Also, Josephus gives the date of this second census as “the thirty-seventh year of Caesar’s victory over Antony at Actium

Statement of belief: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

Created long ago [2007-06-12(?)]

Last edited 5941(?) 07 28 2027 [2010-10-06]

Some Considerations

Re the Taxation Periods

When Exactly Where the Two Year Taxation Periods Referenced in the NT?

1) Mid 15 BCE - mid 13 BCE;

2) mid 3 CE - mid 5 CE; and

3) mid 17 CE - mid 19 CE,

or was each taxing period one year earlier than that as some are suggesting?

[Emphasis mostly mine throughout]

Abstract:

The NT scriptures, Josephus’ writings, and the pure historical record in conjunction with the available astronomical calculations and records, when weighed together seems to indicate that Josephus more or less consistently is using a Hebrew calendar and Hebrew principles for recording events in time.

Based upon Josephus’ writings, when referencing the taxation periods as build upon the end of the battle at Actium, it appears as though the taxation periods are as suggested in the heading above and not earlier.

References upon which the below arguments are built:

Quoting Matthew, and Luke, the author of Acts:

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them…” Matt 17:1-2 (KJV)

“…And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.” Matt 17:24-26 (KJV)

“After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.” Acts 5:37 (KJV)

Quoting Josephus:

“6. But of the fourth sect of Jewish philosophy, Judas the Galilean was the author. These men agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them call any man lord. And since this immovable resolution of theirs is well known to a great many, I shall speak no further about that matter; nor am I afraid that any thing I have said of them should be disbelieved, but rather fear, that what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they undergo pain. And it was in Gessius Florus's time that the nation began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans. And these are the sects of Jewish philosophy.” Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII:1:6

“1. WHEN Cyrenius had now disposed of Archelaus's money, and when the taxings were come to a conclusion, which were made [=begun?] in the thirty-seventh year of Caesar's victory over Antony at Actium [i.e. the 3^rd year of Caesar Tiberius; (beginning Tishri 22, 2 CE,)] he [Cyrenius] deprived Joazar of the high priesthood, which dignity had been conferred on him by the multitude, and he appointed Ananus, the son of Seth, to be high priest; while Herod and Philip had each of them received their own tetrarchy, and settled the affairs thereof.” Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 18.26. [XVIII:2:1]

Quoting Ronald L. Conte Jr.:

“Though a census is usually referred to by the year in which the census began, each census took two years to complete. According to Vardaman, the taking of the census began with a public announcement in May or June, and the people then had 12 months to “file their returns.”238 The first 12 months of the census overlapped two calendar years, which is why the year for a census is sometimes written with both calendar years, e.g. 12/11 B.C.

“Nikos Kokkinos adds that, after the initial 12 period for census-taking, there was a second 12 month period for collecting the tax.239 Thus the census of 16 B.C. would cover a 2-year period of time: the first year, from mid 16 B.C. to mid 15 B.C., and the second year, the collecting year, from mid 15 B.C. to mid 14 B.C. This is written as: 16/15 B.C. – 15/14 B.C. (Note that Kokkinos wrote that the census at the time of Christ’s Birth— his date is 12 B.C.—was a local census undertaken by Herod, not an empire-wide census.) 240” (From Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 68.)

“The length of Augustus’ reign given by Josephus fits the information given by other ancient historians. Dio gives the length of Augustus’ reign, beginning with his military victory over Marc Anthony and Cleopatra, as “forty-four years, lacking thirteen days.”827 Since Augustus died on August 19, this places the beginning of his reign as sole ruler on Sept. 2.828 Suetonius Tranquillus also gives the length of Augustus’ reign as sole ruler as 44 years.829 Josephus gives the length of Augustus’ reign as 57 years and six months, but he adds that Augustus ruled with Marc Anthony for the first 14 years of that time. If we subtract the 44 years (less 13 days) of Augustus’ reign as sole ruler, from the total length of his reign, 57.5 years, we arrive at 13.5 years (plus 13 days) as the length of Augustus’ reign with Marc Anthony. Thus, the lengths of Augustus’ reign given by these various ancient historians is in agreement.

“4. The battle at Actium

“From the above formula, one could calculate the end of the battle at Actium, when Augustus’ reign as sole ruler began, as occurring 13.5 years after Augustus’ reign, as co-ruler with Marc Anthony and Lepidus, began. If Julius Caesar died in 49 B.C., and the beginning of Augustus’ reign is figured from the following February (as indicated by Josephus), then adding 13.5 years (plus 13 days) to Feb. of 48 B.C. brings us to the end of August in 35 B.C. Therefore, Augustus completed his victory over Marc Anthony at Actium in Sept. of 35 B.C. This argument is based on the conclusion above that Julius Caesar died in 49 B.C.” (From Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 188)

“Also, Josephus gives the date of this second census as “the thirty-seventh year of Caesar’s victory over Antony at Actium.”889 The first year in this count of 37 years is the year containing the victory. As section 4 above concludes, the battle at Actium ended in 35 B.C. Counting forward 37 years (inclusive) to the date of the census again gives us A.D. 2, not A.D. 6.

“Under Caesar Augustus, a census of the occupied countries, such as Syria and Israel, was held every 17 years.890 So if the second census under Quirinius began in A.D. 2, then the first census began in 16 B.C., seventeen years earlier (there is no year zero, so the number of years from 16 B.C. to A.D. 2 is 17, not 18). A census took two years to complete.891 The census of 16 B.C. ran from mid 16 B.C. to mid 14 B.C. This first census under Augustus and Quirinius was the census at the time of Christ’s birth (Luke 2:1-2).

“After the second census of Quirinius, a census was taken after every 14 years.892 Thus the first census under Tiberius’ rule as emperor (after the death of Augustus) began 14 years after the census of A.D. 2, and ran from mid A.D. 16 to mid A.D. 18. In this revised chronology, the Ministry of Christ began in fall of A.D. 15, and lasted 3½ years to the Crucifixion in spring of A.D. 19. Here we see that the time frame for the Ministry of Christ encompasses a Roman census, in agreement with the numerous Gospel references to tax collectors and the collecting of the tax.” (From Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 197)

889 Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 18.26. [XVIII:2:1]

890 Vardaman, “Jesus’ Life: A New Chronology,” Chronos, Kairos, Christos, p. 63.

891 Kokkinos, “Crucifixion in A.D. 36,” Chronos, Kairos, Christos, p. 140.

892 Vardaman, “Jesus’ Life: A New Chronology,” Chronos, Kairos, Christos, p. 63.

Data Based upon Augustus’ regnal years as numbered from the end of the battle at Actium:

Basics and conclusions based upon a Jewish Calendar (such as may have been used by Josephus):

1. Augustus’ accession date as a sole ruler (based on Dio via Conte) - “Beginning of [Augustus’] reign as sole ruler on Sept. 2”: Sept. 2

2. I conclude that the date for the victory at Actium was: Sept. 2 [However, notice that Mark Anthony committed suicide before Cleopatra likewise committed suicide, the latter on August 12, 35 BCE. If Dio mixed up Josephus’ 7^th month with the Roman month Sept-ember and if Dio under stood Suetonius words, “He [Augustus] died… on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of September…”as giving reference to the beginning of the Jewish year, I can see Dio’s words “lacking thirteen days” as corresponding to Suetonius’ words “on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of September…” that is, while reckoning also the beginning of his, Dio’s, “forty-four years…” from the beginning of Sept-ember 35 BCE, that is, given also that Josephus would reckon the time between August 12 and the beginning of the Scripture year (Tishri 22) as accession time… :=) ]

3. Actual time from victory at Actium to death of Augustus (based on Dio via Conte:) “forty-four years, lacking thirteen days.”

4. Death of Augustus: August 19, 10 CE [Based on Suetonius’ statement!]

5. Date and year of victory at Actium (based on Dio via Conte:) Sept. 2, 35 BCE [-34] [Av or Elul 27, 35 BCE]

[Counting exactly 44 years backwards from Sept 2, 10 CE – since I find no correlations to any calendar years, or years of reign, that may be applicable to the time reference “forty-four years, lacking thirteen days.”]

I believe that the correct date and year of victory at Actium is August 12, 35 BCE [(Av or) Elul 7 or 8, 35 BCE,] the day when Cleopatra died.

6. Augustus’ accession year as sole regent as referenced to the Scripture calendar (used also by Josephus:) From the day of victory at Actium [~~Sept 2~~ August 12] until the beginning of Tishri 22, 35 BCE [=3-4 days + possibly one more lunar month (based on Dio.)]

7. First year of Augustus as sole ruler: Tishri 22, 35 BCE [-34] thru Tishri 21, 34 BCE [-33]

8. Number of Jewish calendar years Augustus was ruler jointly with Marc Anthony (counting the year of victory at Actium, but not the accession year when Caesar Julius died [March 15 thru Tishri 21, 49 BCE]): -35-(-49)=49-35=14 years

9. Josephus’ “thirty-seventh year of Caesar’s victory over Antony at Actium:” Tishri 22, 2 CE [Oct 18, 2 CE] thru Tishri 21, 3 CE [Oct 7 or 8, 3 CE.]

[ 3 – (-34) = 3 + 34 = 37 ]

Re the taxation period during the years of Yeshua’s mission:

Adding 14 years for the beginning of the Jewish year in which was the beginning of the next following taxation brings us to: Tishri 22, 16 CE [Oct 11 or 12, 16 CE] (The same Scripture year ending Tishri 21, 17 CE [Oct 1, 17 CE])

If the taxation lasted two years, then it lasted until somewhere between Tishri 22, 18 CE [Oct 19 or 20, 18 CE] and Tishri 21, 19 CE [Oct 9, 19 CE.]

The entire two year period of taxation must be placed somewhere within the time period between Oct 11, 16 CE and Oct 9, 19 CE.

Conclusions:

Given that the census usually began in May or June I conclude that this 2 year taxation period took place between May, 17 CE and June, 19 CE.

The earliest reference to “tax” or “tribute” in the N.T. is found in Matt. 17:24 which chapter starts with the record of the Transfiguration event. Thus, given that the Transfiguration event occurred in 18 CE, it appears as though the fall preceding the crucifixion was concurrent with the second fall of this taxing. If so, this is is in full agreement with a 19 CE crucifixion.

Re the intermediate taxation period referencing Judas of Galilee:

“6. But of the fourth sect of Jewish philosophy, Judas the Galilean was the author. These men agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them call any man lord. And since this immovable resolution of theirs is well known to a great many, I shall speak no further about that matter; nor am I afraid that any thing I have said of them should be disbelieved, but rather fear, that what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they undergo pain. And it was in Gessius Florus's time that the nation began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans. And these are the sects of Jewish philosophy.” Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII:1:6

Starting with Josephus’ “thirty-seventh year of Caesar’s victory over Antony at Actium:” Tishri 22, 2 CE [Oct 18, 2 CE] thru Tishri 21, 3 CE [Oct 7 or 8, 3 CE]

If the taxation lasted two years, then it lasted until somewhere between Tishri 22, 4 CE [Sept 26 or Oct 25 or 26, 4 CE] and Tishri 21, 5 CE [Oct 14, 5 CE.]

The entire two year period of taxation must be placed somewhere within the time period between Oct 18, 2 CE and Oct 14, 5 CE.

Conclusion re the taxation period referencing Judas of Galilee:

Given that the census usually began in May or June, I conclude that the 2 year taxation referencing Judas the Galilean took place between May, 3 CE and June, 5 CE, or else between May, 17 CE and June, 19 CE.

Re the taxation period during the year when Mary delivered Yeshua in Bethlehem:

Subtracting 17 years for the beginning of the Jewish year in which was the beginning of the last prior taxation [3-17=-14, i.e. 15 BCE] brings us to: Tishri 22, 16 BCE [-15] [Sept 25 or 26, or Oct 24 or 25, 16 BCE] (The same Scripture year ending Tishri 21, 15 BCE [Oct 14 or 15, 15 BCE])

If the taxation lasted two years, then it lasted until somewhere between Tishri 22, 14 BCE [-13] [Oct 3 or 4, 14 BCE] and Tishri 21, 13 BCE [-12] [Oct 21 or 22, 13 BCE.]

The entire two year period of taxation must be placed somewhere within the time period between Sept 25, 16 BCE and Oct 22, 13 CE.

Given that the census usually began in May or June I conclude that this taxation took place between May, 15 BCE and June, 13 BCE.

Conclusion:

This argument is consistent with Yeshua being delivered anytime between May, 15 BCE and June, 13 BCE. Per my findings Yeshua’s Expected Date of Delivery, based on an LMP of Tishri 1 [beginning at sunset Sept 4 or Oct 4, 16 BCE] was then Sivan (14 or) 15 or Tammuz 15 [the day beginning June 11 or else July 11, 15 BCE.]

I take this result as a confirmation of my prior findings thus far. Praise the Lord of Hosts, the Ancient of Days! Blessed be His name! Amen!

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