“…they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
- The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt…
- he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus…
- children of the stock of Abraham, AND whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent…
- we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus…from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things...Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” (Acts 13:14-43)
A meaningful pattern of the development of the organization and doctrine of the New Testament Church becomes apparent if we organize the books in the order and the context in which they were written. The dates the books of the New Testament were written can’t be known with absolute certainty, but for our purpose, the order and historical context in which books were written is what matters, and can be determined for the most part by internal evidence.
Chronological New Testament
| ~Date | Historical Event | |
| 15-34 | Acts 22:3 | Paul, a Pharisee, studies the Law under Gamaliel, opposes Jesus & denounces His sect |
| 29 | Acts 2-8:1 | Crucifixion, Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, apostles and Jewish believers continue meeting in the temple |
| 32 | Acts 6-8 | Stephen stoned, persecution of Messianic Jewish sect by Jewish religious rulers including the Pharisee Saul / Paul |
| 32-42 | Acts 8, 11:19 | Persecution in Jerusalem scatter believers in this Jewish sect who at first continue to witness to Jews only |
| 34-37 | Acts 9 | A leading Pharisee, Saul, joins Messianic sect, smuggled out of Judea when his previous colleagues target him for death, indicating how great a threat he poses to their authority |
| 37-47 | Galatians 1:17-21 | Paul spends 14 years in isolation from Messianic headquarters at Jerusalem, restudying Law and matching to Jesus’ teaching |
| 40 | Acts 10-11 | Cornelius first uncircumcised Gentile accepted into fellowship with Jewish believers, by Peter |
| 43 | Acts 11:20-26 | Gentiles converted in numbers & called Christians at Antioch in Syria prior to Paul’s involvement |
| 43 | Acts 12 | Herod Agrippa I (d. 44) kills James son of Zebedee at Jerusalem, James bro of Jesus assumes leadership |
| 45 – 62 | James 1:1-3 | Epistle of James written by brother of Jesus, to encourage “the twelve tribes” under tribulation |
| 47 | Acts 11:26 | Barnabas brings Paul from Tarsus (Turkey) to Antioch (Syria) to help in existing ministry to Gentiles |
| 47-48 | Acts 13-14 | Paul’s 1st missionary journey thru cities in Galatia (Turkey), meets at synagogues, evangelizes Jews & Gentiles |
| 49 | Acts 15 | Enough Gentiles have joined the Jewish sect in Antioch that a Church Council meets to settle question of requirement of Gentile believers to follow Mosaic Law, Paul opposes this. |
| 49-53 | Acts 16-18 | Paul’s 2nd journey delivers decrees to existing churches in Galatia, crosses over to Europe at Macedonia & Greece |
| 52 | Acts 18:4-8 | Paul leaves Corinth synagogue when they blaspheme, meets in the first house church mentioned in the Bible, with Jewish and Gentile believers |
| 52-53 | Acts 18:1-18 | Letter to Galatians to strongly counter persistent Judaizers, 1st & 2nd letters to Thessalonians to encourage during tribulation, written by Paul from Corinth |
| 54-59 | Acts 18:23-21 | Paul’s 3rd missionary journey |
| 50-55 | I Peter 5:13 | Mark’s biography of Jesus written from Rome in collaboration with Peter to present Jesus as Messiah |
| 55-56 | Acts 19:1-10 | Paul leaves Ephesus (Turkey) synagogue, meets daily in schoolhouse, great church growth |
| 56 | Acts 20:1-2 | 1st letter to Corinthians written from Macedonia by founder Paul in response to church problems |
| 58 | Acts 20:2 | Romans is written from Corinth |
| 58 | Acts 20:3-4 | 2nd letter to Corinthians followup on previous instructions, references great tribulation, Paul meets personally with Ephesus elders |
| 58 | I Peter 5:13 | 1st letter from Peter backs up Paul’s ministry to his Gentile churches, and supports them in their fiery trial of tribulation |
| 58 | Acts 21 | Paul at Jerusalem denies the charge that he teaches Jews to forsake Mosaic Law |
| 58-60 | Acts 22-24 | Paul imprisoned at Caesarea by Romans to protect from illegal Jewish plot against his life, witnesses to Roman governors Felix and Festus, Jewish King Herod Agrippa II, appeals to Caesar |
| 55-60 | Mathew 1:1 | Matthew writes biography of Jesus to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. Such biographies were “a genre of Greco-Roman literature interested in describing the goals, achievements, failures, and character of ancient historical persons and whether or not they should be imitated.” |
| 60-63 | Acts 28:16-31 | Paul imprisoned at Rome, reaches out first to Jewish leadership and only to Gentiles after Jews unaccepting |
| 60 | Luke 1:1-4 | Luke’s biography of Jesus is written in collaboration with Paul, possibly for evidence in trial before Caesar |
| 62-63 | Philippians, Colossians, Philemon written by Paul from prison in Rome. | |
| 62-63 | Act 1:1 | Acts by Luke at this time or later. James brother of Jesus stoned to death by High Priest at Jerusalem as Jewish nationalistic aspirations heighten. |
| 63 | Letter to Ephesian Gentiles is written by Paul from Rome to encourage picking up their qualified leadership roles after his outreach to Jewish leadership is repulsed. Paul is aware of gathering storm in Judea from insight into current events as fulfillment of Jesus’ warning to “this generation”, predicting Jerusalem doomsday by 70 AD. | |
| 63 | Hebrews written to Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus as Messiah explaining overrriding identity, and leadership rights, as Hebrew priests under High Priest Melchizedek, in preparation for transition of leadership from Jews to Gentiles. | |
| 63 | Paul is acquitted and released, leaves Rome | |
| 64 | I Timothy 1:3 | 1st letter to Timothy, Titus is Written from Macedonia |
| 64 | The Great Fire of Rome triggers a seven year great tribulation by the Roman Empire of pagan Gentiles who converted to Jewish Messiah | |
| 64 | II Peter 1:1, 2:1-3 | 2nd letter by Peter written from Rome prior to Paul’s death, supporting Paul’s transfer of leadership from Jews to Gentiles. |
| 64-67 | Peter is martyred under Nero, | |
| 65 | II Timothy 4:6 | 2nd letter to Timothy written when Paul is imprisoned for 2nd and last time, mourning that the response to his letter to the Ephesians, the leading church of Asia was that “All in Asia be turned away from me“. Now who will pick up church leadership? |
| 66 | Paul martyred at Rome under Nero as the anticipated revolt by Judean Jews explodes, Messianic Jew flee across the Jordan river to Pella, Jerusalem church and Jewish leadership in shambles. | |
| 70 | Jerusalem besieged, temple destroyed and Jews are deported | |
| ~80 | Jude | Jude, brother of Jesus, exhorts believers to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” which he references as pre-Judaism believers. |
| ~80 | John, I, II, III John | John’s biography of Jesus written to Gentiles unfamiliar with Jewish customs, and three letters. |
| ~89 | Revelation is Written by last surviving apostle, John, to Paul’s Gentile churches in Turkey |
Kingdom Come 