The Jesus Archive
The Chain of Witnesses

Who knew whom

How the testimony about Jesus passed from hand to hand, from the apostles to the bishops and scholars of the third century. Every thread is a claim in an ancient source; tap one to read it.

Follow a chain
In the earliest sources Reported by a student or near-contemporary Later tradition or disputed
The LordAD c. 30The ApostlesAD 30–90Their HearersAD 90–140The Next GenerationAD 140–195The Third GenerationAD 195–250AD 30AD 50AD 70AD 90AD 110AD 130AD 150AD 170AD 190AD 210AD 230AD 250Fall of Jerusalem, AD 70Jesusd. c. AD 30–33Peterd. c. 64–68Johnd. c. 100?Pauld. c. 64–67MMarkfl. 50s–60sLLukefl. 50s–80sClement of Romefl. c. 96Ignatiusd. c. 110Papiasfl. c. 110–130Polycarpc. 69–155Justin Martyrc. 100–165Tatianfl. c. 170Irenaeusc. 130–202HHippolytusc. 170–235PPantaenusfl. c. 180CClement of Alexandriac. 150–215Origenc. 185–253