Nisan 13-16, AD 33 (An hypothesis)
Draft prepared by Jennifer and Galen Currah, 25 April 2013

Presuppositions

(1) The days of Passover week started at sundown and continued through the following night and light hours.

(2) Passover Day was regarded as the first day of Passover Week, coinciding with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a Passover meal was celebrated several times in the week, and preparations were made each day preceding a Passover meal.  Thus, on Nisan 13^th, Jesus’ disciples prepared a Passover meal that he and they consumed shortly thereafter on Nisan 14^th. Likewise, on Nisan 14^th, the date of Jesus’ crucifixion, others prepared for a Passover meal served early on Nisan 15^th.

(3) Jesus body was put into a tomb, afternoon of Nisan 14^th, lay there all of Nisan 15^th, a Sabbath, and rose back to life sometime before dawn, Nisan 16^th. That is, he rose “on the third day” (Mt 20.19; Ac 10.40; 1 Co 15.4). The expression “three days and three nights” (Mt 12.40) remains a Semitic expression referring to any parts of three night-day periods.

(4) According to the common, Western calendar, Jesus was crucified and buried Friday afternoon, April 3rd, and rose back to life late Saturday night, April 4^th or early Sunday morning, April 5^th.

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