The Chronology of Christ's Crucifixion

The Chronology of Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection
By Taang Zomi

Let's do our homework first:

A 24-hour Ancient Egyptian (and Babylonian) Day begins at sunrise (about 6:00 a.m.) and ends at sunrise.

A 24-hour Julian Day begins at noon (about 12:00 p.m.) and ends at noon.

A 24-hour Hebrew (and Italian) Day begins at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.) and ends at sunset (Levititicus 23:32; also Genesis 1:5, 7, 13, 19, 23).

A 24-hour Day for most of the world (especially Gregorian Calendar) begins at midnight (about 12:00 a.m.) and ends at midnight.

There is a difference of about 6 hours between Hebrew Day and our Gregorian Day.

The sixth day of the week (in Hebrew calendar) ends at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.) on Friday (in our Gregorian Calendar), but Friday ends at midnight (12:00 a.m.), about 6 hours later.

The seventh day of the week (in Hebrew calendar) begins at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.)on Friday and ends at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.) on Saturday (in our Gregorian calendar). Saturday ends at midnight (12:00 a.m.), about 6 hours later.

The first day of the week (in Hebrew calendar) begins at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.) on Saturday and ends at sunset (about 6:00 p.m.) on Sunday (in Gregorian calendar). Sunday ends at midnight (about 12:00 a.m.), about 6 hours later.

Tuesday [early Nisan 14]: Jesus Christ ate an early-evening Passover meal with His disciples (at the beginning of Nisan 14, Jewish reckoning) and instituted the New Covenant symbols (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus was then betrayed by Judas, arrested and during the night brought before the high priest.

Wednesday [Nisan 14]: Jesus was crucified and died around 3 p.m. [on the daylight part of Nisan (or Abib) 14] (Matthew 27:46-50). This was the preparation day (Nisan 14) for the annual, not weekly, Sabbath, which began that evening (Nisan 15) (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31). Jesus' body was placed in the tomb at twilight (on Nisan 14) (Matthew 27:57-60).

Thursday [Nisan 15]: This (Nisan 15) was the high-day Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31; Leviticus 23:4-7). It is described as the day (Nisan 15) after the Day of Preparation (Nisan 14) (Matthew 27:62).

Friday [Nisan 16]: The high-day Sabbath (Nisan 15) now past, the women bought and prepared spices (on Nisan 16) for anointing Jesus' body before resting on the weekly Sabbath day (on Nisan 17), which began at sunset (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56).

Saturday [Nisan 17]: The women rested on the weekly Sabbath (on Nisan 17), according to the Fourth Commandment (Luke 23:56; Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus rose around sunset (on Nisan 17), exactly three days and three nights (72 hours) after burial, fulfilling the sign of Jonah and authenticating Jesus' Messiahship.

Sunday [Nisan 18]: The women brought the prepared spices early in the morning (on Nisan 18) while it was still dark (Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Jesus had already risen (Matthew 28:1-6; Mark 16:2-6; Luke 24:2-3; John 20:1). He did not rise on Sunday morning (on Nisan 18), but at sunset the day before (on Nisan 17).