointed King, "the Messiah," who is to establish "The Kingdom of God.")  These parables commonly use images drawn from the lives of the rural people to whom Jesus was speaking (farming, fishing, wine making, housekeeping, shepherding, etc.).  But they also often have a strange "twist" that makes them thought provoking.  So, for example, the shepherd foolishly leaves his 99 sheep in danger to chase after one lost one.   The workers hired at the beginning of the day, in the middle of the day, and at the end of the day are all paid the same wage.

All four gospels agree that the culmination of Jesus's ministry came with his death on the cross in Jerusalem and subsequent resurrection from the dead.  To understand the circumstances surrounding his death, we need to go back a bit.

After the death of King Herod in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided up among his three sons:

Archelaus:  Judea, Samaria, and Idumea
Philip:  Gaulanitis, Batanaea, Trachonitis and Auranitis
Herod Antipas:  Galilee and Peraea

The Romans were willing to work through local authorities as long as they could (a) keep the taxes flowing, and (b) keep order.  (The Romans were particularly proud of their law, their civil administration, and their public works, such as theaters, acqueducts, etc.).

Unfortunately for him, Archelaus was not able to keep order in his district, so he was deposed and a direct Roman governor (what was called a procurator) was put in charge of Judea and Samaria.

The sixth such Roman official in this position was a man by the name of Pontius Pilate.

Another important development:  By this time, partially due to the King Herod's extensive construction programme, the Temple in Jerusalem had become the most important religious site in Judea. 
<>There was also in Jerusalem a council of elders under the direction of the chief priest of the Temple, called the Sanhedrin, (literally, those who are "sitting together").  This is a kind of judicial and administrative body which was probably first constituted by the Roman general Pompey when he brought Judea under the control of the Romans.  The Sanhedrin was a court made up of local elite, probably with some sort of Roman oversight, that handled census, tax, and other administrative and military responsibilities.

Thus, when Jesus makes his triumphal "entry into Jerusalem" on "Palm Sunday," he finds himself being batted about between three powerful forces:

1. He is arrested by the officials of the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy.
2. After his trial before the Sanhedrin, he is then taken before the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, for sentencing and punishment. 
3. Pilate, upon hearing that Jesus is from Nazareth in Galilee, sends him to Herod Antipas (the man who had beheaded John the Baptist), who after questioning Jesus, sends him right back to Pilate.
4. Since blasphemy was not a capital crime under Roman law, Pilate has Jesus scourged and then finally crucified under the charge of sedition and treason ;  i.e., claiming to be "King of the Jews."

Click on this link to see a rough timeline of the events of Holy Week.  Basically, it involves:
- His arrest and trial;
- His crucifixion and death;
- His resurrection from the dead;
- His Resurrection appearances for 40 days;
- His Ascension to "the right hand of the Father"; 
- His sending of the Holy Spirit, especially at Pentecost.  Pentecost is considered the "birthday" of the early Church.  It seems to mark a significant transition for the apostles:  from cowering in fear to boldly proclaiming the Gospel.

Soon, according to the Acts of the Apostles, the Christian community is gathering weekly for the "reading of the word of God" and "the breaking of the bread."

Below you will find some important dates in the early Church:

AD Event
30s *c. 30 AD Jesus's Death and Resurrection. The First Pentecost. St. Peter preaches in Jerusalem and converts three thousand people, creating the first Christian community.  The apostles vote to replace the deceased Judas Iscariot with another man, Matthias, in order to bring their number back to Twelve.

*c. 33 Stephen, a "deacon," becomes the first marty of the Church.  He is stoned to death, with Saul of Tarsus in attendance.

*c. 35 Saul of Tarsus (whose Greek name is "Paul") has an apparition of Jesus Christ and is converted to Christianity.  At first, he is an assistant to Barnabas at Antioch.

*c. 39 St. Peter has a vision and baptizes Cornelius, a Gentile. This event seems to mark the beginning of the mission to the Gentiles.
40s *42 The first persecution of Christians in Jerusalem under Herod Agrippa. Many Christians escape to Antioch, establishing its first community.  It is at Antioch where followers of Christ are first called by the name "Christians."

*44 Martyrdom of St. James the Great, brother of the Apostle John. He is the first apostle to die for the faith. He was sentenced by Herod Agrippa in 44 AD. Today he is honored at the shrine of Santiago Compostela.

*46-48 Paul's First Missionary Journey

*c. 49-50 The Council of Jerusalem. It rules that Gentile converts do not have to be circumcised in order to become followers of Christ.
50s *c. 49-52 Paul's Second Missionary Journey

*c. 53-58 Paul's Third Missionary Journey

*c. 58-61 Paul's arrest and journey to Rome.
60s *62 Martyrdom of St James the Less, Bishop of Jerusalem. He is stoned to death.

*64 First persecution of the Christians by Nero, who blames them for setting a fire that burned much of Rome. Christianity soon after becomes a capital crime.

*66 Jews revolt against Roman authority. The Christians, remembering the prophecies of Christ, leave Jerusalem, led by their bishop, St. Simeon. A civil war ensues. Nero sends Vespasian and Titus to put down the insurrection.

*mid 60's Martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul.  Last words of the Acts of the Apostles picture Paul awaiting trial in Rome, preaching the Gospel. 

*70 Fall of Jerusalem. The Temple is destroyed. Tacitus records that 600 000 Jews were slaughtered during the siege; Josephus said it was a million.  This catastrophe seals a transition that has been in the works for some time:  Jerusalem is no longer the center of the Christian world -- geographically, jurisdictionally, or even psychologically.  Again, even the Acts of the Apostles ends with Paul at Rome:  a new age is dawning.