In dating events in history, B.C.E. stands for Before the Common Era. C.E. stands for Common Era. These secular labels have become more common than B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domino, or In the Year of Our Lord). Still, the B.C.E. and C.E. system uses the birth of Jesus as its starting point. So, the year 30 B.C.E., for instance, is the same as 30 B.C.. The year 20 C.E. is the same as 20 A.D.