When was Jesus actually born?

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The Bible gives accurate information concerning the birth of Jesus the Messiah.

Luke 2:7 says “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

For accuracy let’s look at the birth of John the Baptist in Luke chapter one.

7 B.C. Luke 1:5 says “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”

The course of Abia is found in 1 Chronicles 24:7-19. Abijah was a Priest who worked in the temple in the Old Testament; hence the name “the course of Abia”.

There were 24, course’s or lots for the Priest to operate in. Each Priest worked for one week twice a year. The course of Abia was the eighth lot. The priest operated using the Ceremonial Calendar which corresponds from Nisan to Adar (April to March). The course of Abia or Abijah fell on the last week of May.

The Jews have two Calendars: the Ceremonial Calendar which started from (Nisan-Adar) April to March. And the Civil Calendar which was used for Births, New Years, Kings, and contracts. This Calendar started in (Tishri-Elul) October to September. This Calendar is the one that should be used to find out the birth of the Messiah.

Luke 1:26 says “And in the sixth (Elul) month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,”

Elul (Aug.-Sept.) is the sixth month of the Jewish Calendar.

The angel also tells Mary that Elisabeth is in her sixth month ( Lu.1:36). Which means she conceived in Nisan (April) of 7 B.C.

Mary has not conceived yet, but she stays with Elisabeth for three months. Most likely Elul-Chesvan.

Luke 1:57 says “Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.” Elisabeth brings forth in Tevet (Dec.-Jan.) of 6 B.C.

While Elisabeth gives birth in Tevet, Mary conceives in Elul (Aug.-Sept.) of 7 B.C.

Luke chapter 2, tells us that Caesar Augustus makes a decree that all the world be taxed.

Luke 2:2

“(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”

The word “when” can also be translated as the word “till” in this verse. Usually most taxation’s in this time period lasted from 10 to 12 years, hence till Cyrenius became Governor of Syria.

It was at this time that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be taxed. But she also being great with child brings forth Jesus around tax season.

Most likely Jesus was born on Sivan the 14th, at even or our May or June of 6 B.C.

History tells us that Herod died about 4 B.C. So Jesus would have been about 2 years old at the time of his death which makes perfect sense that Herod would order all male children two years old and under to be killed.

The wise men reach the child Jesus when he is a toddler in his boyhood home and present their gifts to him.

Anthony D. Booker