Observations.net

What were the dates of Jesus's ministry and how old was He?

We can get information from the book of Daniel. A Baptist scholar explains how Daniel's 70 weeks relate to Jesus.

The 70 weeks begin in 457 BC, with Artaxerxes's Commission to Ezra.

The end of week 69 and the beginning of the all-important 70th week fall in the year 27 AD.

The 3.5 year ministry of Jesus is the first half of Daniel's 70th week and, thus, began in 27 AD.

We find further agreement from the Gospel of John. When Jesus cleared Herod's Temple the first time, which was early in His ministry, the structure had been under construction for 46 years (John 2:20). Herod began his construction project in the eighteenth year of his reign (20-19 BC). As such, the year Jesus visited the Temple would have been about 27 AD.

In addition, Luke tells us that God called John the Baptist in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Tiberius became sole emperor upon the death of Augustus in 14 AD. However, Tiberius had been co-emperor since 12 AD. Counting forward from 12 AD, Tiberius' 15th year would have begun in 26 AD.

How old was Jesus?

Luke tells us, And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, ... (Luke 3:23).

In addition, Matthew tells us that Jesus was born during Herod's reign, and that Herod had ordered the slaughter of all Bethlehem boys two and under.

Herod died in 4 BC, meaning that Jesus was likely born between 4 and 6 BC. Further, history records a census of Judea under governor Quirinius of Syria. This census occurred about 6 B.C. Jesus was likely born in late Summer or early Fall of 6 BC.

Therefore, in 27 AD, at the time of the April Passover, Jesus was probably 32. His ministry lasted 3.5 years, ending in April/May of 30 AD, which would have made Him about 35 at its end.

The number 3.5 is repeated multiple times. The 70th week of Daniel is made up of two periods of 3.5 years. The 3.5 year ministry of Jesus is the first half. The Tribulation of Revelation (1260 days, 42 months, a time and times and half a time) is the second half. The two witnesses lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem (Babylon/the great harlot) for 3.5 days.

Jesus was likely baptized by John in the Fall of 26 AD. The year 27 AD is significant because it was in April of that year that Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem for Passover, given that He is our Passover Lamb. The end of Jesus' ministry came three years later in April /May of 30 AD when He offered Himself as our Passover, rose from the grave, and ascended into Heaven. Fall 26 AD to Spring 30 AD is 3.5 years.