New Testament History

The Passion until Pentecost

The places of the Passion
The two weeks before Passover
The dates of the crucifixion and resurrection
The Passion
The two weeks after the resurrection
The ascension until Pentecost
 
Abbreviations and bibliography
 
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The Passion

The Last Supper took place on the evening of Thursday 2 April 33 AD, at the start of 14 Nisan.[1] Christ celebrated the Passover meal one day earlier in accordance with a privilege granted to the Galileans.[2] Consequently, the Days of Unleavened Bread started one day earlier, at the close of 13 Nisan instead of the close of 14 Nisan.[3] Matt 26:17 and Mark 14:12 call 13 Nisan “the first day of Unleavened Bread” (trans. NJB). Luke 22:7 calls it “the day of Unleavened Bread” (trans. NJB).

Christ entered the garden of Gethsemane around 9 p.m.[4] During the night, He was summoned before Annas and then before Caiaphas. A second trial before Caiaphas took place in the morning.[5] The Jews reached Pilate’s palace around 8 a.m.[6] Christ was brought from Pilate to Antipas, and again back to Pilate. Christ was scourged there during 45 minutes,[7] until around 9 a.m.[8] Pilate pronounced the death sentence around the 6th hour (John 19:14) = 12 a.m.[9] Christ was crucified around 12:15 a.m.[10] The sky was dark from the 6th hour until the 9th (Matt 27:45; Luke 23:44), i.e. from 12 a.m. until 3 p.m. Christ cried out to God at the 9th hour (Mark 15:34) = 3 p.m., and died shortly after.[11] The Hour of Mercy is 3 p.m.[12] The Passion lasted about 18 hours,[13] from Thursday 2 April 9 p.m. until Friday 3 April 3 p.m. The side of Christ was pierced (John 19:34) a little before 4 p.m.[14] The burial took place before sunset, at which time the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54, 56; John 19:42) would begin.[15]

 


[1] A.C.E., Passion.

[2] A.C.E., Passion, 160-161: “They [i.e. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea] proved from ancient documents that from time immemorial the Galileans had been allowed to eat the Pasch a day earlier than the rest of the Jews. […] Nicodemus increased the rage of the enemies of Jesus by pointing out the passages in the archives which proved the right of the Galileans, and gave the reason for which this privilege was granted. The reason was this: the sacrifices would not have been finished by the Sabbath if the immense multitudes who congregated together for that purpose had all been obliged to perform the ceremony on the same day; and although the Galileans had not always profited by this right, yet its existence was incontestably proved by Nicodemus.” This custom is reflected in the fact that, in Judea, work is permitted until noon on 14 Nisan, while in Galilee it is forbidden on that day (according to the School of Shammai it is forbidden from the sunset at the start of 14 Nisan, according to the school of Hillel from the sunrise on 14 Nisan): m. Pesaḥ. 4.5.

[3] Tradition reckons the Days of Unleavened Bread beginning from 14 Nisan (Josephus, A.J. 2.317; 9.271; 18,29; Ishmael, Mek. Exod. Pisḥa 8 [on Exod 12:15]; cf. Exod 12:18) instead of 15 Nisan (Lev 23:6; Num 28:17; LXX Lev 23,11; Philo, Spec., 2.150, 155; Josephus, A.J. 3.249-250).

[4] A.C.E., Passion, 99.

[5] A.C.E., Passion, 179.

[6] A.C.E., Passion, 193. The Sanhedrin could pronounce death penalties for religious offences but not for political ones. Since the Sanhedrin wanted Christ to be condemned as an enemy of the empire, they accused Christ before Pilate: A.C.E., Life, 4:172.

[7] A.C.E., Passion, 222.

[8] A.C.E., Passion, 225. Mark 15:25 situates the crucifixion at the 3rd hour = 9 a.m., at which hour the scourging ended and Pilate began his ultimate hearing.

[9] According to A.C.E. (Passion, 248), Pilate condemned Christ to death around 10 a.m. There is a horizontal distance of circa 30° between Germany and Jerusalem, i.e. 2 hours of difference in time, such that 10 a.m.in Germany = 12 a.m. in Jerusalem.

[10] A.C.E., Passion, 273: “It was about a quarter past twelve [Jerusalem local time] when Jesus was crucified, and at the moment the cross was lifted up, the Temple resounded with the blast of trumpets, which were always blown to announce the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb.”

[11] A.C.E., Passion, 294: “It was about three o’clock when Jesus expired.”

[12] Cf. the revelations to Sister Faustina Kowalska.

[13] A.C.E., Life, 4:396.

[14] A.C.E., Passion, 305.

[15] The Apostles continued to celebrate the Sabbath, though Christ also instituted the Sunday liturgy after His resurrection: A.C.E., Life, 4:383-384: “Jesus explained to the Apostles several points of Holy Scripture relative to Himself and the Blessed Sacrament, and ordered the Latter to be venerated at the close of the Sabbath solemnities.”