What Time Did Jesus Die On Good Friday

What time was Jesus crucified? What time did Jesus die on the cross?

Answer The gospel authors make a number of references to the period of Jesus’ crucifixion in their writings. When we put all of these allusions together, we may obtain an approximation of when time of day Jesus died. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) will be used in this article since it provides a literal translation of the time references given in the original Greek. We know that Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night and brought before Pilate the next morning. “Now when the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired together against Jesus, deciding that He should be put to death; and they tied Him, carried Him away, and handed Him to Pilate the governor,” Matthew 27:1–2.

Pilate, on the other hand, had to make the final call.

Pilate saw he was achieving nothing and that a riot was about to break out.

Then he freed Barabbas for them.

” When it was at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ (Who is like God?) in other words, ‘My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?’ In fact, when they heard it, several of the people who were gathered there immediately began to exclaim, ‘This man is asking for Elijah.’ So one of them dashed to the side of the road and, taking a sponge, filled it with sour wine, placed it on a reed, and handed it to Jesus to drink.

  1. The rest, on the other hand, replied, ‘Let us wait and see whether Elijah will arrive to save Him.’ And Jesus cried out with a loud voice once again, this time yielding up His spirit.
  2. Consequently, Jesus died “about the ninth hour,” according to Matthew.
  3. Mark 15:25 provides more detail, stating, “It was the third hour when they crucified Him,” and the rest of the tale is consistent with Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the hours of darkness and the death of Jesus.
  4. It was at the ninth hour when darkness descended from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, and Jesus died at about that time.
  5. Considering that a new day begins at midnight, the third hour would be 3:00 a.m., according to current reckoning.
  6. As a result, the third hour when Jesus was crucified would have been three hours after sunrise, or around 9:00 a.m.
  7. All of this is rather clear, except for the fact that John appears to record something entirely different.

It was approximately the sixth hour on the day of preparation for the Passover.” It was now the day of preparation for the Passover.

There are a number of plausible answers to the apparent disparity in the data.

If this is the case, the sixth hour would be approximately 6:00 a.m.

A.

605).

Andrew Kostenberger also notes that when referring to time in John 1:39, John appears to be referring to late afternoon (4:00 PM), rather than the traditional sunup-to-sundown frame of reference (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, “John,” Baker Academic, 2004, p.

As a result, it appears that the “Roman time” option is doubtful.

An early copyist of John, according to one view, mistyped the Greek numeral digamma (6 instead of 6) when writing the text (the Greek numeral gamma, or3).

606).

Even though Kostenberger does not necessarily agree with the notion, he speculates that John may be making a theological argument rather than seeking to provide a literal indicator of the time (op cit, p.

The choosing of the Paschal lamb would generally take place at midday on the day before Passover, according to tradition.

This approach, on the other hand, has its own set of chronological challenges.

Given that Jesus had previously eaten the Passover with His followers, it appears that the dinner itself had already taken place at that point in time.

538) and Carson (p.

The day was commonly split into three-hour blocks before the invention of watches and other exact timekeeping technologies, and people frequently approximated and rounded off the time.

(noon).

The nearest quarter or half hour is frequently used, even in current times when digital clocks can determine time to the second.

Alternatively, it is probable that John and Mark “rounded off” the timings as a matter of tradition.

“More than likely, we are in risk of requiring a level of accuracy in both Mark and John that could not have been accomplished in the days before watches,” Carson says.

“If the sun was moving toward the center of the sky, two separate observers may readily have peered up and determined that it was ‘approximately the third hour’ or ‘about the sixth hour,'” the author writes” (p.

Considering all of the evidence, it appears that Jesus was crucified at some point in the morning and died at some point later in the afternoon.

In this particular topic, the gospel authors were not excessively concerned with accuracy. In contrast, they were significantly more concerned with the theological ramifications, which they meticulously documented.

When Did Jesus Die? The Year, Day & Time

There has been much speculation concerning the day and year of Christ’s crucifixion and death, owing to the absence of clear day-to-day linkage in the stories of the four Gospels. We know that Jesus died on Preparation Day because it is mentioned in each of the four Gospel narratives. But was it a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday when that happened? In addition, what hour did Jesus die? There has even been discussion over the year in which he passed away. To figure out the day of Jesus’ death on the cross, we must piece together the evidence from his four Gospels and our understanding of his historical period and cultural context.

Cultural Information to Keep in Mind

1. The gospel writers were more concerned with depicting Jesus as a person than they were with the precise chronology of his appearance. Dates have become increasingly important in today’s environment in order to provide proper news coverage. However, the Gospel authors were more concerned with the events themselves than they were with the precise date of the occurrences. They were attempting to introduce Jesus to a variety of audiences rather than providing a thorough biography. It was the day before the Sabbath that was designated as the Day of Preparation.

This is the day on which Jews prepared meals and completed all of the tasks that were prohibited from being completed on the Sabbath but that still needed to be completed.

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What the Gospels Say about Jesus’ Burial

The Gospel of Matthew contains the most detailed account of Jesus’ death and burial (Matthew 27:31-62). In this tale, we learn about Joseph, a wealthy man from Arimathea “who had himself become a follower of Jesus,” according to one piece (Matthew 27:57 b). In Matthew 27:58-61, it is said that Joseph approached Pilate and begged for permission to bury Jesus’ body. “The next day, the day after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate,” we are told in Matthew 27:62. Joseph followed out this plan on Preparation Day.

In the Jewish calendar, it was Preparation Day (i.e., the day before the Sabbath).” (Matthew 15:42 a.) … Consequently, Joseph purchased some linen material, brought the corpse down from the casket, wrapped it in the linen, and buried it in a tomb dug into the rock.

Jesus died on the Day of Preparation, as confirmed by Luke and John: “Then he carried it down, wrapped it in linen fabric, and buried it in a tomb cut into the rock, in which no one had yet been lain.” As it happened, it was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin” (Luke 23:54).

As it happened, they placed Jesus there since it was the Jewish day of Preparation and because the tomb was close by (John 19:42).

What Day Did Jesus Die? Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?

Over the years, academics have developed a variety of hypotheses about what occurred during the days of the week preceding up to Jesus’ death on the cross. These versions each offer a different day for Christ’s death, such as Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

  • Wednesday The fact that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday permits for Him to have been buried for three full days and nights
  • Nevertheless, this also means that He resurrected on the fourth day. Furthermore, the Triumphal Entry would have taken place on Saturday, the day of Sabbath rest
  • Instead, it took place on Thursday. With a Thursday crucifixion, the Triumphal Entry is moved to Sunday, which makes more sense and removes the necessity for a “quiet day” (a day during thePassion Weekwhen no events were recorded). On the other hand, we know that the Pharisees hurried to put Jesus in the tomb on The Day of Preparation (John 19:34-42), which is Friday, and before the Sabbath began at nightfall (the Jews timed days from the beginning of the nightfall to the beginning of the nightfall). Upon closer examination of the facts, we find that Friday is the most consistent with the Gospel narratives and the historical context. According to the New Testament, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day—not necessarily after three complete, literal days—and was buried on the third day (e.g.,Matthew 16:21
  • Acts 10:40). As previously stated, Jesus had to be hustled inside the tomb on the day of preparation because of the crowds. In contrast to a Friday crucifixion, which would demand a “quiet day” (most likely Wednesday), this day gives the Sanhedrin the opportunity to make plans for Jesus’s arrest and following trials. As a result, the day is just “quiet” since we haven’t documented anything significant

What Time Did Jesus Die?

According to Matthew Henry’s interpretation, Jesus was nailed to the crucifixion between the third and sixth hours, which corresponds between nine and twelve o’clock in the morning. And soon after the ninth hour, that is, between three and four o’clock in the afternoon, he died. Commensurate with the aforementioned practice, the Jews throughout the time of Christ measured days from dusk to nightfall. The Matthew 27:46 KJV, which is the “ninth hour,” can be translated into the Matthew 27:46 NIV, which is the “three o’clock in the afternoon,” according to Bible experts.

Timing of Jesus Death in Mark, Luke, and John

  • The Gospel of Mark 15: 33:34, 37 “At midday, darkness descended across the entire region, lasting until three o’clock in the afternoon. Also, about three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus said, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” in an obnoxiously loud voice. (which translates as ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’). “Jesus breathed his last with a piercing scream.”
  • Matthew 23:44-46 ” It was now around midday, and darkness descended upon the entire region until three o’clock in the afternoon since the sun had ceased shining. And the temple’s curtain was split in two by the earthquake. I put my spirit into your hands,’ Jesus said with a resounding voice, calling out to the Father. At the moment he stated this, he exhaled his final breath.” (See also John 19:14-16.) “It was approximately midday on the day of Passover preparations, and it was the day of Passover preparations. ‘Your king has arrived,’ Pilate said to the Jews. They, on the other hand, cried out, “Take him away!” Take him away from me! Crucify him!’ ‘Shall I crucify your king?’ Pilate inquired. ‘We have no sovereign except Caesar,’ the leading priests said. Finally Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.”

What Year Did Jesus Die?

Doug Bookman, New Testament professor at Shepherds Theological Seminary, describes the consensus among biblical experts on the year Jesus died. “It boils down to this. We may identify fairly carefully that Pilate was prefect in Judea Samaria 26 A.D. – 36 A.D. So that’s our view out the window. The second issue becomes: On what day did Passover fall in the year Jesus died? In the minds of most, it fell on Thursday/Friday. From nightfall on Thursday till sundown on Friday, the event was taking place every day.

Theory 2:Jesus died in 33 A.D.

I am persuaded of 33 A.D.

3 Significant Events Shortly After Jesus’ Death

Matthew 27: 51-54, “ At that moment the curtain of the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The ground trembled, the rocks cracked and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many saintly persons who had died were brought to life. They came out of the graves after Jesus’ resurrection and proceeded into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had transpired, they were startled, and said, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 1.

  • This curtain divided worshipers in the temple from theArk of the Covenantand it’s summit – theMercy seat, where God would meet only the High Priest just once a year with an atonement offering.
  • After two men died doing it improperly, the Lord provided Moses detailed instructions inLeviticus 16on how to approach him without dying.
  • Further, the fact that the curtain was torn “ from top to bottom ” represented that it was torn by God himself, not by effort of any man.
  • An earthquake unsealed tombs, and dead saints were resurrected to life.
  • “These saints, I believe, remained on earth until our Lord’s ascension, and then, joining the entourage of angels, gloriously ascended with him to heaven, as trophies of his victory over sin, Satan, death, and the tomb,” Gill added.
  • Isaiah 26:19 says, “But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust wake up and cry for joy— your dew is like the dew of dawn; the earth will give birth to her dead.” This occurrence recounted in Matthew also fulfills the promise.

Jesus is brought back to life from the dead. This text in Matthew glosses over such a remarkable occurrence, but Christ’s resurrection is told in greater detail in Matthew 28, which is the gospel of Matthew (as well as inMark 16,Luke 24, andJohn 20). Photograph courtesy of Joshua Earle via Unsplash.

Relive Jesus Christ’s Final Hours of Passion and Suffering

Christians pay particular attention to the passion of Jesus Christ throughout the Easter season, particularly on Good Friday. The Lord’s final hours of torture and death on the cross lasted around six hours in duration. This chronology of Jesus’ death lays down the events of Good Friday as they are recounted in the Bible, including the events that occurred right before and immediately after the crucifixion of Jesus. Many of the actual timings of these occurrences are not recorded in Scripture, which is an essential point to emphasize.

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Take a look at thisHoly Week Timeline to get a more comprehensive picture of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and to walk those steps with him.

Timeline of Jesus’ Death

  • The Last Supper (Matthew 26:20-30
  • Mark 14:17-26
  • Luke 22:14-38
  • John 13:21-30)
  • In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46
  • Mark 14:32-42
  • Luke 22:39-45)
  • In the Garden of Gethseman Jesus is betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:47-56
  • Mark 14:43-52
  • Luke 22:47-53
  • John 18:1-11)
  • The Religious Leaders Condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:1-2
  • Mark 15:1
  • Luke 22:66-71)
  • Jesus is crucified (Matthew 27:1-2
  • Luke

Good Friday’s Events

Before the religious leaders could execute Jesus, they required the approval of the Roman government to carry out their death sentence. Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, who determined that there was no basis for charging him. Pilate ordered that Jesus be sent to Herod, who was present in Jerusalem at the time. Jesus refused to answer Herod’s inquiries, and as a result, Herod had him returned to the custody of Pilate. Despite the fact that Pilate deemed Jesus to be innocent, he was afraid of the people and condemned him to death.

He was forced to bear his own cross and was dragged away to the cross of Calvary.

6 AM

  • Jesus Is Put on Trial Before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-14
  • Mark 15:2-5
  • Luke 23:1-5
  • John 18:28-37)
  • Jesus Is Put on Trial Before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-14
  • Herod was summoned by Jesus (Luke 23:6-12)

7 AM

  • Luke 23:11 describes Jesus’ return to Pilate
  • Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, Luke 23:23-24, and John 19:16 describe Jesus’ death sentence. Luke 23:11 describes the return of Jesus to Pilate.

Jesus being scourged across the face, around 1897. Jesus was humiliated, tried, and tormented after his arrest and throughout the week leading up to his crucifixion, which took place during the week of his Passion. He gets chained to a post and whipped in the face in this scene. James Tissot is the artist behind this piece. Getty Images / Print Collector / Print Collector

8 AM

  • In Matthew 27:32-34, Mark 15:21-24, Luke 23:26-31, and John 19:16-17, we see Jesus being led away to Calvary.

The Crucifixion

To secure Jesus to the crucified, soldiers drove stake-like nails into Jesus’ wrist and ankle joints, securing him to the cross. He was given the title “The King of the Jews” and an inscription was erected above his head. For roughly six hours, Jesus hung on the cross, until he exhaled his last breath. Soldiers took turns drawing lots for Jesus’ garments while he was hanging on the cross. Onlookers hurled obscenities and jeered at the performers. Two criminals were nailed on the cross at the same time.

After then, the area was enveloped in darkness.

9 AM – “The Third Hour”

  • Jesus is crucified, according to Mark 15:25. “It was the third hour when they nailed Jesus on the cross” (NIV). According to Jewish time, the third hour would have been 9 a.m.
  • Father, Forgive Them(Luke 23:34)
  • The Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus’ Clothes(Mark 15:24)

10 AM

  • Jesus is slandered and mocked by the people. “And the people who passed by yelled insults and laughed, shaking their heads in mocking.” Matthew 27:39-40 “So! Is it true that you can demolish the Temple and reassemble it in just three days? So, if you are the Son of God, please save yourself and come down off the cross!” (NLT) Likewise, in Mark 15:31, the chief priests and professors of religious law insulted Jesus and his followers as well. It was said that “he saved others,” but “he can’t save himself!” they sneered. (NLT) Luke 23:36-37- The soldiers made fun of him as well, bringing him a glass of sour wine to drink. “If you are the King of the Jews, spare yourself!” they cried out to him from the crowd. In Luke 23:39, one of the convicts who was hanging there shouted accusations at Jesus, according to the New Living Translation “Isn’t it true that you’re the Christ? Save yourself as well as us!” (NIV)

11 AM

  • Jesus and the Criminal – Luke 23:40-43 – Jesus and the criminal The other criminal, on the other hand, scolded him. “”Don’t you have any fear of God,” he said, referring to the fact that they were both serving the same sentence. We are being punished fairly, since we are receiving the consequences of our actions. This individual, on the other hand, has done nothing wrong.” “Jesus, please keep me in mind when you come into your kingdom,” he continued. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise,” Jesus said in response to his question. (NIV)
  • Mary and John are addressed by Jesus in John 19:26-27.

Noon – “The Sixth Hour”

  • Jesus cries out to the Father (Matthew 27:46-47). And at about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? “My God, My God, why have You deserted Me?” says the speaker. (NKJV)
  • John 19:28-29: Jesus Is Thirsty (John 19:28-29)

2 PM

  • It Is Completed – John 19:30a- After tasting it, Jesus declared, “It is completed!” (NLT)
  • Father, I surrender my spirit into your hands, says Jesus in Luke 23:46. “Father, I commit my spirit into your hands,” Jesus said with a loud voice. When he had finished speaking, he took his last breath. (NIV)

The painting ‘The Descent from the Cross’ was created about 1890. From James Tissot’s The Life of our Savior Jesus Christ, we learn that Christ was carried down from the cross on which he had been crucified after he had been dead for three days. Collected prints, contributed images, and worked for Getty Images.

3 PM – “The Ninth Hour”

  • The Earthquake occurs, and the Temple Veil is torn in half – Matthew 27:51-52 The temple’s curtain was split in half from top to bottom at that same time. The ground trembled, and the rocks cracked open. The graves were opened, and the bodies of many holy individuals who had died were brought back to life by the might of God. “Surely Jesus was the Son of God!” said TheCenturion (New International Version). Jesus is nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:54
  • Mark 15:38
  • Luke 23:47)
  • The Soldiers Break the Thieves’ Legs (John 19:31-33)
  • The Soldier Pierces Jesus’ Side (John 19:34)
  • Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (Matthew 27:57-61
  • Mark 15:42-47
  • Luke 23:50-56
  • John 19:38-42)
  • Jesus Rises from the Dead (Matthew 28

What time of day did the crucifixion happen?

Earlier in the day, about 6 a.m. or shortly afterwards, the Jewish leaders arrived to Pilate’s office (see John 19:14). It was approximately seven o’clock in the morning on Friday when Herod was summoned to court. Jesus’ second trial before Pilate began about 8 a.m., and according to Mark 15:25, it concluded with the crucifixion taking place at “the third hour,” which corresponds to nine o’clock in the morning using the Jewish way of counting.

It was approximately 3 p.m. when Jesus cried out, “It is done,” and died on the crucifixion, which occurred around noon when He was hanging on the cross (see Matthew 27:45). (John 19:30).

The trials of Jesus

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was apprehended by the Jewish religious authorities at roughly midnight, according to the majority of commentaries. In the home of Caiaphas, He was put on trial for the first time at roughly one o’clock in the morning, and the second effort to accuse Him happened an hour or so later, at approximately two or three o’clock in the afternoon. Then, somewhere between three and four o’clock in the morning, the trial before the Sanhedrin took place before the court.

  • and the sun rises around 5:30 a.m.
  • and the sun rises around 5:30 a.m.
  • As a result, it was necessary to confirm it in broad daylight.
  • In the year of the crucifixion, Nisan 14, the day scheduled for the killing of the paschal lambs, occurred on a Thursday; the preparation for (or eve of) the Passover coincided with the preparation for (or eve of) the weekly Sabbath, resulting in a conflict between the two.
  • Mark 15:42 to 16:2; Luke 23:5 to 24:1).

7 Clues Tell Us *Precisely* When Jesus Died (the Year, Month, Day, and Hour Revealed)

When it comes to the killing of Jesus, how detailed can we be? Is it possible to pinpoint the precise date? We are in the midst of our yearly commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which began on Easter Sunday. All of us are aware that something like this occurred in Jerusalem during the first century. That distinguishes Jesus from mythological pagan deities, who were said to have lived in places and at times that no one could pinpoint precisely. When it comes to the killing of Jesus, how detailed can we be?

We have the ability to do so.

Clue1: The High Priesthood of Caiaphas

According to the gospels, Jesus was executed at the behest of Caiaphas, a high priest from the first century who was known for his ruthlessness (Matthew 26:3-4,John 11:49-53). Based on previous accounts, we know that he served as high priest from 18 to 36 A.D., which places Jesus’ death at that time period. However, we may be a little more particular. There’s a lot more.

Clue2: The Governorship of Pontius Pilate

All four gospels agree that Jesus was killed on Pontius Pilate’s orders, according to the New Testament (Matthew 27:24-26,Mark 15:15,Luke 23:24,John 19:15-16). Due to information from other sources, we know when he served as governor of Judea — from A.D. 26 to 36 — and hence can restrict the time period down by several years. Nevertheless, how are we going to narrow the scope to a single day and year?

Clue3: After “the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius Caesar”

The beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry is specified in the Gospel of Luke as follows: In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign.the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert, where he remained for forty days. This specifies a certain year, namely A.D. 29. Because all four gospels represent Christ’s ministry beginning after that of John the Baptist (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, and John 1), we may trim a few more years off our estimated time frame for his birth.

The death of Christ has to take place within a seven-year time span: between A.D. 29 and A.D. 36.

Clue4: Crucified on a Friday

There is unanimous agreement among the four gospels that Jesus was crucified on a Friday (Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:42), immediately before a Sabbath, which was just before the first day of the week (Luke 23:54; John 19:42). (Matthew 28:1,Mark 16:2,Luke 24:1,John 20:1). Due to the fact that Friday was designated as “the day of preparation,” we know it was a Friday. This means that it was the day on which Jews made the preparations they required for the Sabbath, as they were not permitted to work on that day.

  • According to the Jewish Encyclopedia: Friday is referred to as ‘Ereb Shabbat’ since it is the day before Shabbat (The Eve of Sabbath).
  • In Josephus’ Antiquitiesxvi.
  • The day is referred to as “Yoma da-‘Arubta” in Yer.
  • 1 of the Jewish calendar (Day of Preparation).
  • 29 and 36, despite the fact that six days of the week were eliminated.
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Clue5: A Friday at Passover

It is also agreed upon by the gospel writers that Jesus was crucified in connection with the yearly festival of Passover (Matthew 26:2,Mark 14:1,Luke 22:1,John 18:39). We get into a slight snag here since the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke characterize the Last Supper on Holy Thursday as a Passover feast (Matthew 26:19,Mark 14:14,Luke 22:15). That would imply that Good Friday occurred the day after Passover was observed. On the other hand, while recounting the morning of Good Friday, John makes it clear that the Jewish rulers had not yet eaten the Passover meal.

  1. It was still early in the morning.
  2. As a result, Pilate walked out to meet them.
  3. There are a variety of options for dealing with this situation.
  4. Another possibility is that Jesus simply moved the date of the Passover celebration for him and his disciples forward a few days.
  5. In the event that he announces, “We’re celebrating Passover today,” and it happens to be a day earlier than most people are used to, they would just accept it.
  6. No matter what Jesus’ movement did, we may use John’s remark about the kidnappers of Jesus to determine what the Jewish authorities or mainstream Judaism were like in those days: They were beginning their Passover celebrations on Friday evening, which is what we would call Friday.

Because of this, we can reduce the range of probable dates down to only a handful. The following is a comprehensive list of the days between A.D. 29 and 36 on which Passover began in the evening:

  • Monday, April 18, the year 29
  • Friday, April 7, the year 30
  • Tuesday, March 27, the year 31
  • Monday, April 14, the year 32
  • Friday, April 3, the year 33
  • Wednesday, March 24, the year 34
  • Tuesday, April 12, the year 35
  • And Saturday, March 31, the year 36

As you can see, there are just two candidates remaining on the table: Jesus was crucified on either April 7th, A.D. 30 or April 3rd, A.D. 33, depending on the source. Which one was it, exactly? The year A.D. 33 is generally accepted as the date. There are a significant number of people that support the A.D. 30 date in today’s world. Do the gospels provide us the option of choosing between the two?

Clue6: John’s Three Passovers

So, as you can see, we’re down to only two remaining candidates: Either on April 7, A.D. 30, or on April 3, A.D. 33, Jesus was crucified, depending on which date you believe in. So, which one did it happen to be. Traditionally, the year A.D. 33 is used as the date. People who believe that the year 30 A.D. should be observed are numerous today. What do the gospels say about our ability to choose between the two options?

  • Jesus’ first public appearance was during the Passover Seder, which was described in John 2:13, towards the beginning of his career. 2nd Passover: This event is mentioned in John 6:4 and takes place in the midst of Jesus’ career. Passover3: This is mentioned in John 11:55 (and has been referenced several times thereafter), and it occurs near the conclusion of Jesus’ career.

That implies that Jesus’ ministry had to have lasted at least a couple of years longer than that. An in-depth examination would disclose that it lasted around three and a half years; yet, even if we believe that it began immediately before Passover1, the inclusion of two additional Passovers demonstrates that it lasted at the very least more than two years. That indicates the A.D. 30 deadline has passed. A ministry of at least two years cannot be accommodated in the period available between the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (A.D.

The numbers don’t add up in this case.

Is it possible to be any more specific?

Clue7: “The Ninth Hour”

Jesus died about “the ninth hour,” according to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Matthew 27:45-50,Mark 15:34-37,Luke 23:44-46). The “ninth hour” is what we would regard to as 3:00 p.m. in our modern day. This permits us to narrow down the time of Jesus’ death to a very particular point in history: approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33, on the third day of the first month of the first century. Of course, there are a slew of thorough counter-arguments that I haven’t had time to address in this article.

This is the exact moment it occurred.

What Now?

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If you’re interested in learning more about them, just sign up using this convenient sign-up form: If you have any problems, please contact me through email. And in the meanwhile, what are your thoughts? The original version of this item published on April 10, 2013, at the Register.

The Day Christ Died – Was it on a Thursday or Friday?

Following the teachings of Jesus, Christian tradition places his final lunch with his followers on Thursday evening and his crucifixion on Friday, which we name “Good Friday.” We now know that there is a one-day holiday. Wednesday night was Jesus’ final dinner, and he was crucified on Thursday, the 14th of the Hebrew month Nisan, the following day. The actual Passover dinner was served on Thursday night, at sundown, to mark the beginning of the 15th of Nisan. That Passover supper was never consumed by Jesus.

  1. on Thursday afternoon, according to his family.
  2. This alternate chronology allows all of our parts from our different sources, including the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John, and the Gospel of Peter, to fit together seamlessly and accurately.
  3. Everyone concluded that the allusion to “the Sabbath” had to be referring to Saturday, which meant that the crucifixion had to have taken place on a Friday.
  4. In the year 30 AD, Friday, the 15th of the Jewish month of Nisan, was also a Sabbath, resulting in two Sabbaths occurring back to back – Friday and Saturday – for the first time in recorded history.
  5. As is typically the case, the gospel of John retains a more exact chronology of what transpired during the time period under consideration.
  6. John is well aware that the Jews would be gathering for their customary Seder supper on Thursday night.
  7. Some have even suggested that Jesus may have eaten the Passover feast a day early, knowing full well that he would die the next day.

However, the truth remains that Jesus did not partake in the Passover supper in 30 CE.

He had been hurriedly interred in a tomb until after the celebration, when formal and complete Jewish funeral procedures could be carried out in accordance with tradition.

As an example, in Luke, Jesus tells his disciples at the final meal: “I sincerely want to share this Passover with you before I suffered, but I will not share it until the fulfillment of this Passover in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:14).

Furthermore, all of our sources state that Jesus shared “a loaf of bread” with his followers, using the Greek term (artos) that refers to an ordinary loaf, not the unleavened flat bread or matzos that Jews eat during their Passover feasts.

If this meal had been the Passover supper, Paul would have wanted to say something like that, but he doesn’t want to.

Sanhedrin 67a and 43a)

You Asked: What Time Did Jesus Die?

Late-Christian tradition dates the Last Supper with Jesus’ followers to Thursday evening, and his crucifixion to Friday morning, which is currently known as Good Friday. The fact that it is one day off has finally been revealed to us. Wednesday night was Jesus’ last dinner, and he was crucified on Thursday, the 14th of the Hebrew month Nisan, on the day he was crucified. On Thursday night, at sundown, when the 15th of Nisan started, the traditional Passover dinner was consumed. That Passover supper was never attended by Jesus.

  • local time on Thursday.
  • Our parts from our numerous sources, including the Synoptic Gospels, John’s Gospel, and the Gospel of Peter are all able to fit together thanks to this alternate timeline.
  • This led to some skepticism.
  • According to Jewish tradition, the day of Passover itself is also a “Sabbath” or day of rest – regardless of the weekday it falls on in the calendar month of April.
  • According to Matthew, the ladies who visited Jesus’ tomb arrived early on Sunday morning “after the Sabbaths,” indicating that they were aware of this (Matthew 28:1).

This was the “final supper” on Wednesday night, according to John, which occurred “before the celebration of Passover.” He further mentions that when Jesus’ accusers handed him to be killed on Thursday morning, they would not enter Pilate’s courtyard because they would be soiled and would not be able to have the Passover meal that evening because they would be filthy (John 18:28).

  • It is possible to obtain the notion that the “Last Supper” was a Passover feast while reading the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke.
  • However, the truth is that in 30 CE, Jesus did not partake in the Passover supper.
  • Until after the celebration, when formal and complete Jewish funeral procedures could be performed, he had been quickly interred in a tomb.
  • At that final dinner, Jesus tells his disciples, “I really desired to share this Passover with you before I suffered, but I will not eat it until it is completed in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:19).
  • After a subsequent copyist of the manuscript included the word “again” to make it read “I won’t eat it again,” the narrative had emerged that Jesus had observed Passover that night and had altered the celebration of the holiday to the Christian Eucharist or Mass.
  • Another point to note is that when Paul speaks of the “last supper,” he does not say “on the night of Passover,” but rather “on the night Jesus was betrayed,” and he also refers to the “loaf of bread” (1 Corinthians 11:23).
  • The article “The Last Supper and the Passover” provides further background information on this topic.

According to the Talmud, “Yeshua the Nazarene was hung on Erev Pesach,” which literally means “on the eve of Passover,” which means “on the eve of the festival of Passover” (b. Sanhedrin 67a and 43a)

How Jews Understood Time in the Day and Night

First and foremost, we must keep in mind that we, in the Western world, are exceedingly time sensitive, and we keep track of the passage of time down to the second. “Time notations from the time of Christ and earlier were extremely inaccurate, having little or no similarity to the current sense of timeliness,” explains Johnny V. Miller. Sundials were not often used in the first century, and there was no time unit smaller than the “hour” that was widely accepted. Second, Jews believed that a day consisted of 12 hours, from sunrise to sunset, and that this indicated the length of a day.

  • Third, Jews used to split the day into three halves using three reference points.
  • 20:1-9).
  • 27:45;Mark 15:25,33;Luke 23:44;John 19:14).
  • The Lord instructs his followers to remain alert when discussing the approaching return of the Messiah, saying, “For you do not know when your lord ofthe house will arrive, in the evening or at midnight, or at first light of the dawn, or in the morning” (Mark 13:35).
  • Kevin Lipp created the following useful graphic assistance for us:
See also:  What Is The Gospel Of Jesus

What Is Going on in Mark 15:25 and John 19:14?

When we come to a passage like Mark 15:25, it is probably best to understand the expression “the third hour” not as a precise reference to 9 a.m., but rather as an approximate reference to midmorning—from 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. until 10 or 10:30 a.m. When we come to a passage like Mark 15:25, it is probably best to understand the expression “the third hour” not as a precise reference to 9 a.m., but Similarly, the “sixth hour” might refer to any period between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.

Note that the “hours” were only rough estimations of the sun’s location in a quadrant of the sky, so keep that in mind.

and two witnesses were to look at the sun in the sky, one may round down to “about the third hour” and the other could round up to “about the sixth hour,” depending on other factors they would want to emphasize during the sentencing (for example, if John wants to highlight in particular the length of the proceedings and that the final verdict concerning the Lamb of God is not far off from the noontime slaughter of lambs for the Sabbath dinner of Passover week).

At the end of the day, there is no final contradiction, especially given the fact that John provides an estimate (“approximately”) of something that was never intended to be accurate to begin with.

How do we understand the timing of the Great 3 Days?

How can we make sense of three days if Jesus died on Friday and rose from the dead on Sunday? Christians commemorate the salvific events of Jesus Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection over the course of three days, which we refer to as the “Great Three Days” (Triduum in Latin). The gospels all confirm that Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week, early in the morning. Matthew 28:1 (NIV): “After the Sabbath, when the first day of the week was beginning to rise.” Mark 16:1-2 (NIV): It was “after the Sabbath had ended.

Have questions?We have answers!

Fill out the form below to ask your questions and to view further FAQs. Luke 24:1 (ASKFAQSLuke 24:1): “It was the first day of the week at the crack of dawn.” “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark,” says John in verse 1. Sunday is the first working day of the week. The day begins with sunset in that culture, as it does throughout the Bible, rather than with dawn or midnight. Saturday’s Sabbath came to an end at dusk. Sunday officially began just after sunset. Three days may not always equate to 72 hours.

It entails three different days, which are distinguished by the arrival and departure of the sun.

  • The Last Supper and the Great Commandment will be held on Thursday. The beginning of the first day is marked by the setting of the sun (Eve of Friday). Jesus is taken into custody and tried
  • Friday morning: The first day continues with the execution of Jesus, his removal from the cross, and his burial
  • Friday night at sundown: The second day has begun. Friday evening/Saturday morning
  • Saturday (from dawn to sunset): Jesus is laid to rest in the tomb. The third day begins at sunset on Saturday. Saturday evening
  • Sunday morning: The third day continues, and Jesus is risen from the grave

From at least the third century A.D., this method of determining the beginning and end of Holy Week has remained constant in Christian practice, both East and West. It was created by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, which may be found here.

Did Jesus Really Die on Good Friday?

In the same way, the Son of Man will spend three days and three nights in the core of the earth. Matthew 12:39-40 is a biblical passage. During what we call Good Friday, many of us remember Jesus’ death on the cross in a solemn manner. Then we look ahead to Sunday, the day of His magnificent resurrection from the dead. Because every word of the Bible is truthful and accurate, we may be certain that He did, in fact, die and rise from the dead on the third day, just as He said He would. But, more specifically, when was the third day?

Or was He conveying time in an emphatic manner, as was customary at the period?

Understanding the Hebrew calendar in connection with Scripture, on the other hand, aids us in discovering a viable solution.

Jesus’ “Three Days and Three Nights”

It is recorded in Matthew 12 that Jesus and the Pharisees had a weird conversation. The Pharisees demanded astronomical proof that Jesus was the Son of God, which Jesus refused to provide. They inquired not because they wished to adore Him in the future, but rather to have a legitimate justification to assassinate Him. As a result, they approached Him and requested for a sign. However, Jesus begins by criticizing the Pharisees, implying that he was not going to provide a definitive solution to the question.

  • “ “An wicked and adulterous age wants a sign, and no sign will be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonah,” He responded.
  • When it came to describing a unit of time at the period, the term “three days and three nights” was generally considered a bit strange.
  • Some claim that “three days and three nights” might be a slang term for “a few days,” while others believe it is a literal translation.
  • It does not matter if it is the conclusion of one day, the entire second day, or merely the beginning of the third day; it is still considered to be three days.
  • Because Jesus being who He is, it’s likely that He meant a real three days and three nights.
  • In the case of Jesus’ death on a Friday and resurrection on the following Sunday, it’s just three days and two nights unless we use the Hebrew calendar, which it doesn’t appear that Jesus used.

He stated that it will take three days and three nights in all. As a result, we would have to provide evidence to support the biblical timetable of events during His final week on the planet. In other words, it’s possible that He wasn’t crucified on a Friday, but rather on a Thursday.

The Day of Unleavened Bread

Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7, and John 13:1 all provide plausible proof that Jesus died on a Thursday, and we may locate this information in Mark 14:12. On the Day of Unleavened Bread, also known as the Day of Preparation, according to each of these Scriptures, the disciples prepared the Passover feast in the upper chamber, according to the tradition. The morning and afternoon leading up to Passover, which begins at nightfall, constitutes a portion of this day. In the temple, priests were busy preparing the sacrifice animals, while people were thorough cleaning their houses.

This year, the LORD’s Passover is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight.

Immediately following the Day of Unleavened Bread, we begin the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days (Day of Preparation).

Nisan 14

Scholars generally agree that Jesus died in the year 30 A.D. Following the Hebrew calendar, Nisan 14 in the year 30 A.D. fell on a Wednesday, which meant that the disciples were able to prepare the upper room for the Passover dinner on Wednesday. The gospels of Mark, Luke, and John record that Jesus and His followers had their Passover dinner together more than twenty-four hours before the rest of the world. Some might wonder why Jesus chose to have the Passover feast so early in the day. Why didn’t He simply consume it at the same time as the rest of the group?

It is a highly important day in the Jewish calendar.

The Lord’s Supper (communion) had to be instituted, and He had to attend three fake trials that were miles apart, undergo torture, drag His cross up to Golgotha, and hang on the cross for six hours to accomplish this.

Matthew’s Interpretation

There is no evidence in the Bible other than the Gospel of Matthew that they celebrated Passover at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (26:17). This might cause an interpretative issue until we realize that Matthew authored his gospel by arranging events according to topic rather than chronological order, and that this is a good thing. As stated in the MacArthur Commentaries, Matthew does not attempt to establish a perfect chronological order; instead, he merely outlines major issues such as the Sermon on the Mount and the parables.

The fact that Nisan 14 was a Wednesday in 30 A.D., notwithstanding Matthew’s statements, remains unaffected by his writings.

What About Sunday?

For example, if Jesus and his followers were caught after eating the Passover feast on a Wednesday evening, this would indicate that Jesus died on Thursday, rather than Friday. However, according to the Hebrew calendar, this creates an additional issue. If Jesus was crucified on a Thursday, it would indicate He had been dead for four days and three nights at the time of His execution. Please remember that under the Hebrew calendar, every part of a day counts as a whole day. As a result, the “four days and three nights” idea cannot be valid because Jesus stated that He would be dead for just three days and three nights in the Gospel of John.

One explanation holds that even if Jesus died on a Thursday, He would still have fulfilled the prophecy of the “three days and three nights,” since Thursday is day one, Friday is day two, and Saturday is day three of the three-day prophecy.

According to this idea, Jesus was dead from Thursday to Saturday (three days), but by Sunday, He had been risen, indicating that He was not killed on that day as previously thought.

Double Sabbaths

When Jesus arrives in disguise and accompanies the two unidentified disciples on their journey to Emmaus, the story is told in Luke 24:19–24. In the course of their walk, one of the guys explains to the stranger everything that occurred between Jesus’ death and resurrection. “Now behold, two of them were walking that same day to a hamlet named Emmaus,” according to verse 19, indicating that this occurrence took place on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. According to the Scriptures, it was the first day of the week, which in Jewish culture is Sunday, as recorded in Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1.

  1. This explanation is consistent with contemporary assumptions that Jesus died on a Friday.
  2. Passover is an automatic Sabbath day (also known as a High Sabbath), during which no one is required to conduct any labor.
  3. Following the conclusion of the High Sabbath, the Jews immediately began observing the normal Sabbath, which ran from Friday evening until Saturday evening.
  4. Having to be taken down from the crucifixion and entombed before Passover began meant that Jesus’ body had to be removed from the crucified and entombed before the holiday, or else it would have been allowed to decay in a mass Roman burial for two days.
  5. It was critical that Jesus’ corpse be taken down before the Passover celebrations began.
  6. Luke 23:54 further indicates that Jesus died on Thursday, the Day of Unleavened Bread, as the Scriptures said he did (Day of Preparation).

” On that particular day, it was the Preparation, and the Sabbath was approaching.” I have added verses 53 and 54 to Luke 23:53 and 23:54.) The following illustration may be useful in understanding the sequence of events that occurred throughout that week: The Events of Jesus’ Last Four Days

Jesus is All That Matters

It may come as a surprise to many Christians to learn that Jesus’ death did not take place on the day of the Crucifixion on Friday. However, if the Hebrew calendar is true, we must be open to the possibility of it being correct. Although the evidence appears to point to Friday as the proper day, some may still maintain that it is not the case. Possibly, however as one hermeneutics expert observed, “the timeline given by proponents of such perspectives is neither needed nor supported by Scripture.” It makes no difference on which day Jesus died on the cross or resurrected from the dead.

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