For several years I’ve been interested in the history of the 1st century AD, and recently I came across two resources put together by Michal Hunt at Agape Bible Studies. The first resource lists the rulers in Judea during the first century (and some from the late 1st century BC), prior to Judea’s destruction by Roman armies in 67-70 AD. This includes the Herods, Prefects, and High Priests during this time period, along with dates and the corresponding Roman Emperors.

Rulers of Judea (Source)

Michal Hunt, Copyright © 1998, revised 2007 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.

Six different Herods are mentioned in the New Testament. Kenneth Berding at The Good Book Blog speaks further of their roles in first century history, concluding with this brief summary:

Herod the Great: Christmas story

Herod Archelaus: Joseph [went] to Nazareth instead of Bethlehem because of him

Herod Antipas: Killed John the Baptist

Herod Philip: Ruled area north and east of Galilee

Herod Agrippa I: Eaten by worms

Herod Agrippa II: Trial of Paul in Caesarea

Many of these different Herods, Roman Prefects, and High Priests are also mentioned in the writings of Josephus, including his famous War of the Jews (75 AD). The early church father, Remigius (437 – 533 AD), informs us that Herod Agrippa II protected a community of believing Jews in Pella (in modern Jordan) when they fled from Judea and Jerusalem in 67 AD in obedience to Jesus’ words (Matthew 24:15-20, Mark 13:14-19, Luke 21:20-23):

“[F]or on the approach of the Roman army, all the Christians in the province, warned, as ecclesiastical history tells us, miraculously from heaven, withdrew, and passing the Jordan, took refuge in the city of Pella; and under the protection of that King Agrippa, of whom we read in the Acts of the Apostles, they continued some time.”

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The second resource from Michal Hunt features a timeline of major events between 30 – 70 AD:

TIME LINE AD 30 – 70 (Source)

YEAR (AD)	EVENT
30	Yeshua the Nazorean [Jesus] is executed by the Romans. Three days later He rises from the dead. 40 days after His Resurrection He ascends to the Father. Fifty days after the Resurrection (ten days after the Ascension), on the Jewish Feast of Weeks (called the Feast of Pentecost by Greek-culture Jews) God the Holy Spirit descends upon and indwells the disciples waiting in the Upper Room. It is the Second Great Pentecost and the birth of the New Covenant Church.
33 – 34	Stephen is martyred. Christian persecution by Jews intensifies
35	Peter is Bishop of Antioch for 7 years
37	Roman Emperor Tiberius smothered to hasten his death
41	Emperor Caligula assassinated and succeeded by Claudius
42 -67	Peter goes to Rome to establish the headquarters of the Universal (Catholic) Church James the Just is Bishop of Jerusalem
43	Roman Emperor Claudius initiates conquest of Britain. Paul’s conversion
46 – 67	Paul’s missionary journeys
49 – 50	Council of Jerusalem
54	Emperor Claudius poisoned by his wife and succeeded by her son Nero
59	Nero orders the death of his mother
60	Nero murders his wife and marries Poppaea, a Jewish sympathizer. Queen Boudicca’s revolt in Britian
62	Parthians revolt against Rome. James Bishop of Jerusalem martyred
64	Great fire of Rome. Rome begins persecution of Christians
65	Nero murders his pregnant wife Poppaea
66	Roman procurator of Judea, Gessius Florus, murders 3,600 Jews (crucifying about 2,000) in May. May-Oct. Christians flee Judea. Jewish Revolt against Rome begins with massacre of Jerusalem Roman garrison in Oct. Roman gentiles of Caesarea kill 20,000 Jews Jewish army defeats and massacres the Roman garrison at Masada Gentiles of Damascus, Syria massacre 10,000 Jews Roman occupied cities across Judea, Samaria, Egypt, Syria,and Asia attack Jews. Roman General Cestius Gallus’ army defeated in Nov. and driven out Jews fight each other; 3 different factions. Each leader claims to be ‘messiah.’ Numerous earthquakes
67	General Vespasian and son Titus come across the Euphrates River; arrive in Judea from Syria with 4 Roman legions to destroy the Jewish revolt. Revolts against Rome in Gaul and Spain Peter and Paul executed in Rome (some time between 64-67?)
68 – 69	“The Year of Four Emperors” Nero commits suicide and is succeeded by Galba, Otho, and Vitellius who is succeeded by General Vespasian. Vespasian is named Emperor by Roman Senate Roman army destroys Qumran (community where Dead Sea Scrolls found)
70	General Titus begins siege of Jerusalem in March. It lasts 3.5 months. The 9th of Ab: the Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed by the Roman army. Jewish historian Josephus estimated the dead of Jerusalem at 1,197,000. Jews who survive revolt are sold into slavery

Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2000 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.

A more detailed timeline of events from 62 -70 AD can be seen here.