Approximate dates for key events in the first 40 years of the church

To estimate exact dates for the key events in the first 30 years of the church is very difficult. A fixed date is the death of Herod Agrippa in AD 44, mentioned in Acts 12:23. A less certain date is the prophecy of Agabus that refers to the reign of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:27-28), who became Emperor in AD 41. Two dates are generally proposed for the Cross, namely AD 30 and 33. To determine dates for other events chronographers mostly analyze the text, trying to estimate the time between events. Below is a table of estimated dates for significant events in the history of the early church, according to various internet sources:

Other internet sources concerning the year in which Stephen was stoned include:

• • Christianity About – a few years after the crucifixion.
  • Encyclopedia Britannica – AD 36
  • Sonofman.org – AD 35.
  • Catholic Culture – two years after the death of Christ

Merrill C. Tenney, in his book “New Testament Times” (Inter-Varsity Press, 1967, chapter 7), gives 30 AD as the most probable year for the crucifixion and 32/33 as the most probable date for Stephen’s death and the conversion of Paul.

The date of Paul’s Conversion

Paul mentioned that he visited Jerusalem three years after his conversion (Gal 1:16-18). Then he continued, “fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also” (Gal 2:1). It is assumed that, because his conversion was the key event in his life, he is counting 14 years after his conversion, not 14 years after his previous visit. It is furthermore assumed that this second visit to Jerusalem does not refer to the Jerusalem Council of AD 49/50, because after the visit in Gal 2:1, Peter was still vacillating over the question of circumcision of the Gentiles (Gal 2:7-14), while at the Jerusalem Council, everybody—including Peter—agreed that circumcision of the Gentiles was unnecessary (Acts 15:7-11). The Jerusalem visit in Gal 2:1, therefore, occurred before the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council. It could have been the earlier visit in AD 46 when he went with relief for those stricken by the famine. Subtracting 14 years from AD 46 we get AD 32 as the date for Paul’s conversion. This is a very early date, only two years after the first possible date for Pentecost when the church was founded.

Other Articles

Early Church History

Key events in the first few decades that transformed the church from a sect of Judaism into an independent religion:

• • • Jerusalem Phase ¹After receiving the Holy Spirit, the church grew quickly but remained a Jewish sect, based in Jerusalem.
    • Judea and Samaria phase ²After the 490 years of Daniel 9 have come to an end, God dispersed the church to Judea and Samaria through persecution.
    • Gentile Dispute Phase ³When the first Gentiles became Christians, a dispute arose about whether they must observe the Law of Moses.
    • Separation Phase ⁴The church council (Acts 15 ) caused a separation between Jewish and Gentile Christians when it decided that Gentiles are not subject to the Law while Jewish Christians continued in the Law.
    • Theological Implications ⁵This history explains the disputes addressed by Paul’s letters.
    • Chronology – Dates for key events

Other Articles

• • All articles on this Site
  • DANIEL
    • • The Antichrist in Daniel ⁶The Antichrist in Daniel, which is the same as the beast in Revelation, arises out of the Roman Empire; it is not Antiochus Epiphanes.
      • The 490 years of Daniel 9 ⁷Discussion of the prophecy and the four main interpretations
      • Is Daniel a fraud? ⁸Critical scholars teach that Daniel was written after the events it claims to predict.
  • REVELATION ⁹The ultimate purpose of this website is to explain the mark of the beast.
    • • General Topics ¹⁰Does Revelation describe events chronologically? Must it be interpreted literally? The temple in heaven, Christ’s Return, Hear/See Combinations, and the Numbers in Revelation
      • The Seven Seals (Rev 4-7) ¹¹There was a book in heaven that not even Christ was able to read because it was sealed up with seven seals. But, by overcoming, He became worthy to break the seven seals and open the book.
      • The Seven Wars (Rev 12-14) ¹²This is the apex of Revelation, providing an overview of history from before Christ until the end-time, with emphasis on the end-time persecution.
      • The Seven Last Plagues (Rev 15-16) ¹³These plagues will follow after the end-time Christian persecution and will be followed by Christ’s return. What is the purpose of these?
      • Revelation’s Beasts ¹⁴Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and ten horns each; a great red dragon, the beast from the sea, and a scarlet beast.
      • Babylon – Mother of Harlots (Rev 17-18) ¹⁵Babylon is mentioned only once in the first 15 chapters but the seventh and final plague targets her specifically. Then Revelation 17 and 18 explain who and what she is.
      • Revelation 17 verse-by-verse
  • TRINITY
    • • Is Jesus the Most High God? ¹⁶The conclusion that Jesus is ‘God’ forms the basis of the Trinity Doctrine.
      • The Truth about the Origin of the Trinity Doctrine ¹⁷The decision to adopt the Trinity doctrine was not taken by the church.
      • Trinity Doctrine – General ¹⁸Including Modalism, Eastern Orthodoxy view of the Trinity, Elohim, and Eternal Generation
  • SALVATION
    • • Why Jesus had to die ¹⁹Discussions of the Atonement – How does God do away with sin?
      • Justification ²⁰How people are put right with God
  • THE LAW
    • • The Law of Moses ²¹Must Christians observe the Law of Moses?
      • The Sabbath ²²Must Christians observe the Sabbath?
  • DEATH
    • • State of the Dead ²³Are the dead still alive and aware?
      • Eternal Torment ²⁴Will the lost be tormented in hell for all eternity?
  • DISCUSSIONS OF SPECIFIC LETTERS
    • • Romans
      • Galatians
      • Colossians
      • Hebrews
  • OTHER
    • • Why does evil exist? ²⁵And why does God not make an end to all evil?
      • The church began as a Jewish sect.²⁶Key events that transformed the church into an independent religion
      • The Return of Christ ²⁷When? How? Has His return been delayed?
      • About Author ²⁸I do not have any formal theological qualifications and I am not part of any religious organization. These articles are the result of my studies over many years.

FOOTNOTES

• 1
  After receiving the Holy Spirit, the church grew quickly but remained a Jewish sect, based in Jerusalem.
• 2
  After the 490 years of Daniel 9 have come to an end, God dispersed the church to Judea and Samaria through persecution.
• 3
  When the first Gentiles became Christians, a dispute arose about whether they must observe the Law of Moses.
• 4
  The church council (Acts 15 ) caused a separation between Jewish and Gentile Christians when it decided that Gentiles are not subject to the Law while Jewish Christians continued in the Law.
• 5
  This history explains the disputes addressed by Paul’s letters.
• 6
  The Antichrist in Daniel, which is the same as the beast in Revelation, arises out of the Roman Empire; it is not Antiochus Epiphanes.
• 7
  Discussion of the prophecy and the four main interpretations
• 8
  Critical scholars teach that Daniel was written after the events it claims to predict.
• 9
  The ultimate purpose of this website is to explain the mark of the beast.
• 10
  Does Revelation describe events chronologically? Must it be interpreted literally? The temple in heaven, Christ’s Return, Hear/See Combinations, and the Numbers in Revelation
• 11
  There was a book in heaven that not even Christ was able to read because it was sealed up with seven seals. But, by overcoming, He became worthy to break the seven seals and open the book.
• 12
  This is the apex of Revelation, providing an overview of history from before Christ until the end-time, with emphasis on the end-time persecution.
• 13
  These plagues will follow after the end-time Christian persecution and will be followed by Christ’s return. What is the purpose of these?
• 14
  Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and ten horns each; a great red dragon, the beast from the sea, and a scarlet beast.
• 15
  Babylon is mentioned only once in the first 15 chapters but the seventh and final plague targets her specifically. Then Revelation 17 and 18 explain who and what she is.
• 16
  The conclusion that Jesus is ‘God’ forms the basis of the Trinity Doctrine.
• 17
  The decision to adopt the Trinity doctrine was not taken by the church.
• 18
  Including Modalism, Eastern Orthodoxy view of the Trinity, Elohim, and Eternal Generation
• 19
  Discussions of the Atonement – How does God do away with sin?
• 20
  How people are put right with God
• 21
  Must Christians observe the Law of Moses?
• 22
  Must Christians observe the Sabbath?
• 23
  Are the dead still alive and aware?
• 24
  Will the lost be tormented in hell for all eternity?
• 25
  And why does God not make an end to all evil?
• 26
  Key events that transformed the church into an independent religion
• 27
  When? How? Has His return been delayed?
• 28
  I do not have any formal theological qualifications and I am not part of any religious organization. These articles are the result of my studies over many years.