According to The Gospel of Matthew 27:50-52, an earthquake shook Jerusalem when Jesus died, crucified on the cross on Golgotha:
“But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened….”
Using that earthquake as a clue, a team of geologists believe they have pinpointed the date and year of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Jennifer Viegas reports for Discovery News, May 24, 2012, that geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea, which is located 13 miles from Jerusalem, in order to analyze earthquake activity in the region.
Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and an early first century seismic event that happened sometime between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D.
The latter period occurred during “the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained,” Williams said. “The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision,” but the year has been in question.
In terms of textual clues to the date of the crucifixion, Williams quoted a Nature paper authored by Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington. Williams summarized their work as follows:
- All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV,44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from 26-36 AD.
- All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
- All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).
- The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) indicate that Jesus died before nightfall on the 15th day of Nisan; right before the start of the Passover meal.
- John’s gospel differs from the synoptics; apparently indicating that Jesus died before nightfall on the 14th day of Nisan.
When data about the Jewish calendar and astronomical calculations are factored in, a handful of possible dates result, with Friday April 3, 33 A.D. being the best match, according to the researchers.
Thus, the researchers conclude, as described in the New Testament, Jesus was most likely crucified on Friday April 3, 33 A.D. The report of the team’s investigation is published in the journal International Geology Review.
Williams has begun studying yet another possible natural happening associated with the crucifixion – darkness.
Three of the four canonical gospels report darkness from noon to 3 PM after the crucifixion. Such darkness could have been caused by a dust storm. So Williams is investigating if there are dust storm deposits in the sediments coincident with the early first century Jerusalem region earthquake.
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We are living in exciting times. As with the Shroud of Turin, Oviedo Cloth, and the Star of Bethlehem, more and more, science is confirming Christianity’s accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
~Eowyn
I just used the date converter on Hebcal.com That date converts to a Hebrew date of 16h of Nissan 3793.
That’s the way I read it…
He died, he rose ‘ he lives again— all so we could be forgiven… bottom line…
Thank you Dr Eowyn for this absolutely wonderful post! Science and religion can work together and are not mutually exclusive, pursuant to the examples that you gave. It is so significant to discover that science confirms the approximate date that Jesus died, pursuant to the substantial evidence they have discovered and reviewed.
And, as Dr. Eowyn stated from the beginning of her post, the Gospel of Matthew she quoted states that when Jesus died, the earth quaked, rocks were split and tombs were opened.
The Bible is not a book of science, but when scientists can verify Scripture, that is telling and enlightening!
I’m puzzled, Sage. Are you saying that Matthew 27:50-52 is incorrect when it says: “But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened….”
Why do you give precedence to Matthew 28:1-4 over Matthew 27:50-52? Both are from Matthew. Maybe the resurrection earthquake was an after-shock of the crucifixion death earthquake?
Sage, nowhere in the Scriptures is there reference to a “minor” or “major” earthquake. In fact, taking St. Matthew’s account into proper context when Jesus died, Matthew went on to describe in 27:54, “The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Furthermore, Matthew 27:45 describes the fearsome atmosphere, “From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.” There is no indication of this event, the murder of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, warranting a “minor” anything for that matter.
But I guess my point is that you have missed the point of Dr. Eowyn’s post: that science is working with theology and affirming the Gospels, and that they are not mutually exclusive. They can work together for the glory of God.
I thank you for spending the time on the Passover study. As for losing your touch, I have learned certain things from you and I thank you for your insight. However, at times I have not agreed with all of your scriptural interpretations. Instead of inferring that we are poor students of yours and that perhaps you have lost your touch, the more mature and scholarly approach would be to see Dr. Eowyn’s point, and my point as well, to acknowledge it and find the wisdom in it, and most importantly, to understand the point of the post. I will not clamor about my background in the scriptures, in theology or philosophy, because Aristotle said, “I know that I know nothing.” We all are continual students, not experts!
Thank you dear Grouchy! Blessings to you as well!
Don’t need a geologist to confirm the crucifixion… I can read it in my Bible… The WORD…
Re-read my post, Caroline. Geologists didn’t confirm that the crucifixion took place. They determined THE DATE of the crucifixion.
Oh I see… I’ll reread it… I tend to skim over things sometimes… Old high school habit…
Ok I see… The date of the crucifixion has been confirmed by geologists…