Time features of Jesus’ ministry are also covered by Daniel 9:24-27, which foretells the passage of 69 weeks of years (483 years) “from the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Leader.” According to Nehemiah 2:1-8, this word went forth “in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes,” king of Persia. When did Artaxerxes begin his reign? His father and predecessor, Xerxes, died in the latter part of 475 B.C.E. Artaxerxes’ accession year thus began in 475 B.C.E., and this is supported by strong evidence from Greek, Persian, and Babylonian sources.

19. (a) Counting from “the twentieth year of Artaxerxes,” how do we determine the date of Messiah’s appearance? (b) How was the prophecy of the 70 “weeks” fulfilled from this date?

¹⁹ Thus, “the twentieth year of Artaxerxes” would be 455 B.C.E.