Abstract
The date of the Crucifixion has been debated for many years, but there has been no agreement on the year nor the day. Astronomical calculations have now been used to reconstruct the Jewish calendar in the first century AD and to date a lunar eclipse that biblical and other references suggest followed the Crucifixion. The evidence points to Friday 3 April AD 33 as the date when Jesus Christ died.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hoehner, H. W. Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1977).
Tacitus Annals XV, 44.
Reicke, B. The New Testament Era (Transl. Green, D. E. ) (Black, London, 1968).
Jeremias, J. The Eucharistic Words of Jesus (transl. Perrin, N. ) (SCM, London, 1966).
Bruce, F. F. New Testament History (Pickering & Inglis, London, 1982).
Whiteley, D. E. H. Aufstieg und Niedergang der Romischem Welt Vol. 25, Pt II (de Gruyter, Berlin, in the press).
Jaubert, A. La Date de la Cene (Gabalda, Paris, 1957).
Schurer, E., Vermes, G. & Millar, F. The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ Vol 1 (Edinburgh University Press, 1973).
Fotheringham, J. K. J. theol. Stud. 35, 146 (1934).
Goldstine, H. New and Full Moons, 100 B.C. to A.D. 1651 (Fortress, Philadelphia, 1973).
Fotheringham, J. K. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 70, 527 (1910).
Maunder, E. W. J. Br. astr. Ass. 21, 355 (1911).
Kornfeld, G. H. & Lawson, W. R. J. opt. Soc. Am. 61, 811 (1971).
Ogg, G. The Chronology of the Public Ministry of Jesus (Cambridge University Press, 1940).
Edwards, O. Palest. Explor. Q., 29 (1982).
Robinson, J. A. T. Redating the New Testament (SCM, London, 1976).
Neil, W. The Acts of the Apostles (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973).
Bruce, F. F. The Acts of the Apostles (Inter-Varsity, Leicester, 1952).
James, M. R. The Apocryphal New Testament, 154 (Clarendon, Oxford, 1953).
Ginzel, F. K. Spezieller Kanon der Sonnen- und Mondfinsternisse (Mayer & Muller, Berlin, 1899).
Pertz, G. H. Monumenta Germaniae Historica (Scriptores, Hanover, 1959); Vols 16–19 (reprinted by Kraus Reprint Corporation, New York, 1963).
Stephenson, F. R. Vetus Testamentum 19, 224 (1969).
Bruce, F. F. Commentary on the Book of the Acts (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981).
Oppolzer, T. R. von Kanon der Finsternisse (1887) (Transl. Gingerich, O.) (Dover, New York, 1961).
Stephenson, F. R. & Clark, D. H. Applications of Early Astronomical Records (Oxford University Press, 1978).
Stephenson, F. R. Scient. Am. 247 (4) 154 (1982).
Chambers, G. F. The Story of Eclipses (Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1899).
Davis, D. Sky Telescope 64, 391 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Humphreys, C., Waddington, W. Dating the Crucifixion. Nature 306, 743–746 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306743a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306743a0
This article is cited by
-
The Moon and the crucifixion
Nature (1990)
-
Crucifixion date
Nature (1990)