On what day was Jesus crucified and buried on?

[Quasar92]

The Bible does not explicitly state on which day of the week Jesus was crucified. The two most widely held views are Friday and Wednesday. Some, however, using a synthesis of both the Friday and Wednesday arguments, argue for Thursday as the day.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Those who argue for a Friday crucifixion say that there is still a valid way in which He could have been considered in the grave for three days. In the Jewish mind of the first century, a part of day was considered as a full day. Since Jesus was in the grave for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday—He could be considered to have been in the grave for three days. One of the principal arguments for Friday is found in Mark 15:42, which notes that Jesus was crucified “the day before the Sabbath.” If that was the weekly Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, then that fact leads to a Friday crucifixion. Another argument for Friday says that verses such as Matthew 16:21 and Luke 9:22 teach that Jesus would rise on the third day; therefore, He would not need to be in the grave a full three days and nights. But while some translations use “on the third day” for these verses, not all do, and not everyone agrees that “on the third day” is the best way to translate these verses. Furthermore, Mark 8:31 says that Jesus will be raised “after” three days.

The Thursday argument expands on the Friday view and argues mainly that there are too many events (some count as many as twenty) happening between Christ's burial and Sunday morning to occur from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Proponents of the Thursday view point out that this is especially a problem when the only full day between Friday and Sunday was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. An extra day or two eliminates that problem. The Thursday advocates could reason thus: suppose you haven't seen a friend since Monday evening. The next time you see him it is Thursday morning and you say, “I haven’t seen you in three days” even though it had technically only been 60 hours (2.5 days). If Jesus was crucified on Thursday, this example shows how it could be considered three days.

The Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion [Mark 15:42; Luke 23:52-54]), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39, where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath” (Luke 23:56). The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath.

Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40, is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly when He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday (John 20:1, Mary Magdalene came “while it was still dark”), so He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews.

A possible problem with the Wednesday view is that the disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus did so on “the same day” of His resurrection (Luke 24:13). The disciples, who do not recognize Jesus, tell Him of Jesus' crucifixion (24:21) and say that “today is the third day since these things happened” (24:22). Wednesday to Sunday is four days. A possible explanation is that they may have been counting since Wednesday evening at Christ's burial, which begins the Jewish Thursday, and Thursday to Sunday could be counted as three days.

Edit by Quasar: Except for the fact He was buried before sunset, preceding Preparation day, on the day He was crucified. Theoretically on Wednesday, in this case, and therefore He would have risen sometime on Saturday and observed for the first time on the first day of the week].

In the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.


Quasar92

 

[valiant]

The Bible does not explicitly state on which day of the week Jesus was crucified. The two most widely held views are Friday and Wednesday. Some, however, using a synthesis of both the Friday and Wednesday arguments, argue for Thursday as the day.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Those who argue for a Friday crucifixion say that there is still a valid way in which He could have been considered in the grave for three days. In the Jewish mind of the first century, a part of day was considered as a full day. Since Jesus was in the grave for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday—He could be considered to have been in the grave for three days. One of the principal arguments for Friday is found in Mark 15:42, which notes that Jesus was crucified “the day before the Sabbath.” If that was the weekly Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, then that fact leads to a Friday crucifixion. Another argument for Friday says that verses such as Matthew 16:21 and Luke 9:22 teach that Jesus would rise on the third day; therefore, He would not need to be in the grave a full three days and nights. But while some translations use “on the third day” for these verses, not all do, and not everyone agrees that “on the third day” is the best way to translate these verses. Furthermore, Mark 8:31 says that Jesus will be raised “after” three days.

The Thursday argument expands on the Friday view and argues mainly that there are too many events (some count as many as twenty) happening between Christ's burial and Sunday morning to occur from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Proponents of the Thursday view point out that this is especially a problem when the only full day between Friday and Sunday was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. An extra day or two eliminates that problem. The Thursday advocates could reason thus: suppose you haven't seen a friend since Monday evening. The next time you see him it is Thursday morning and you say, “I haven’t seen you in three days” even though it had technically only been 60 hours (2.5 days). If Jesus was crucified on Thursday, this example shows how it could be considered three days.

The Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion [Mark 15:42; Luke 23:52-54]), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39, where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath” (Luke 23:56). The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath.

Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40, is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly when He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday (John 20:1, Mary Magdalene came “while it was still dark”), so He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews.

A possible problem with the Wednesday view is that the disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus did so on “the same day” of His resurrection (Luke 24:13). The disciples, who do not recognize Jesus, tell Him of Jesus' crucifixion (24:21) and say that “today is the third day since these things happened” (24:22). Wednesday to Sunday is four days. A possible explanation is that they may have been counting since Wednesday evening at Christ's burial, which begins the Jewish Thursday, and Thursday to Sunday could be counted as three days.

Edit by Quasar: Except for the fact He was buried before sunset, preceding Preparation day, on the day He was crucified. Theoretically on Wednesday, in this case, and therefore He would have risen sometime on Saturday and observed for the first time on the first day of the week].

In the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.


Quasar92

God's word clearly showed it was on a Friday, the only day which explains the women's delay in anointing Jesus. But you can imagine what you will, it goes along with your other heresies.

 

[prove-all]

When the Pharisees asked Christ for a sign as proof of His Messiahship, being in
the grave three full days and three full nights was the one and only sign Jesus gave.
He meant what He said. In another passage, He even referred to the daylight portion
of a day as including 12 hours (John 11:9).

God’s days begin and end at sunset, the actual Passover ceremony that Jesus
observed with His disciples occurred Tuesday night—the beginning of
the 14th day of the first month on the Hebrew calendar.

On Tuesday afternoon, the disciples had asked Jesus about where to
make preparations for the service (Matthew 26:17).

That night, during the ceremony, Jesus changed the symbols,
explaining that He was now that Passover sacrifice (Matthew 26:26-28).

After that Passover service, they went out into the Mount of Olives (verse 30).
Christ spent much of the night praying while His disciples slept (verses 36-45).

Early Wednesday morning, while it was still dark (John 18:3),
Judas came with the multitude to arrest Christ (Matthew 26:47-50).

The crucifixion occurred later that same day

At the “ninth hour” of the 14th, Jesus cried out (Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37;
Luke 23:44-46). This would have been at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.

That night, at sunset, marked the beginning of [the first day of Unleavened Bread]
—one of God’s holy days, as outlined in Leviticus 23 (see also Numbers 28:16-17).

The weekly Sabbath, of course, is on Saturday the 7th day of week.

But the first day of Unleavened Bread was the first of seven annual sabbaths instituted
by God. Since most people do not observe God’s holy days today, they do not know that
the Bible also refers to these days as sabbaths (see Leviticus 16:31; 23:24, 26-32, 39).


In John 19:30, Jesus bowed His head and said, “It is finished.” the very next verse:

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain
upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away” (verse 31).

Here is where so many scholars jump the track. They assume that because the day of
Christ’s crucifixion is referred to as “the preparation” prior to “the sabbath”
(Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54) that it must have been on Friday.

But as John points out, the preparation day was actually before a sabbath that
was a “high day”—an annual holy day.


John 19:32-42 explain what happened between Christ’s death and His burial.
42: “There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day;
for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

They buried Him late Wednesday afternoon, before sunset, because, according
to Jewish customs, all dead bodies had to be buried before the Sabbath,
whether weekly or annual. So Christ died on the afternoon of the 14th at 3 p.m.

He was buried later that afternoon before sunset. From that point, all we have
to do is count three days and three nights to know when He was resurrected.

the Gospel account in Matthew to continue following the course of events.

“Now the next day [after the Passover], that followed the day of the preparation,
the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember
that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again”
(Matthew 27:62-63).

Even these deceived Jews knew what Christ said! After three days and three nights
—not one day and two nights—“I will rise again”!


So Pilate set a watch on the sepulcher for three days and nights. The story
continues in the first verse of the next chapter.

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre” (Matthew 28:1).

Here again is where so many trip up—mainly because of a poor translation.

The King James, along with just about every other Bible version, translates
the first part of this verse, “In the end of the sabbath” or “after the sabbath.”


But if you study the Greek text, you learn that the word for sabbath is
actually plural! “After the sabbaths,” it should read.

Jesus crucified on a Wednesday afternoon and buried later that evening,
before sunset. The next day, Thursday, was an annual sabbath. The day
after that, was preparation day for the regular weekly Sabbath.

The reason Matthew refers to sabbaths, plural, is because there were
two sabbaths that week! When Matthew says Mary came early Sunday morning,
before dawn, after one of the sabbaths, he is referring to the weekly Sabbath.

-

There is one more sequence of events that provides additional support for
the 72-hour time frame and the fact that there were two “sabbaths” this week.

Mark 16:1 says Mary Magdalene and her companions bought spices
“when the sabbath was past.” They were planning to prepare these
ointments and spices so that they might anoint the body of Jesus.

Yet Luke 23:56 says they prepared these spices and then rested on
the weekly Sabbath day. Compare these two texts carefully.

Christ inspired four different Gospel accounts to be written so that all the
important details of His life might be canonized. Mark said these women
bought the spices after the sabbath was past. Luke said they prepared
the spices before the Sabbath arrived.


Those who hold to the Good Friday-Easter belief must conclude that these
verses are a glaring contradiction. They are not! They complement each
other perfectly, if you understand that there were two sabbaths that week.


The women bought the spices on Friday, after the annual sabbath on Thursday.
They prepared the spices that same day, before the weekly Sabbath,
and then rested on the Sabbath according to God’s command.

When Mary approached the tomb early Sunday morning, before sunrise,
an angel nearby exclaimed, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come,
see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6).

There were no eyewitnesses to Christ’s resurrection,
and there is only one historical record: the Holy Bible.

Christ’s proof of His messiahship was singular:
the length of time He would be in the ground.

Yes indeed! He had already risen—the day before, just prior to sunset
at the end of the weekly Sabbath.

His death, burial and resurrection happened precisely the way
He prophesied it would happen.

 

[Adstar]

I believe Jesus was crucified on Wednesday April the 3rd 30 AD and was placed in the tomb just before sundown that day.. Jesus then spent 3 nights and 3 days in the tomb and was resurrected at the end of the weekly Sabbath at sundown saturday the 6th of April..

 

[prove-all]

The Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week.
After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion
[Mark 15:42; Luke 23:52-54]),

The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover
(see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39,

The Jews keep the Passover on the evening[start] of the 15th of Nisan.
But is this the correct day to observe the Passover?

The three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke show that on the night Jesus Christ was betrayed,
He and His disciples prepared and kept the Passover (Matthew 26:18,Mark 14:12, 16; Luke 22:15)

The Jews, however, kept it 24 hours later (John 18:28).

Who kept the right day? could Jesus Christ have kept the Passover on the wrong day?
Jesus Christ indeed kept the right day and that it is the Jews who today keep Passover
on the wrong day.


Back to the Beginning


Leviticus 23: “These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations,
which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (verses 4-5).
Notice first that this is God’s Passover—not the Jews’—and the day it is to be kept
is the 14th, not the 15th.

the days are to begin and end at even, or sunset (see Lev 23:32; Deut 16:6; Psalm 104:19).

the Passover begins at sunset, at the beginning of the 14th.
The Jewish community observes their Passover on the 15th beginning at sunset.

Leviticus 23:6 tells us that the first day of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th.
the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are different and separate festivals.


Before covering the events of the Passover in the New Testament,
let’s first review the events as they occurred in the Old Testament.

-Between the Two Evenings

First of all, the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed “in the evening” (Exodus 12:6)
on the 14th day of the first month. “In the evening” is between sunset and dark.

Deuteronomy 16:6 confirms this when it says the lamb was sacrificed “at even,
at the going down of the sun.” “the time between sunset and deep twilight.”

Exodus 12:8 says the Israelites were to eat the Passover meal “in that night.” Which night?
The one mentioned in verse 6: the 14th. After that, God smote the firstborn “this night”
(verse 12). Not the next night—this night—the 14th!


That is why, in Numbers 28:16, it says, “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is
[the passover of the Lord]” (we see also Leviticus 23:5-6).

5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is [the Lord's passover].
6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread
unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

The events of the Passover occur in the 14th. And the events of
the first day of Unleavened Bread occur in the 15th!

Exodus 12:21-22 the Israelites were not to leave their houses until morning.
If they did, they would have died. This is why they were to burn their leftovers
the next morning (verse 10).the morning after the Passover is still the 14th
—the day portion of the 14th.

(verse 11)
11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet,
and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is [the Lord's passover].

-
Deuteronomy 16:1 says they left Egypt “by night.” Their exodus from Egypt
then had to be that following night, or the night[start] of the 15th.

This was to be a “night to be much observed” (Exodus 12:42).
This is confirmed in Numbers 33:3: “And they departed … on the fifteenth day
of the first month; on the morrow AFTER the passover .…”

the spoiling of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:33-36). This could have only taken place on the
afternoon of the 14th, just hours before [the Israelites left Egypt the night of the 15th].

How did the Passover get its name originally? “For the Lord will pass through to smite
the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts,

the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your
houses to smite you. … That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who
passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians,
and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped” (Exodus 12:23, 27).

God passed over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.
God also passes over (forgives) our sins when we repent of them and come
under the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us.

 

[prove-all]

Kept on the 14th Many Generations Later

When the Hebrew children would ask about this service years later, the parents were to
respond, “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27). this is God’s Passover,
and God said “the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (Lev 23:5).

Many generations later, the Israelites were still keeping the Passover on the 14th.

They kept the Passover on the correct day when they were in the wilderness (Numbers 9:5).
When they entered into the Promised Land, they were still all in agreement (Joshua 5:10).
King Josiah kept the Passover on the 14th (2 Chronicles 35:1). We also read in Ezra’s time
they were still keeping it on the 14th (Ezra 6:19), and this was about 519 b.c.


But the New Testament Jews Keep it a Day Later
the Jews were not all keeping the same day as Jesus Christ did and commanded.

“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” (John 2:13).
Here it is called “the Jews’ Passover”—not “the Lord’s Passover.”

The Jewish confusion most likely arose in the third century before Christ.
The Palestinian Jews were under Egyptian control from 301 to 198 b.c.


“While the Egyptians allowed the Jews to retain their ancient calendar, there was a
change made in the beginning of the day—it became common to begin the day at sunrise.
This custom was adopted, and persisted among the Jews even down to New Testament times


Christ Instructed Keeping Passover on 14th

Christ was killed in the afternoon[daytime] of the 14th. But Christ keep the Passover
the night portion of the 14th—that is, the night before the day Christ was crucified.

Insisting that because John mentions the Passover as occurring on the evening after
Christ’s sacrifice, that the Passover Christ kept the previous evening was just a Last Supper
or some kind of “love feast.” But Christ makes it very clear in Matthew, Mark and Luke
that the disciples were to prepare the Passover.


“Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed
to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2).

Clarke’s Commentary states regarding this verse:

“This feast began on the fourteenth day of the first moon, in the first month, Nisan, and it lasted
only one day; but it was immediately followed by the days of unleavened bread, which were seven,
so that the whole lasted eight days, and all the eight days are sometimes called the feast of the
passover, and sometimes the feast or days of unleavened bread.”

-
these days were generally called the Passover or the feast of Unleavened Bread, meaning the
whole eight days, including the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Matthew says,
“after two days is the feast of the passover.” In Mark 14:1 it says, “After two days was the
feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread.” And in Luke 22:1 it says, “Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.”

All three use slightly different terminologies, but the meaning is the same.

The same is true for John 19:14. On the day Christ was crucified, John wrote that the
“preparation of the passover” was at hand. It is true that this was just before Christ died
on the afternoon of the 14th; but in verse 31, John makes it clear what this preparation was for.

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon
the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their
legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

At sunset, after Christ died, the “high day,” or holy day (the first day of Unleavened Bread),
began. The Jews were preparing for their passover, not “the Lord’s” (Leviticus 23:5).

Matthew 26:17-18 read: “Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples
came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is
at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”

The Greek word for “passover” in these two verses is pascha. Strong’s Concordance
defines this word as, “the Passover, the meal, the festival.” Any lexicon verifies this definition.

Verse 19 continues, “And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready
the passover.” They made ready the Passover—same Greek word. If this event was only
referring to a final meal or last supper, certainly the word pascha would not have been inspired.


Notice Mark’s account: “And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house,
The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”
(Mark 14:14). Same Greek word—pascha. This same word is also used in Luke 22: 15
“And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer”

Let’s again notice Matthew 26:18: “And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him,
The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”

Those who advocate a 15th-of-Nisan Passover and say this was just some kind of final dinner
are actually saying Jesus Christ did not know what He was talking about! Jesus said,
“I will keep the Passover … with my disciples.”

This makes it plain that when Jesus gathered with His disciples the night He was betrayed
by Judas, it was indeed the Passover!

-

The next morning, after the betrayal, the Jews brought Jesus before the Sanhedrin. (John 18:28)
“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves
went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover”

This was before [the Jews’ passover]. The holy day was to start at sunset of that evening. Remember,
the Jews did not want to kill Him on a feast day for fear of what the people might do (Matthew 26:5).

They also wanted to be sure that the bodies did not remain on the stake during the holy day (John 19:31).
Then around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on the 14th, Christ died (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
The Passover meal and sacrifice all occurred on the 14th of Nisan.

we read that the Jews’ Passover was at hand, that is exactly what it was—the Jews’ Passover!

 

[prove-all]

The New Testament Church

Christ instructed the Apostle Paul about the symbols that had been changed on that last Passover
before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:15-20). Paul explained to the Corinthians that
Christ was our Passover. Notice 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may
be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

Paul further explains the Passover in 1 Corinthians 11:23. “For I have received of the Lord that which
also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.”

Paul and God’s people at that time were to eat the bread and drink the wine. When? On “the same
night in which he Christ was [betrayed]” (verse 23): the beginning part, the evening of the 14th.

Again, the time setting is the evening of the 14th—the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
Paul goes on to explain the changed symbols. “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said,
Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same
manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” (verses 24-25).

There can be no doubt that what Paul is talking about is the Passover Christ kept with His disciples.
Paul instructed God’s Church to keep the Passover at the same time and the same way that Christ
kept it. It was to be kept in remembrance of Christ.

Now notice the next verse which makes it very plain. “For as often as ye eat this bread,
and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (verse 26).

Some assume that, since Christ was crucified on the afternoon of the 14th, the lamb must have been
slain in the afternoon of the 14th in the Old Testament and that the Passover meal must have been
that night on the 15th.

The night Christ was betrayed, which He plainly called the Passover, they ate the bread and drank
the wine for what? To “show the Lord’s death till he come”! Paul’s group followed that example
precisely. In the New Testament, Christ changed the symbols, not the day.

-

The Church After the Apostles

Is there any proof that the Church after the apostles kept the Passover on the 14th?
On page 141 of Eusebius Ecclestical History, it mentions that Polycarp went to Rome to discuss
with Anicetus, the head of the Roman church, a topic concerning the day of the Passover.

Polycarp had been instructed by the apostles and had been appointed head of the Church at Smyrna
by the apostles. Eusebius writes that “he [Polycarp] always taught what he had learned from the
apostles,what the Church handed down and what is the only true doctrine.” He mentions there was
considerable discussion about the difference of opinion concerning the Passover:

“The churches of all Asia guided by a remoter tradition supposed that they ought to keep the 14th day
of the moon for the festival of the Savior’s Passover.” This was around a.d. 154, when Polycrates,
who followed Polycarp, stated, “We observe the exact day: neither adding, nor taking away.”

Notice they kept the 14th day for the Passover. So here is historical evidence that the apostles and
the New Testament Church kept the Passover on the 14th, also indicating there was still controversy
on which day to observe it, the 14th or the 15th.

Remember, the Jews kept it a day later than Christ, and later Jewish converts could have brought
this controversy into the New Testament Church when they were converted to Christianity.

-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartodecimanism
Many have heard of what is called the “quartodeciman controversy.” Quarto means four,
and deciman means ten; together that totals 14.

In the early New Testament Church, after Christ died, there arose this quartodeciman controversy.
The Christians who were keeping the 14th Passover were called into question about their beliefs.
It appears that the Jews began to make division concerning the 14th or the 15th Passover observance.

There is evidence that this movement began right after the fall of Jerusalem, and the Jews could no
longer offer a temple sacrificial lamb on the evening before the 15th because the temple had been
destroyed. The Jewish passover at that point became exclusively a 15th of Nisan Passover.
It is still that way today. the Passover Christ kept with His disciples was the 14th.


Notice again in 1 Corinthians 11:23: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered
unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.”
This is the day the Apostle Paul taught Christians to observe the Passover.

the night Jesus Christ observed His last Passover was on the 14th! the traditional Jewish Passover
(15th observance), is traditions of men, which are contrary to the truth of God.

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2 soundly and publicly rebuked Peter and the other Jews for making
the Gentiles Judaize by following the tradition of the Jews in place of the teachings of God.

Jesus, without reservation, totally rejected the Jews’ religious traditions, because in holding
to their traditions, they rejected and set aside the commandments of God. (Mark 7:7-9).



The Passover only pictures the death of Christ for the remission of sins that are past (Romans 3:25).
The seven days of Unleavened Bread following Passover picture to us the complete putting away of sin

To what extent shall we put away sin? Not partially, but completely! And, as leaven is also a type of sin
(1 Corinthians 5:8)—leaven puffs up, and so does sin, and seven is God’s number symbolizing completeness

 

[TMS]

Lets not make it complicated.
Simple faith.

Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Joh_19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

 

[Quasar92]

God's word clearly showed it was on a Friday, the only day which explains the women's delay in anointing Jesus. But you can imagine what you will, it goes along with your other heresies.

Show me how you confirm Jesus being in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights, in Mt.12:40, if He was buried on Friday and arose on Sunday.


Quasa92

 

[NarrowRoadDisciple]

Jesus was apprehended, judged, and crucified on the 14th of Nisan (Passover).
Don't forget, the Jewish day begins at sundown.

 

[Adstar]

The Jews because of their traditions of men where celebrating the Passover feast on the wrong night.. The first Passover was on the 14th of Nisan.. They had to have the lamb consumed on the night of the 14th before they set out on the morning of the 14th.. The Biblical day starts at sunset.. So Jesus and His disciples had their Passover meal at the proper Torah determined time.. But the Jews killed their lambs later at the end of the day of 14th Nisan and consumed the Lamb on the Night of the 15th of Nisan At the wrong time.. And as far as i know even to this day Jews celebrate the Passover meal at the wrong time..

 

[Quasar92]

The purpose of this thread is the determination of Jesus remark in Mt.12:40, to confirm what day He was crucified and buried on, to fulfill the three days and three nights He said He would be in the belly of the earth. Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, as shown in the OP.


Quasar92

 

[prove-all]

The purpose of this thread is the determination of Jesus remark in Mt.12:40, to confirm what day He was crucified and buried on, to fulfill the three days and three nights He said He would be in the belly of the earth. Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, as shown in the OP.


Quasar92

in the op under wednesdays choice-
you had passover as the high holy day mentioned in John.

this would be incorrect as my posts about passover and unlevened bread show.

sorry i do not mean to derail, but we have to see what was in the old also,
and passover was on the 14th not the 15th, but jews now do the 15th,

and everyone else calls it the last supper, that is incorrect also.

 

[prove-all]

Let me see your outline of the fulfillment of Mt.12:40 as I laid it out to see
just how you verify the three days and three nights in the ground.

He was buried just before sunset on Wednesday. Just before the annual Sabbath,
the High Day, known as the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The Passover itself is not
a Sabbath. It is even called the preparation day for the High Day (John 19:31).

-Wednesday 14 th passover day<---- Buried just before sunset,
tomb sealed marks clock[in the earth] , [between] dusk and dark[at twilite]

-Thursday 15 th<---- First day of Unleavened Bread
this was the night to be most remembered

-Friday 16 th <---- Preparation day for the weekly Sabbath
Mary Magdalene and her companions bought spices “when the sabbath was past,
the sabbath here is the first high day of unlevened bread
-
they prepared these spices and then rested on the weekly Sabbath day[next day]

-Saturday 17th <---- Resurrection just as Sabbath ended.
[between] dusk and dark he arrose,

exactually [between] the days, makes 3 days 3 nights, if Gods word is to stand.
This is exactly 72 hour just as Christ said it would be (Mat 12:39-40)

-the fact no one recorded or eyewitness saw our Lord rise, sometime before lite

Mar 16:9 Having risen and early first of week he appeared first to
Mary the Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons.

He arose- then early on the first day of the week...
This doesn't say He arose on the first day, it says He arose, one event.
Then on early on the first day of the week another event occurred.


the only sign Christ gave us, is not about celebrating easter, sunday sunrise service.
nor does the bible even tells us to celebrate the ressuraction

 

[prove-all]

Seventy-Two Hours

There is no real dispute as to the meaning of Christ’s words in Matthew 12.
Certainly He knew how long a day was and how long a night was (12 hours each):

“Are there not twelve hours in the day? … But if a man walk in the night,
he stumbleth,” He said in John 11:9-10.


Hebrew scholars agree that the expression “three days and three nights” in Jonah 1:17
refers to a 72-hour period. The division of the day and night was clearly established in
the very first book of the Bible: “… and God divided the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the
morning were the first day. … And the evening and the morning were the second day. …

And the evening and the morning were the third day” (Genesis 1:4-13). Notice it:
God even spells out how long three days and nights would take: three periods of light,
and three periods of darkness.


Four other scriptures confirm the period of time Christ was in the grave:
Read Mark 8:31, Mark 9:31, Matthew 27:63 and John 2:19-21.

All confirm the duration. If we reject that singular proof, we reject the sign
that Christ Himself gave of His being the Messiah.



Knowing that this was exactly a 72-hour period, we should immediately realize
that Christ’s resurrection took place at the same time of day or night as His burial.

 

[Bladerunner]

The Bible does not explicitly state on which day of the week Jesus was crucified. The two most widely held views are Friday and Wednesday. Some, however, using a synthesis of both the Friday and Wednesday arguments, argue for Thursday as the day.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Those who argue for a Friday crucifixion say that there is still a valid way in which He could have been considered in the grave for three days. In the Jewish mind of the first century, a part of day was considered as a full day. Since Jesus was in the grave for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday—He could be considered to have been in the grave for three days. One of the principal arguments for Friday is found in Mark 15:42, which notes that Jesus was crucified “the day before the Sabbath.” If that was the weekly Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, then that fact leads to a Friday crucifixion. Another argument for Friday says that verses such as Matthew 16:21 and Luke 9:22 teach that Jesus would rise on the third day; therefore, He would not need to be in the grave a full three days and nights. But while some translations use “on the third day” for these verses, not all do, and not everyone agrees that “on the third day” is the best way to translate these verses. Furthermore, Mark 8:31 says that Jesus will be raised “after” three days.

The Thursday argument expands on the Friday view and argues mainly that there are too many events (some count as many as twenty) happening between Christ's burial and Sunday morning to occur from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Proponents of the Thursday view point out that this is especially a problem when the only full day between Friday and Sunday was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. An extra day or two eliminates that problem. The Thursday advocates could reason thus: suppose you haven't seen a friend since Monday evening. The next time you see him it is Thursday morning and you say, “I haven’t seen you in three days” even though it had technically only been 60 hours (2.5 days). If Jesus was crucified on Thursday, this example shows how it could be considered three days.

The Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion [Mark 15:42; Luke 23:52-54]), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39, where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath” (Luke 23:56). The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath.

Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40, is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly when He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday (John 20:1, Mary Magdalene came “while it was still dark”), so He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews.

A possible problem with the Wednesday view is that the disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus did so on “the same day” of His resurrection (Luke 24:13). The disciples, who do not recognize Jesus, tell Him of Jesus' crucifixion (24:21) and say that “today is the third day since these things happened” (24:22). Wednesday to Sunday is four days. A possible explanation is that they may have been counting since Wednesday evening at Christ's burial, which begins the Jewish Thursday, and Thursday to Sunday could be counted as three days.

Edit by Quasar: Except for the fact He was buried before sunset, preceding Preparation day, on the day He was crucified. Theoretically on Wednesday, in this case, and therefore He would have risen sometime on Saturday and observed for the first time on the first day of the week].

In the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.


Quasar92

John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

well said

 

[prove-all]

The decree of Artaxerxes was in 457BC and 483 years later is 27AD.
Add 3-1/2 years ministry and we come to 31AD.



astronomical observence records

Passover on April 25, 31AD (corrected to Gregorian) The day was Wednesday.

 

[prove-all]

Passover dates 26-34 A.D.
Crucifixion Passover Date

 

[Chester]

My opinion: Jesus was crucified on Wednesday: the arguments are well laid out in the first post.

Does it matter? Not as far as salvation goes. On the other hand, Deedat, the famous Muslim debater, loved to use this point against Christians - that Jesus said he would be in the heart of the Earth for three days and three nights - and he argued that could not be true since Jesus was crucified on Friday.

 

[Connock]

Passover dates 26-34 A.D.
Crucifixion Passover Date

Dear Prove-all, I also come to this date (April 25 or 26 in 31 AD) using a completely different method.
Is the above your website? If so, there are two necessary updates. First, the link at the US Naval Observatory has been redirected. Second, the dates shown are on the Julian Calendar, not "our Gregorian calendar" as the site states. (you can verify this from the USNO site). Not to be contrarian, but just to keep the facts factual...