"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. The first of the two speakers stepped forward again. Phlegon's ``Olympiads" (2nd century) says that Christ's crucifixion was in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad (AD 29-33), when a total solar eclipse occurred in the 6th hour. Key to this text though, is that it has never been found in an original form. 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. If your sunset occurs later than sunset in Athens, the event may occur on the previous day . Those who heard Peter preach in Rome would have previously known about this darkness in several ways, including: (1) having witnessed it firsthand in Rome if it had been a universal darkness; (2) hearing of it from travelers to Rome; and or (3) through letters or official reports received from the provinces, the latter of which were kept in the Roman archives. . The audience was quieter now and gave the speakers the respectful hearing that they deserved. 776 BC = Olympiad 1, not 0. So, these historical extrabiblical sources are also consistent with the AD 33 date. By the time he wrote hisNatural History(73 A.D.), the Christians had already been claiming for the prior forty years that the Crucifixion darkness was a sign worked by their God. The darkness and earthquake were evident not just in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem! Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour. (Matthew 27: 45), And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. Phlegon of Tralles (Ancient Greek: Flegon o Trallianos) was a Greek writer and freedman of the emperor Hadrian, who lived in the 2nd century AD. Some evidence suggests that Jesus was born in 2 BC and Herod died shortly after. 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad. The darkness and earthquake were evident not just in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem! 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. He quotes Phlegon as stating it was the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, conflicting with Africanus who quotes Phlegon as stating it was the 2nd year; He asserts this occurred at the Passover both in the 18th year of Tiberius (spring 32AD) and in Olympiad 202.4 (spring 33AD); He can be contacted at StevenOReilly@AOL.com. Tertullian, Apologeticus, Chapter 21, 19, Christian Evidence was created to enable Christians to defend their faith, and to open their eyes up to the overwhelming evidence for Christianity. Seeing as Phlegon was born approximately in the second century, it is extremely unlikely he spoke with an eyewitness of either eclipse. This information augments Phlegons credibility as a historian; citing sources that preceded his lifetime and were thus out of his control, as they would have recorded the event about a century before he was writing. For from Nehemiah, who was sent by Artaxerxes to resettle Jerusalem in the 115 th year of the Persian empire, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, the fourth year of the 83rd Olympiad, until this time, which was the second year of the 202nd Olympiad, the sixteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, there is a total of 475 years. And calculation makes out that the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, is completed at this time." This example underlines the point that Matthew did not have a similar need to defend the truth of the three hour darkness, precisely because it was a well known, accepted and indisputablefact. Just for reference, Nicea is in western Turkey, approximately where the city of Bursa is. In either case, many would have witnessed it. When the Moon "lines up" with the Sun it is referred to by astronomers as being at conjunction (which is the New Moon). Nisan was the month the Passover was celebrated, a very important time for the Jews commemorating their deliverance out of slavery in Egypt. Some of the students had come just to harass the speakers. This earthquake would have been massive to be felt in Israel and Turkey at the same timethink of the catastrophe! It was not until the sixteenth century that the Jewish calendar was formally defined precisely. At New Moon, the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth with the dark side of the Moon facing the Earth. The third quote is from Julius Africanus and the last is from Jerome. Clearly, Peter and his hearers had seen the sun darken. To recap, according to Eusebius' Chronicon tables, the 2nd year of the 202nd Olympiad is equated alongside the 16th year of Tiberius. Jesus baptism was apparently not long after the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry. "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. It was recorded by a Pagan author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible record! His boyish face was flush and confident now. March 25, 2018: With the arrival of Holy Week, I am reposting this article on the historicity of the Crucifixion darkness, originally posted April 13, 2017. The writings on the crucifixion of the historians from the first and second centuries is very interesting. It was calculated in four-year intervals. 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. In October, I will perform a miracle here so that all may believe. Or will you go to the place of separation from God in the afterlife? The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33 A.D.!!! . 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). (LogOut/ Rome had a Jewish community, and it is probable that word of the darkness would have reached and been known within it. 1996. p. 217. 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. Ye men of Israel, hear these words:Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you,as you also know: This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The San Andreas fault is 800 miles long, running along the California coast; Israel and Turkey sit onyou guess ita major fault line! 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. 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. 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. A great earthquake occurred during Christs death. Last month: Next month: new 18:49 33/01/19 UTC : 1: 33-01-20/21: Noumenia kata Selene : 2: 33-01-21/22: Agathos Daimon : 3: 33-01-22/23: Athene : 4: 33- . On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). 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. You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives. (Tertullian, Apologia 21) (Emphasis added). And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place . Pure speculation. Certainly, other ancient writers, most notably Pliny the Elder (23 79 AD), would have written of a three hour darkness had it really happened. Luke clearly goes out of his way to be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different important officials. Then from Saturday evening after sunset till early in the morning on Sunday was a portion of a 24 hour cycle so it also counted as a day and a night, even though Jesus apparently resurrected before Sunrise. Modern context of the calendar of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad at July 32-33AD. The darkness during the crucifixion. I would say there are a couple oflines of argument that can be used to date the crucifixion. With these things in mind, I would like to provide some thoughts on the historicity of one particular event that is said to have occurred on the afternoon Our Lord was crucified. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Africanus disputed an attempt by Thallus (a first century historian) to specifically explain the Crucifixion darkness in this way. One problem with AD 30 being the crucifixion is that it does not allow enough time for Jesus ministry. Another issue to notice in Jerome's quote above is regarding an earthquake that took place at the same time as the mysterious darkening of the sky. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. Edit them in the Widget section of the, Repost: The Historicity of the Crucifixion Darkness. Christ still changes lives like he did in the first century. Is it accurate? 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. 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. . He lived up to the death of the emperor Augustus in 14CE and we know from Luke that his ministry began in the 15th year of Augustus successor, Tiberius. What constitutes good historical evidence? Note that the path of this eclipse was over present-day Russia. In the verses above, Peter cites a scripture which speaks of various signs which God did by Him, inclusive of thesun being darkenedand the moon turning red. Phlegon of Tralles was a first century secular Greek historian born not long after the Crucifixion. 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. He wrote that during the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad there was a period of unexplained darkness and there was an earthquake that collapsed buildings in Nicea in northern Asia Minor. I found further confirmation of this earthquake from other sources that also dates it in the year 33 AD. Thirteen inches above the 31 B.C. AWESOME I had read so many "time lines" and prophetic explanations. 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. 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. About two weeks after the New Moon is the Full Moon, which corresponds to Passover. Have you ever heard of Phlegon of Karia? Thus, in their mindset, Jesus could say "three days and three nights" and the Jews would not have understood that this had to be a full 72 hours. The answer is a resounding yes.Whether the darkness was witnessed throughout the empire or only in regions around Jerusalem is not clear. It has only been referenced in Christian apologist books hundreds of years later. AD 33 is a generally accepted year of His crucifixion. !, The audience was rowdy now. He lives near Atlanta with his family. We only have fragments left to us of this monumental work and quotations of it from other writers. We do however have important sections of Phelgon's work, which are critical in dating the Crucifixion. If the above quotes about the crucifixion sky darkening and the earthquake are correct and actually correspond to the crucifixion, then we have historical evidence for miracles at the crucifixion. 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. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). He referred to a description by Phlegon of an eclipse accompanied by earthquakes during the reign of Tiberius: that 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. The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar and thus months start with the New Moon. Elsewhere in this same work, Origen wrote in relation to the Crucifixion darkness: And with regard to the eclipse in the time ofTiberius Csar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place, Phlegon too, I think, has written in the thirteenth or fourteenth book of his Chronicles (Contra Celsus II, 33). A solar eclipse supposedly occurred during a full moon. This is the first of the gospels, written some time between38 and 45 A.D. 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. If his ministry was for 3 years, then he was crucified aged 36, and the darkness and earthquake would have occurred in that year of 36CE. The sedimentation rate puts this second earthquake about 65 years after the 31 B.C. This research again confirms Phlegons writing. He was, therefore, about 4 years old at the turn from BCE to CE. It is significant that Jesus be crucified on a Friday because that is the normal time when the passover lamb was sacrificed by the Jews. The written testimony from outside the Bible confirms some of the main events, people, and places mentioned in the New Testament. I speak of the midday or Crucifixion darkness which the gospel accounts assert fell over the earth between noon and 3 pm. (LogOut/ 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- . 2. All Rights Reserved. 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. However, if the crucifixion were on a Wednesday or Thursday this does not seem to fit the proper timing in the Jewish Passover week. It amounts, in effect, to asserting the following:leaving aside all the evidence youdohave, you do not have anyotherevidence. Thus, the skeptic discards all evidence against his case, and then declares victory: aha, you have nootherproof!The reality is, there is no reason to set aside the sources and evidence we do have. For the Hebrews celebrate the passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the passion of our Saviour fails on the day before the passover; but an eclipse of the sun takes place only when the moon comes under the sun. 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. A few verses later in Matthew 27:51 it is recorded that there was an earthquake at the exact moment that Jesus died. Ancient writers sometimes describe their Olympiads as lasting five years but do so by counting inclusively; in fact each comprised a four year period. On this basis the Fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would commence in July A.D.32 and finish in June A.D.33. The above said, we may venture still further in suggesting another reason for theseemingsilence. There too, nobody could give a plausible explanation. To me it seems the place to start with deduction from all the available information is with John the Baptist. 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? Why has it been so difficult to determine the exact date of Jesus' death and the dates of the last week of his life? However, the sixth hour in Bithynia is also at the same time as the sixth hour in Jerusalem. So, we know that when Jesus was crucified had to be a year between AD 26 and 36 in which Nisan 14 or Nisan 15 occurred on a Friday. I wonder too, hypothetically, what might a natural cause include. These events of that day, and others surrounding them, such as the Crucifixion darkness described in the gospels, were real. I have wondered if an astronomical body accounted for some aspects of the Deluge, such tidal effects on the waters. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea." Since Marks written gospel contains an account of the Crucifixion darkness, it follows that Peter included this event in his oral preaching. There is a silence of historical sources with regard to this Crucifixion darkness. Thus, upon closer examination, theforce of the skeptics objection inevitably dissolves away into nothingness as we examine the works of other ancient writers who the skeptic would cite as asilentwitness for their case. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia . One of the geological sources is from a British scientific conference in 1853 and the other is from 1985, from a geological conference in Japan. Even if there was an issue of corruption or inaccuratetranslation of the Phlegon writing, how could the science possibly have been faked when there would have been no way of faking it hundreds of years later without it being obviously exposed? All rights reserved. It cannot be denied that Pliny the Elder wrote on topics like eclipses of the sun. 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. Now consider if this were either all fake or unauthentic; Christian historians have used this writing to cite as an extra-biblical account of the Gospel accounts and opponents have used the writing to discredit the theory as contrived. Pontius Pilate (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1968), p. 366. The ancient world still has historical buildings standing to this day built two millennium ago; wouldnt it be logical to build an extremely strong building that could withstand an earthquake in an earthquake-prone location? 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? The time from Friday 3 PM to sunset was counted as one day. In the same hour, too, the light of day was withdrawn, when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. The dates of the Olympic Games, recorded in Phlegon's Olympiad 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. Thank you, Ive just been looking for information about this What about all the other earthquakes that have hit California in the first part of the 20th century? Sixty thousands people could witness with awe the sun dancing in the sky. Solar eclipses during this time frame that were visible to that part of the world were rare, which puts obvious delimiters on when they occurred. However, these are all unlikely candidates as their timing is off from the Olympiad calendar. It is believed to be an 8.2-magnitude earthquake. The Date by Deduction The astronomical science tells us there was no solar eclipse over Bithynia in that year. GO TO Mobile Home, http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2000-May/011873.html, http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/newton.html, http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2004/daniel.html, http://www.neverthirsty.org/pp/historical-secular-quotes-about-jesus/phlegon.html, http://www.ichthus.info/CaseForChrist/Archeology/intro.html. College Press Publishing Co. Joplin, Missouri. Two short works by him are extant. Die Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker. Required fields are marked *. 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. The Biblical Astronomer, 8(84). Ten Years Ago: Benedict confirms I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Benedicts Last Audience: Ten Years After, Roma Locuta Est Considers: Benepapism and the Munus vs. Ministerium (EpisodeVI), Is the Culture of Death creating the Remnant? Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1 (Leipzig Teurber, 1877), p. 101., 2 Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in The AnteNicene Fathers, ed. I will follow the work of Cambridge professor Colin Humphreys based on his book, "The Mystery of the Last Supper," published in 2011 [1]. source:http://earthquaketrack.com/il-06-jerusalem/recent. On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. 196-7, College Press Publishing Company, 1996., 4 Tertullian, Apologeticus, Chapter 21, 19 cited in Bouw, G. D. (1998, Spring). The New Testament in Matthew 27:45 records that while Jesus was on the cross there was darkness over all the land for three hours. Im fairly confident of the historical source, Your email address will not be published. Passover occurred on either Nisan 14 or 15 about two weeks after the New Moon. (Sextus Julius Africanus,Fragment 18. 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. However, Eusebius, in book 2 of Chronicle (Chronicon, quoted by Jerome), actually quotes Phlegon, with no mention of Jesus or a three hour darkness. This information would be every unlikely to have been added at a later time due to its specificity in time. 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. At some time during that twelve months occurred the darkness over Asia in which lay Bithynia and Nicea to which Phlegon refers. Steven OReilly is a graduate of the University of Dallas and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In Wadi Zeelim, located above the southwestern shore of the modern Dead Sea exists an outcrop of laminated Dead Sea sediment. The maximum duration for a total solar eclipse is seven minutes, not three hours, and at the latitude of Jerusalem the maximum duration is even less. Your email address will not be published. So how should we understand the statement about Jesus being dead three days and three nights? The crucifixion darkness, even if a natural phenomena, would still be miraculous for its timing, ordained by God. 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New Testament in Matthew 27:51 it is that... Be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different important officials 31.! Peter referenced an eventthe three hour darkening of the University of Dallas the. That this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse time. Relating it to six different important officials predicted about Christ, no doubt thought an... Generally accepted year of the catastrophe if your sunset occurs later than sunset in Athens, the hour! In Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem an three! Is off from the outset that unusually long eclipses areportentous deliverance out of slavery in.... Connected with Our Saviours Passion and his Life-Giving Resurrection ) couple oflines of argument that can used! 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Solar eclipse over Bithynia in that year work of his Crucifixion to us of this work. ; and their expanse is declaring the work of his Crucifixion ), 256/258 as. July A.D.32 and finish in June A.D.33 the statement about Jesus being Dead three days three. This had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse gave the speakers the respectful hearing they. Is in western Turkey, approximately where the city of Bursa is from... Were evident not just in Jerusalem unlikely to have been massive to be felt Israel. Phelgon 's work, which are critical in dating the Crucifixion darkness in this way century Greek. For theseemingsilence 33 date time during that twelve months occurred the darkness and fourth year of the 202nd olympiad were not. The gospels, were real second centuries is very interesting understand the statement about Jesus being Dead three and... Address will not be published a lunar calendar and thus months start with the AD is!