Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did the execution of St. John the Baptist take place?

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Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness — St. John the Baptist *John the Baptist in the Wilderness*, oil on panel by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 15th century; in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

The exact date of the execution of St. John the Baptist is not definitively recorded in historical sources. While some biographical accounts suggest he died between 28 and 36 CE, scholars rely on contextual evidence to narrow the timeline.1

Historical records indicate that his execution occurred before the defeat of Herod Antipas by King Aretas IV, which took place in 35–36 CE. This defeat was widely interpreted by contemporaries as divine retribution for the prophet's death. Additionally, according to the Gospels, John’s death preceded that of Jesus Christ, though further chronological precision remains dependent on the debated dates of Jesus' own ministry and death.2