Lunar Sabbath
a time tested tradition

    Tiberius' 15th Year

    Very High Level 1

    Fact

    Tiberius' 15th year = Fall 28 AD to Fall 29 AD

    Evidence

    • Tiberius became emperor August 19, AD 14 after Augustus' death

    • Standard Roman historiography counts regnal years from accession

    • Tacitus, Suetonius, Dio Cassius, Josephus all use this reckoning

    • Coins and inscriptions confirm AD 14 as year 1

    • Luke, known for meticulous accuracy, would use standard reckoning

    • No ancient source uses any alternative counting method for Tiberius

    Read in Context

    • Tiberius 15th Year

      "The first major piece of evidence is that Luke tells us John the Baptist started his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius..."

    Depends On

    Required By

    Crucifixion 32 AD Very High Philip's Death in 20th Year (Rejected) Medium Philip's Death in 22nd Year of Tiberius High Three Passovers in John High

    This is one of the most securely dated facts in ancient history. Every historian, ancient and modern, agrees on Tiberius' regnal years. Some biblical scholars propose alternative countings to make earlier crucifixion dates work, but these lack any historical precedent.