traditional view that Jesus ministered for three and one-half years (adding the extra one-half year for a ministry beginning in the fall and going to the spring Passover). Building on the indicators given above, a likely timetable of important dates can be proposed as follows: • Christ’s birth—5/4 BC • Herod the Great’s death—4 BC • Christ in the temple at age twelve—AD 9 (Luke 2:41–50) • John the Baptist begins ministry—AD 29 (Luke 3) • Jesus was baptized—AD 29 (Luke