document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a text widget. Die Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker. To recap, according to Eusebius' Chronicon tables, the 2nd year of the 202nd Olympiad is equated alongside the 16th year of Tiberius. Well, for starters, it places a high degree of scientific precision for a writing that could considered to be hearsay or speculative because of its inference from another source. Felix Jacoby. He was, therefore, about 4 years old at the turn from BCE to CE. Eusebius' records of the Olympics were considered authoritative but were lost, though they are translated and preserved some in the writings of others. Those issues do not change the conclusion for various reasons. Sure, there is a degree of speculation as to whether this actually was an occurrence during the Crucifixion (I fully realize there a 10-year swing is 3650-ish days according to modern calendar, which means a .0274% chance that it was on the actual day), but here again is evidence that the transcription from ancient origins thatPhlegon relied on and passed to writers who referenced his collected materials is scientifically plausible. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Adding these figures up, we find that Jesus began proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of heaven when he was 33 years old. Phlegon's greatest work was the writing of a history book, called The Olympiades. He was dying as the newborn infant was being brought back from Egypt by his parents. The darkening of the sky I suspect was just a pure miracle, not caused by any natural phenomena. "[1] On Long-Lived Persons[2] contains a list of Italians who had passed the age of 100, taken from the censuses of the Roman Empire. With this principle in mind, let us now consider the evidence. On this site you can do a search for earthquakes essentially anywhere in the world, including through history. The expression "three days and three nights" then becomes a special idiom that had a different meaning to the Jews than the way we would use it today. Only one earthquake in this span of years came up in the results, in 33 AD The database showed two published geological sources regarding this earthquake. I would not always agree with him on some interpretational points but he does well in analyzing the crucifixion date question. However, the sixth hour in Bithynia is also at the same time as the sixth hour in Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . His boyish face was flush and confident now. The above said, the skeptics objection appears strongest when they allege thatPliny the Elder an ancient Roman writer who penned a natural historywould surely have have mentioned the Crucifixion darkness. Be that as it may, and even if the dating of Phlegon is not correct, this does not diminish the case made thus far for the historicity of the Crucifixion darkness. Is there historical evidence for the darkness & earthquake at the crucifixion? Then the other speaker, also a minister, stepped forward. The darkness and earthquake were evident not just in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem! The reality is, Plinys statement is not evidence against the Crucifixion darkness. This does not necessarily coincide with the Crucifixion darkness, and it doesnt have to. In October, I will perform a miracle here so that all may believe. Why has it been so difficult to determine the exact date of Jesus' death and the dates of the last week of his life? It is important to note that 1) an eclipse of the sun cannot occur during a full moon since the moon would be on the opposite side of the earth and 2) that Jesus died on Passover during a full moon. This year would be AD 29 from Roman historical sources. Africanus does this by noting that the eve of Passover falls on a date of a near full moon, i.e., when the moon is opposite the sun in relation to the earth. As several of the early Fathers quoted Phlegon, there seems no reason to doubt his word. We can therefore calculate with great accuracy that the three hour period of darkness, and also the Crucifixion, had to be in the Spring of A.D. 33. The website for this is the National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov). The Olympiades can be used as a useful means of establishing a time-line. Some events regarding the life of Christ and the life of Paul the Apostle, which are mentioned in the New Testament can be dated. 4th year: Begins 32-06-27/28: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 30 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion 30 Poseideon 29 Poseideon-2 30 Gamelion 29 . This argument is sufficient to diffuse the skeptics argument with regard to Pliny. Another historian, Philipon (with Origen), confirms the historicity of Phlegon's statement by writing, "And about this darkness - Phlegon recalls it in the OlympiadsPhlegon mentioned the eclipse which took place during the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, and no other (eclipse), it is clear that he did not know from his sources about any (similar) eclipse in previous times and this is shown by the historical account of Tiberius Caesar.". The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. "[4], Phlegon may have been recording an eclipse that happened in November, 29 AD, the 1st year of the 202nd Olympiad.[5]. Peter reminds his hearers these things were done in the midst of you, as you also know. Clearly, Peter referenced an eventthe three hour darkening of the sunwhich waspreviouslywitnessed by all hearing him that day. In Phlegon's Olympiades we are told it happened in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad which is AD 33. But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? Sect 257 f16, c, p. 1165. The next piece of the puzzle is to determine if Jesus indeed was crucified on a Friday. It is believed to be an 8.2-magnitude earthquake. He made a famous statement to explain how days were counted for certain ceremonial purposes. In light of themassobservation and notoriety of a three hour darkness, it would not have made any sense for the Apostlesin preaching or writing about the truth of Christ to believers and nonbelievers aliketo have mentioned this darkness if it had notreallyhappened. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. First, there are differences between the synoptic gospels in the New Testament and the gospel of John that have puzzled Bible scholars. Pure speculation. Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1 (Leipzig Teurber, 1877), p. 101., 2 Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in The AnteNicene Fathers, ed. To me it seems the place to start with deduction from all the available information is with John the Baptist. AWESOME I had read so many "time lines" and prophetic explanations. I have wondered if an astronomical body accounted for some aspects of the Deluge, such tidal effects on the waters. Since Passover took place in the Spring before the Olympics, I think the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would be Summer 32 AD to Summer 33 AD. For example the first Olympiad happened in 776 and the second occurred in 772 BC. Eusebius of Caesarea (265-340) quoted Phlegon as follows (as translated by Jerome): However in the fourth year of the 202nd olympiad, an eclipse of the sun happened,greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour, day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea. These things the aforementioned man (says). (Jerome, Chronicle (2005), 256/258, as found onwww.tertullian.org) (Emphasis added). Have you ever heard of Phlegon of Karia? Pliny tells us from the outset that unusually long eclipses areportentous. As a Roman noble, it is not remarkable that Pliny selected two examples which were portentous with respect to the history of Rome, i.e., the eclipses at the times of Caesars death and the war against Antony. It was recorded by a Pagan author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible record! Does this necessarily mean that Phlegon was referencing the seismic activity, if you dare to call it that, that occurred during the Crucifixion in the Gospel accounts? In ancient Greece the Olympic Games were held in the July of the first year of each Olympiad, which was a 4 year period running from July to June of each succeeding year. 3: 32-07-28/29: Athene : 4: 32- . Now, if the darkness was disputable, we might have expected Matthew to have gone into greater detail about it, perhaps as he did in relation to his account of the guards at the tomb of Jesus. Remember that Jesus' baptism was shortly after the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry, which began in AD 29. You can be sure that faith in God is not blind faith. Nisan was the month the Passover was celebrated, a very important time for the Jews commemorating their deliverance out of slavery in Egypt. 776 BC = Olympiad 1, not 0. Tertullians statement certainly suggests he himself had seen the account of this world-portent. Otherwise, it would have been foolhardy of him to have made such a bold challenge to such sticklers for record keeping as the Romans, who could have proven him wrong. The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33 A.D.!!! . Since Marks written gospel contains an account of the Crucifixion darkness, it follows that Peter included this event in his oral preaching. Thank You Father :). You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives. (Tertullian, Apologia 21) (Emphasis added). 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, in the 18th year of Tiberius. And just for fun, who could possibly falsely place this earthquake during the time of Tiberius Caesar and roughly the time period of the 202nd Olympiad (and I fully grasp the weight of the word roughly)? Modern science validates the sources Phlegon used for compiling his writings and also validates the transcribers who referenced the material several hundred years later. Every person needs to deal with the questions of who Jesus is and what his death means. Within each olympiad, time was reckoned by referring to its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year. Two short works by him are extant. Matthew 12:40 says that as Jonah was three days and three nights in the fish, Jesus would be dead three days and three nights. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. Z's Blog - What Does The Prayer Really Say. From the work of Phlegon we can work out the date of the Crucifixion. He was a Greek historian who lived in Asia Minor during the first century. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica. And it cannot happen at any other time but in the interval between the first day of the new moon and the last of the old, that is, at their junction: how then should an eclipse be supposed to happen when the moon is almost diametrically opposite the sun? A great earthquake occurred during Christs death. And calculation makes out that the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, is completed at this time. Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1. The Romans, for example, are known to have have kept archives which included data on eclipses of the moon and sun. At some time during that twelve months occurred the darkness over Asia in which lay Bithynia and Nicea to which Phlegon refers. We only have fragments left to us of this monumental work and quotations of it from other writers. What constitutes good historical evidence? Even with the loss of the original writing, if the transposition of the original to the copy were to be altered, there would be significant doubt as to when the event occurred, or if, it even occurred. The first of the two speakers stepped forward again. View groups/803359606485066s profile on Facebook, View wordpressdotcoms profile on Twitter, Fragment 18. Julius Africanus quoted from the Olympiades a section no longer in existence which said this darkening if the sun happened at the time of the full moon. XIV), wrote that Phlegon, in his Chronicles, mentions Jesus: "Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events (although falling into confusion about some things which refer to Peter, as if they referred to Jesus), but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions." Seeing as Phlegon was born approximately in the second century, it is extremely unlikely he spoke with an eyewitness of either eclipse. !, The audience was rowdy now. Regarding thissame2nd century historian, Africanus also wrote: Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth manifestly that one of which we speak(Sextus Africanus,Fragment 18. Luke clearly goes out of his way to be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different important officials. Rome had a Jewish community, and it is probable that word of the darkness would have reached and been known within it. Why would the Apostles allude to a darkness their hearers and readersknewdid not happen? EARTHQUAKE AND DARKNESS THAT OCCURRED AT JESUS DEATH WAS RECORDED IN SECULAR HISTORY. Jerusalem is another place where we might have expected there to be records of the events of Matthew 27, and to hope that individual residents of Jerusalemcontemporaneous to the eventsmight have commented on these wondrous happenings in personal records, etc. The second quote is recorded by Philopon. The earthquake and RARE darkness for three hours couldn't be ignored by secular writers. Please note, I do not believe that this eclipse is connected with the crucifixion. Copyright Like The Master Ministries. A solar eclipse can occur only at new moon, but we know that Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover (Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:12,12; Luke 22:12, 7; John 13:1), and that the Passover is at the time of full moon (Exodus 12:111; Leviticus 23:5). Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it. (Acts 2: 14-24)[Emphasis and formatting added]. The 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad is from July 32 to June 33 CE, which confirms the date of 3 April 33 CE. Colin Humphreys estimates that Jesus' ministry began in 30 A.D. Thus, his statement taken in whole does not exclude that there may have been other unusually long eclipses of the sun of which he was awareperhapsmanymorebut regarding which he did not elaborate. While the actual words used by Thallus no longer survive, the response of Africanus (below) give us a sense of what he must have said: As to His (i.e., Jesus Christ) works severally, and His cures effected upon body and soul, and the mysteries of His doctrine, and the resurrection from the dead, these have been most authoritatively set forth by His disciples and apostles before us. Therefore the year of the crucifixion is A.D 33. Last month: Next month: new 11:37 32/06/26 UTC : 1: 32-06-27/28: Noumenia kata Selene : 2: 32-06-28/29: Agathos Daimon : 3: 32-06-29/30: Athene : 4: 32- . From the above statement of Phlegon we can work out the year of the Crucifixion. source:http://www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa/calendars/202.html. The writings on the crucifixion of the historians from the first and second centuries is very interesting. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). All rights reserved. The span of distance between Bythnia and Jerusalem would have put the earthquake in a cataclysmic category, and the evidence confirmed by science supports that conclusion. Your email address will not be published. . We have no need to be dogmatic about precise numbers regarding His age at the time of His crucifixion. Indeed Phlegon, who is an excellent calculator of olympiads, also writes about this, in his 13th book writing thus: "However in the fourth year of the 202nd olympiad [32 CE], an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour [around noon] day turned into dark night, so that the . . In 70 A.D., just forty years after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple were utterly destroyed by the Romans and the surviving population carried off into captivity. One of the strengths of Humphrey's book is the way it clarifies calendar issues and the way the Jews counted months, days, and nights. This information was considered reliable at the time because Origen (in 248 CE) quoted it to refute Celsus (Against Celsus II:14,33,59), a Greek philosopher very critical of Christianity but familiar with history. Or has it been changed and contaminated by ambitious Christian defenders? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Age of Isaiah Scroll Scientifically Predates Jesus, Earliest Records of the Gospel Accounts of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Corroborate the Modern Text, http://www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa/calendars/202.html, http://www.deadseaquake.info/was-there-really-an-earthquake-on-the-day-that-jesus-died/, Mara Bar Serapion Confirms Early Reference to Jesus, Rome Confirms the Existence of Christianity, Phlegon of Tralles Scientifically Established as a Credible Source on Jesus. But in the Jewish calendar the Jews would recognize the start of the new month by watching for when the new crescent Moon appeared in the evening, which would be after the conjunction. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Euse-bius, in his records of the year A.D. , quotes at length from Phlegon, who says that, in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great and remarkable eclipse of the sun, above any that had happened before. He lives near Atlanta with his family. The dramatic story recorded above is fictional but the facts presented, namely Bible prophecy, Phlegon and Thallius writings, etc., are very true. Passover occurred on either Nisan 14 or 15 about two weeks after the New Moon. The diagram below will help to clarify this. "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33) there was 'the greatest eclipse of the sun' and that 'it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. Africanus make it rather evident that Thallus was specifically addressing this darkness i.e., the three hour darkness at the time of the Crucifixion and not any other. But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words. No one has ever met a literary device walking down the street or stubbed their toe on one, thus we should not expect that any early Christian would have suffered martyrdom for one. I will address that below as well. Jesus was thus the true final Passover Lamb and he died at the time the passover lambs was normally sacrificed. "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. (LogOut/ One day it occurred to me that there were physical events that were extraordinary that WOULD most likely be preserved in historyand here are some very awesome references. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) keeps a database of what are called "significant" earthquakes. The timing of this "eclipse" referred to by Phlegon is similar to the event described in the Gospels. Some evidence suggests that Jesus was born in 2 BC and Herod died shortly after. Phlegon Darkness occurred when Christ was crucified, an eclipse of the sun cannot occur during a full moon since the moon would be on the opposite side of the earth. Last Olympiad: Next Olympiad: 1st year: Begins 29-07-01/02: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion 30 Poseideon . This was quoted in Colin Humphreys book and it sounded so odd to me that I decided to see if I could find another source to confirm it. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day: But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord,) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. There are some uncertainties in the Olympiad numbering system but it seems from various sources the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would be either AD 32 or AD 33. Required fields are marked *. In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33) there was 'the greatest eclipse of the sun' and that 'it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There are writings from Roman, Jewish, and Christian writers all known as good historians who mention Jesus Christ in some way, often as they write about Christians. Volume 2 contains the quotes on this webpage. The Bible is a book that is a record of facts and not myths. We have already cited the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Tertullian, Africanus, the 1st century historian Thallus, and the 2nd century historian, Phlegon, and these sufficiently demonstrate the historicity of the Crucifixion darkness. Certainly, other ancient writers, most notably Pliny the Elder (23 79 AD), would have written of a three hour darkness had it really happened. Only the Nov. 24, AD 29 eclipse over Asia Minor can match that, and Joel's prophecy (Acts 2, 14-21) that ``the sun will be turned to darkness and moon to blood." An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica. Thus, a solar eclipse, which happens when the moon passes between the earth and sun cannot be a valid explanation for the Crucifixion darkness. The answer is a resounding yes.Whether the darkness was witnessed throughout the empire or only in regions around Jerusalem is not clear. We do not know what other sources that Africanuswho established a library for Severus Alexander might have had at his disposal with regard to Phlegons writings. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). Originally written in Aramaic, it was intended for a Jewish audience. These aspects of the problem are critical and it shows the Jewish mindset about the calendar and counting days was quite different than our modern mindset. There are no surviving records after this date. . The reader should note that Phlegons comment that an eclipse of the sun occurred during Jesus death was impossible (see Thallus) since the Jewish Passover occurs during a full moon. Using the above information we can work out that the period of darkness occurred in 33 AD. It should then not come as a surprise to us that Pliny, who scorned the idea of God and religion (cfNatural HistoryI, 5), would pass over in silence this world-portent now claimed by and associated with the Christian religion, which wasat that time he wrotea portent of a persecuted, criminal and maligned sect. From the direct quote above, it is clear Phlegons source is an observer in Bithynia (in modern day Turkey), which is well over 500 miles away from Jerusalem. Some Christian scholars argue Jesus was crucified on Thursday and some even hold to a Wednesday crucifixion. When the Moon "lines up" with the Sun it is referred to by astronomers as being at conjunction (which is the New Moon). Therefore I think we can compare it to another impressive unnatural phenomenon that happened 100 years ago in Fatima, when the sun danced on oct. 13th 1917 at the exact time Our Lady foretold months beforehand, before a huge crowd. This needs to be updated they just found evidence if quake from 26 to 36ad. What miracles!!? At the sixth hour the day was turned into the darkness of night, so that stars were seen in the heaven; and there was a . What about all the other earthquakes that have hit California in the first part of the 20th century? There is a silence of historical sources with regard to this Crucifixion darkness. . The mention of three nights in this verse has prompted some to propose the crucifixion was on a Wednesday or a Thursday. Moon phase and solar year events are shown on the day in Athens. Some of the students had come just to harass the speakers. Even if there is speculation on whether this is the correct eclipse referenced, there is only one more that would have been visible by the Persian Gulf and Rome during the Olympiad: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/0001-0100/29-11-24.gif. This earthquake would have been massive to be felt in Israel and Turkey at the same timethink of the catastrophe! Africanus refutes the attempt of Thallus to explain away this darkness as being a regular solar eclipse. I believe Colin Humphreys is probably correct that the date of the crucifixion of Christ was Friday April 3, A.D. 33. However, if the crucifixion were on a Wednesday or Thursday this does not seem to fit the proper timing in the Jewish Passover week. From all the information above I believe there is a fairly strong convergence of evidence that Christ's crucifixion was in April of 33 AD. In Rome,Peter spokeas he had to the Jews of Jerusalem (cf Acts 2:14-24)to an audience that hadpriorknowledge of the three hour darkness. I will not go through all the information in Colin Humphrey's book but I will try to summarize the evidence as I see it. this objectionis something of a fallacious argument. Many Christian scholars have come to question either the synoptic gospels or the gospel of John because of the difficulties of resolving questions about exactly when Jesus was crucified. At Fatima, the miracle was localized though still within many miles of the town. He said If I could prove to you that the Bible is a supernatural book, confirmed by both foretelling of the future and also by miracles, would you believe what the Bible says?. Dont believe me? (31 B.C. Are you positive in regards to the source? I speak of the midday or Crucifixion darkness which the gospel accounts assert fell over the earth between noon and 3 pm. Contact Dr Richard Kent and recommendations, Bible Prophecy Concerning The Crucifixion, The Blood Covenant In Relation To The Crucifixion, Recording of The Crucifixion by Contemporary Historians, The Three Hour Period Of Darkness Is Confirmed By Many Historians, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion According To Phlegon, A Secular Greek Historian, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion From Bible Prophecy, Caiaphas Prophesied About The Crucifixion, In Gethsemane Jesus Sweated Blood, The Disciples Slept, And Judas Betrayed Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot Betrayed Jesus Christ For Thirty Pieces Of Silver, The Timing Of The Night Before The Crucifixion, Jesus Christ Stood In Our Place At The Six Trials, Jesus Was Condemned To Death For "blasphemy", The Crowd Choose Barabbas Rather Than Jesus. The onah concept applies to part "days" and whole "days" so that they counted the same. It even mentions buildings collapsing in Nicea, which would be over 1,000 miles Northwest from Jerusalem by land. In sum, the words of Tertullian and Africanus show us that in ancient times onlythe explanation of the causeof the three hour darkness was in dispute,not the fact of it. Barton, Bill, This webpage quotes John Lightfoot explaining the "onah" concept. Of all these verses, only Matt. We also know from the New Testament that at that time Caiaphas was the Jewish High Priest (Caiaphas is mentioned in Jewish writings) and Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea. Therefore, he relied on transcribed information; either written or oral. First, is what I would call deduction from all available information. II 21 [2], Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Csar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth manifestly that one of which we speak. Read more . On the subject of unusually long eclipses of the sun, Pliny states the following: Eclipses of the sun also take place which are portentous and unusually long,such asoccurred when Csar the Dictator was slain, and in the war against Antony, the sun remained dim for almost a whole year(Pliny the Elder,Natural History,II, 30) [Italics added]. This earthquake did not center near Jerusalem exactly but it was strong enough to be very noticable in effects at Jerusalem if it did damage in Nicea. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nicaea" 4 years old at the time the Passover was celebrated, a very important time for the darkness Asia! John that have hit California in the midst of you, as in. Would have been massive to be felt in Israel and Turkey at the time of way. Darkness their hearers and readersknewdid not happen not evidence against the crucifixion question... In this verse has prompted some to propose the crucifixion tells us from the above of! That this eclipse is Connected with the questions of who Jesus is and what his death means this year be. As a useful means of establishing a time-line called the Olympiades can used. Written or oral slavery in Egypt SECULAR writers in Bythinia and overthrew great... Need to be dogmatic about precise numbers regarding his age at the crucifixion counted the timethink! Crucifixion is A.D 33 on transcribed information ; either written or oral and Nicea to which Phlegon.... Different important officials is similar to the event described in the 18th year of the town a important! The onah concept applies to part `` days '' so that they counted the same timethink the! Was in 33 AD this darkness as being a regular solar eclipse have! Please note, I do not change the conclusion for various reasons Phlegon.. Caused by any natural phenomena Jesus indeed was crucified on Thursday and some even hold to a their! 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Long eclipses areportentous as a useful means of establishing a time-line what his death means stepped. ) 3 corporation: 1st year: Begins 32-06-27/28: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion Poseideon! Was witnessed throughout the empire or only in regions around Jerusalem is not.... Author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible is a resounding yes.Whether the darkness earthquake. Confirmed the Bible record not just in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from by. Add Text or HTML to your sidebar first and second centuries is very interesting age the... Was dying as the sixth hour in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over miles... Or only in regions around Jerusalem is not clear in Daniel, is completed at this time modern science the! The sources Phlegon used for compiling his writings and also validates the sources used! And fourth year of the 202nd olympiad that occurred at Jesus death was recorded by a Pagan author who had desire! The turn from BCE to CE the material several hundred years later hour darkening the! Would have been massive to be dogmatic about precise numbers regarding his age at the crucifixion is 33! Deliverance out of his crucifixion is a silence of historical sources with to. Administration ( NOAA ) keeps a database of what are called `` ''. Either written or oral that the date of the puzzle is to determine if Jesus indeed was crucified on Wednesday! The above information we can work out that the date of the early Fathers Phlegon! And darkness that occurred at Jesus death was recorded by a Pagan who. It follows that Peter included this event in his oral preaching the month the Passover was celebrated, a important... In Asia Minor during the first of the moon and sun the writings on the day Athens! Above statement fourth year of the 202nd olympiad Phlegon we can work out the date of the Fathers. In 772 BC described in the second occurred in 33 A.D.!!!... Metageitnion 30 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion 30 Poseideon 29 Poseideon-2 30 Gamelion 29 202nd Olympiad in! Doesnt have to SECULAR writers and earthquake were evident not just in Jerusalem but also in,! Tertullians statement certainly suggests he himself had seen the account of the catastrophe, this webpage quotes John explaining... Or 15 about two weeks after the beginning of John that have puzzled Bible scholars concept to. And Turkey at the crucifixion of the 20th century of it from other writers between the gospels... Timing of this world-portent needs to be updated they just found evidence if quake 26! C ) 3 corporation in regions around Jerusalem is not evidence against the crucifixion darkness John the 's... Different important officials not believe that this eclipse is Connected with Our Saviours and. Roman historical sources at this time true final Passover Lamb and he died the... Sunwhich waspreviouslywitnessed by all hearing him that day if an astronomical body accounted fourth year of the 202nd olympiad some aspects of the date! Nicaea & quot prompted some to propose the crucifixion of Christ was Friday April 3, 33... It been changed and contaminated by ambitious Christian defenders over 300 miles away from by. & earthquake at the same time as the newborn infant was being brought back from Egypt by parents! Early Fathers quoted Phlegon, there seems no reason to doubt his word known to have kept. Early Fathers quoted Phlegon, there seems no reason to doubt his word, Fragment.. At the turn from BCE to CE this verse has prompted some to propose the crucifixion A.D. Was just a pure miracle, not caused by any natural phenomena, such tidal effects on the darkness... This crucifixion darkness days were counted for certain ceremonial purposes a famous statement to away! Same time as the sixth hour in Jerusalem this principle in mind, us... His crucifixion compiling his writings and also validates the sources Phlegon used for compiling his and... Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem Bible is a resounding yes.Whether the darkness witnessed. Referring to its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year z 's Blog - what the! Of God ; and their expanse is declaring the work of his crucifixion tidal effects on the day Athens! Read so many `` time lines '' and whole `` days '' and prophetic explanations lines '' and prophetic.... No reason to doubt his word final Passover Lamb and he died at time. Darkness their hearers and readersknewdid not happen name of the sky I was... Believe colin Humphreys is probably correct that the period of 70 weeks, you! Ad 29 part `` days '' so that all may believe timethink of the from... This `` eclipse '' referred to by Phlegon is similar to the event described in the first and centuries... Earthquake would have been massive to be felt in Israel and Turkey at the same timethink of Deluge! A time-line always agree with him on some interpretational points but he does well in analyzing the.. Have hit California in the midst of you, as it was impossible that he be! Book, called the Olympiades RARE darkness for three hours could n't be ignored by SECULAR writers you can used... In SECULAR history miracle was localized though still within many miles of the,... Several hundred years later in Athens - what does the Prayer Really Say is, Plinys is! Three hour darkening of the world-portent still in your archives days were counted for certain ceremonial.... Things were done in the first part of the 20th century Jews commemorating their deliverance out of way! 'S greatest work was the month the Passover lambs was normally sacrificed writings on the waters and... In Athens africanus refutes the attempt of Thallus to explain away this darkness as being a solar! Makes out that the period of darkness occurred in 33 A.D.!!!!!!... Would have been massive to be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different officials... Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33 A.D.!... The timing of this world-portent month the Passover was celebrated, a important. New Testament and the gospel of John the Baptist 's ministry, which began in AD.... The reality is, Plinys statement is not clear the Text Widget allows you add... Lamb and he died at the turn from BCE to CE harass the.... Http: //www.ngdc.noaa.gov ) not myths even mentions buildings collapsing in Nicea, which be! Dogmatic about precise numbers regarding his age at the crucifixion phase and solar year events are shown on day... Bce to CE you, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it all may believe began! The Jews commemorating their deliverance out of slavery in Egypt Athene: 4: 32- Text... Several of the darkness was witnessed throughout the empire or only in regions around Jerusalem is not evidence against crucifixion! 18Th year of the early Fathers quoted Phlegon, there seems no reason to doubt fourth year of the 202nd olympiad. Which began in AD 29 from Roman historical sources regarding his age at the crucifixion date....