Common Figure of Speech/Colloquial Language?

I have not been following this thread, but you may find this chart useful. It lists the dates/days of the week of Passover from 26-34 AD.

"The following astronomical data in the first three columns below was obtained from the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department."

www.intercontinentalcog.org/Appendix/Passover_dates_26-34_AD.php

Hi retrats,

You are correct in that the above timeline involves 5 calendar days (4 day times and 4 night times). The first day time would have consisted of one or two hours and perhaps the same is true for the last night time. However, according to the above count there were 3 complete day times and 3 complete night times.

Secondly, the 1st day of the week for the Savior's resurrection appears to be confirmed by the following scripture:
Mark 16:2, "And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun."
Luke 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." 
John 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."

rstrats - In reading the rest of Luke 24 where the word expresses what happened? Are you saying that the tomb was vacated before this event happened?

Luke 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. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words

Okay, how about taking another approach to the questions at hand. What day was Passover 27 AD? Does everyone agree that Passover 27 AD was the first day that Lord Jesus was in the Tomb. I believe Passover 27 AD began at sundown on Wednesday and will try and find proof to that point.

I think you may find that Passover (not sure if it was 27AD) was on a Thursday due to the reference in John where there was a 'special sabbath' right before the normal sabbath.

It might be worthwhile to plot backwards and see when a passover fell on a thursday.


We know that the first day of the week is a Sunday in Hebrew/Jewish culture/history.

Since Hebrew/Jewish days begin at sundown, and end at sundown, we know that the Lord could have arisen any time after sundown on Saturday (which would have been the beginning of Sunday).

We know that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb in the morning of the first day of the week. This would have been approximately 12 hours after the first day of the week had started.

If we assume that she arrived there about dawn, and the Lord was already risen, we know he had to have arisen before dawn on the first day of the week, Sunday.

Since we know that the 'sign of Jonah' (and scripture passages) specify that he would be in the tomb 3 days (and taking that precisely), working backward from the last possible moment he could be still in the tomb, which was sundown on Saturday (the beginning of the first day of the week, Sunday started then, and would have put him in the tomb longer than 3 days) would give us:

Saturday sundown (last possible moment - 3 days)
Friday sundown (2 days)
Thursday sundown (1 day)
Wednesday sundown (first possible moment)

We know that the pharisees asked that all the crucified men be removed from the crosses prior to sundown on Wednesday because the next day (which began at sundown) was a 'special sabbath' (per book of John). This special sabbath was probably Passover, but someone should verify. 

We know that the two thieves' legs had to be be broken for them to die in time to be taken down.
We also know that Christ had already died by the time they came to break his legs; thus, fulfilling a prophecy.
We know that there was an earthquake and the temple curtain which was torn at the time of Christ's death, and that they occurred sometime between noon and 3pm.
We know that there was a solar eclipse that lasted hours, rather than minutes, and that this eclipse occurred sometime between 9am and 3pm. (I do not recall the exact time.)

These items confirm the crucifixion of Christ on a Wednesday between the morning and the mid-afternoon.

The only question remaining is: When (What years between 20AD and 40AD) have there been Pentecosts that have occurred on a Thursday?

Stellarium may then (with reasonable accuracy) tell us the exact times of his potential rising, and death; with the caveat that such a solar occurrence was certainly a special event (nibiru?), and not likely to show on Stellarium.

mike,
re: "But they do say He rose again on the third day."


I don't see where Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1 and John 20:1 say that the Messiah rose on the third day. What do you have in mind?

I am almost ready to concede the day of the week to from Wednesday to Thursday; however, before I do then lets consider this timeline.

The key seems to be that the Savior rose on the third day, and then on the first day of the week the women came to the tomb in the dark of the morning (Gregorian).

Thus, the Savior was three nights and three days in the tomb and rose on the third day (Saturday 6 PM).

5) night time from sundown to sunup, 1st day of the week, the women came to the tomb in the dark of the morning (Gregorian Saturday PM and Sunday AM)

4) daytime from sunup to sundown, 7th day of the week, at the end of this daytime the Savior came forth from the tomb. He had been in the tomb for three 24 hour periods such as: 6 PM to 6 PM for three days. Thus he rose on the third day; 72 hours from when he was put in the tomb. (Gregorian Saturday at 6 PM)

4) night time from sundown to sunup, 7th day of the week (Gregorian Friday PM and Saturday AM)

3) daytime from sunup to sundown, 6th day of the week (Gregorian Friday)

3) night time from sundown to sunup, 6th day of the week (Gregorian Thursday PM and Friday AM)

2) daytime from sunup to sundown, 5th day of the week (Gregorian Thursday)

2) night time from sundown to sunup, 5th day of the week (Gregorian Wednesday PM and Thursday AM)

1) daytime from sunup to sundown, 4th day of the week, this is when Lord Jesus was tried before Pilate and placed in the tomb prior to the Passover meal. (Gregorian Wednesday)

1) night time from sundown to sunup, 4th day of the week, this is where Lord Jesus went to the garden, was captured and tried before the Jews. (Gregorian Tuesday PM and Wednesday AM).

The above timeline places the Savior in the tomb at 6PM on Wednesday until 6PM on Saturday. Thus, he rises on the third day before sundown. Then, in the dark of the morning on the first day of the week the women go to see him in the dark of Sunday morning.

The above timeline places the Passover at sundown on Wednesday (14 Nisan) to sundown on Thursday (15 Nisan). Thus, the Passover would have been Gregorian Thursday (15 Nisan).

Now, the question is, does this fit with the new moon on the astronomical model.