1. 33 years in a small Roman province, among a small religious sect
According to tradition and historians:
Born in a stable of young, poor parents in the city Bethlehem (where King David of 1000BC was born)
Grew up in the city Nazareth in the region Galilee, an area scorned as poor and corrupt, as the son of a carpenter
Began to wander and teach Jews throughout Judea starting around AD24
Around AD27, Pontius Pilatus, the Roman governor of Judea, allowed him to be killed just outside the city Jerusalem by Roman soldiers, at the request of Herod Antipas, the Jewish ruler of Galilee

2. So what? Who cares about a 33-year-old teacher crucified in a joint effort by the Jews and the Romans?
A lot of people:
His followers began a movement that would cause the fall of the Roman Empire
The Christian movement would then take the place of the Empire in uniting people throughout the West
That movement would inspire people to travel thousands of miles to recapture Jerusalem and gather souvenirs from Jesus’ “stomping grounds”
Agreements and disagreements within that movement will be the major force that drives our historical narrative from now on

3. August 19, AD14 Caesar Augustus died Tiberius became Roman Emperor
First emperor of Rome
Grand-nephew of Julius Caesar
Born Gaius Octavian
Changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian
Given the honorary name, “Augustus” by Senate
When he died, he was deified by the Senate
Tiberius became Roman Emperor

4. AD34 Jesus’ message is preached to non-Jews near Judea
From this time on, what will later be called “Christianity” will spread far beyond its original home in Judea among a small sect of Jews

5. AD37 Caligula becomes Roman Emperor
Tries to be deified, but the Senate will not have it

6. AD39 Paul begins to preach Jesus’ message
Had been called Saul
Was a devout Jew
Was very anti-Christian
Dramatic conversion while travelling to the Syrian city of Damascus to go kill more Christians
Became the greatest and best-known Christian missionary

7. AD40 The first Christian church is founded in Alexandria, Egypt.
An early Christian church is erected at Corinth, Greece.