Event New Testament
The baptism of Jesus
Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. As He came up from the water the Spirit descended on Him like a dove and a voice from heaven declared Him the beloved Son. This marks the public beginning of His ministry.
Why it matters. The Father, Son, and Spirit are all present at once, and Jesus identifies Himself with the people He came to save.
- Primary passages
- Dates
- AD 26 to 29 (approximate) (medium confidence, Luke 3:1 dates John's ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius)
Luke anchors the start of John's ministry to Tiberius's fifteenth year (about AD 28 or 29 depending on the counting method). Jesus's baptism follows soon after.
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
All four Gospels attest the event; John's Gospel reports the Baptist's testimony about it rather than narrating it directly.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The boy Jesus in the temple precedes The baptism of Jesus
Historical inferenceHigh confidenceLuke moves from the boy of twelve to the man of about thirty who comes to John for baptism.
Evidence:The ministry of John the Baptist precedes The baptism of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus comes to be baptized while John is baptizing in the Jordan.
Evidence:The baptism of Jesus precedes The temptation of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceImmediately after the baptism the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness.
Evidence:Jesus participates in The baptism of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus comes from Galilee to be baptized by John.
Evidence:John the Baptist participates in The baptism of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJohn is the one who baptizes Jesus in all three Synoptic accounts.
Evidence:The baptism of Jesus occurs at Jordan River
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Synoptic Gospels state that Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Evidence: