Answer to: Where do people get the idea that Jesus' public ministry lasted for about 3 1/2 years.
Many times you will hear preachers mention the 3 1/2 year public ministry of Jesus in messages. The do not explain where they get that. In most cases it would distract from the topic at hand. The figure of about 3 1/2 years can be found in the book of John.
In the book of John you will find 4 different Passovers mentioned.
Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
Joh 11:55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
Joh 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
The Passover happened on the same day every year according to the Jewish lunar calendar so this gives us the 3 years.
Lev 23:4 These [are] the feasts of the LORD, [even] holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD'S passover.
The Passover was always on the 14th day of the first month.
- The time between the 4 Passovers was 3 years.
- From the first to the second is 1 year.
- From the second to the third makes 2 years.
- From the third to the forth makes 3 years.
That is were we get the 3 years. So why the half year?
Before the first Passover that is mentioned in the book of John
Allowing for traveling by foot and the time in the wilderness a good guess is about 6 months. The 1/2 year is just a best guess. It might have been less than that or a little longer. That is why we say that Jesus' public ministry was about 3 1/2 years.
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