Tiberias Caesar became emperor of Rome on August 19, AD 14. Tiberias 15th year began on August 19, AD 28, and ended one year later on August 18, AD 29. Jesus began his ministry in this interval.

What can we learn from Jesus being baptized in the 15th year of Tiberias Caesar? We can discover when Jesus' first Passover occurred. There are two possible years.

• If John baptized Jesus before the Passover in AD 29, then Jesus' first recorded Passover happened in AD 29.
• However, if Jesus were baptized after the Passover in AD 29, then his first Passover would have been in AD 30.

We have set the beginning years of Jesus' ministry as either AD 29 or 30. If we add the number of years Jesus' ministry lasted to AD 29 or 30, then we can find the most viable years for the crucifixion. John's gospel refers to three or possibly four Passovers during Jesus' ministry. We simply add three to four years to AD 29 or 30, the year Jesus began his ministry, to find viable years for the crucifixion.

• If Jesus' first Passover happened in AD 29, and we add three or four Passover years, then Jesus died at either the Passover in AD 31 or 32 as follows:

• What is the latest year possible for Jesus' crucifixion? Jesus' first Passover may have happened in AD 30. If we add four Passover years to AD 30, then Jesus died at the Passover in AD 33 as follows:

Based on the gospels of Luke and John, the primary years for Jesus' crucifixion had to be AD 31, 32 or 33.(1)

Reference:

1. Harold W. Hoehner, Bibliotheca Sacra, "Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ," October 1974, pp 332-348.