EARLY MINISTRY

(Luke 1:1–9:62)

After relating details about the birth of John the Baptizer and of Jesus, Luke tells us that John began his ministry in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, that is, in the spring of 29 C.E. (Luke 3:1, 2) Jesus is baptized by John in the fall of that year. (Luke 3:21, 22) By 30 C.E., ‘Jesus returns into Galilee and begins to teach in their synagogues.’​—Luke 4:14, 15.

Jesus sets out on his first preaching tour of Galilee. He tells the crowd: “Also to other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 4:43) He takes along with him Simon the fisherman and others. He says: “From now on you will be catching men alive.” (Luke 5:1-11; Matt. 4:18, 19) The 12 apostles are with Jesus during his second preaching tour of Galilee. (Luke 8:1) On the third tour, he sends forth the 12 “to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.”​—Luke 9:1, 2.

JESUS’ LATER MINISTRY

(Luke 10:1–24:53)

Jesus sends forth 70 others in advance of him into cities and places in Judea. (Luke 10:1) He journeys “from city to city and from village to village, teaching.”​—Luke 13:22.

Five days before the Passover of 33 C.E., Jesus enters Jerusalem riding upon a colt. The time has come for the fulfillment of his words to his disciples: “The Son of man must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by the older men and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised up.”​—Luke 9:22, 44.