New Testament History

The public ministries of John the Baptist and Christ

The baptism of Christ

The baptism of Christ was the start of His ministry (Luke 3:23; Acts 1:22). Christ was “about thirty years old” (Luke 3:23; cf. John 8:57 “You are not fifty yet,” translation by NJB).[1] The word “about” indicates that they were not exactly 30 years; the period November 1 BC-September 29 AD covers 28 years and 10 months.

There were 3 Sabbaths between the baptism and the Feast of Tabernacles (15-22 Tishri):[2] Saturday 27 Elul, Saturday 5 Tishri, and Saturday 12 Tishri. Christ was baptised around 10 a.m.,[3] on the day before a Sabbath,[4] i.e. on 26 Elul 29 AD = Friday Julian 23 September = actual 20 September. It was 30 years after the conception of John the Baptist (Friday actual 23 September 2 BC-Friday actual 20 September 29 AD = 30 years).

On 11 Tishri 29 AD = Friday 7 October (the vision of Friday 12 October 1821), John pointed to Christ as “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, translation by NJB).[5] It was the first time that Christ was walking near John after His baptism[6] and the first occurrence of that exclamation[7] (the second occurred on 7 Kislev 29 AD).

[1] Joseph was 30 years old when he entered into Pharaoh’s service (Gen 41:46). David was 30 years old when his reign began (2 Sam 5:4). A Levite entered formation at the age of 25 (Num 8:24) and served in the tent of meeting starting from the age of 30 (Num 4:3, 23, 30, 35, 39, 43, 46).

[2] A.C.E., Life, 1:444, 459, 473.

[3] A.C.E., Life, 1:438.

[4] A.C.E., Life, 1:444.

[5] The Greek phrase tê_i epaurion in John 1:29 does not denote “the next day” in its strict sense but “the next time.”

[6] A.C.E., Mary, 177.

[7] A.C.E., Life, 1:470.