How long did John live after Jesus' baptism?

Answer 1

A:The first New Testament gospel written was Mark's Gospel, and that account has John the Baptist imprisoned almost immediately after the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:14) and apparently executed shortly afterwards. This is confirmed in Mark 6:14, where Herod feared that Jesus was John already come back to life. Very much the same time sequence is followed in Matthew and Luke, but John's Gospel says that the Baptist was still at liberty quite some time after (John 3:24), although he was executed long before the crucifixion of Jesus.

The historical account, by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, suggests not only that John the Baptist's execution took place long after the traditional time of Jesus' baptism and even after the crucifixion, but also that it took place in faraway Macherus and not necessarily by beheading. Josephus confirms that the reason for John's arrest was his public criticism of Herod Antipas' marriage to his own brother's former wife. The wedding took place in 34 CE and Antipas ordered John to be executed in 35 or 36 CE, out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

The start of the mission of Jesus traditionally took place in 29 CE, so if John baptised Jesus as stated in the gospels, he must have lived for a further five or six years, preaching quite independently of Jesus, before he was arrested and executed.