Dating Christ’S Crucifixion To April 28, Ad 28

Pallant Ramsundar (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

This article revisits the possible date of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, evaluating it in light of W. Graham Scroggie’s hypothesis regarding the day of the event. The research integrates astronomical findings with historical and Biblical evidence to propose a more accurate timeline of Christ’s ministry and death. The study concludes that Jesus commenced His ministry in the spring or summer of AD 26 and was crucified on Wednesday, April 28, AD 28 (Julian calendar).

1. Historical Perspective on the Date of the Crucifixion

Traditionally, scholars have proposed various dates for Christ's crucifixion. Among the most common suggestions are:

• Friday, April 3, AD 33 (Fotheringham, 1934; Hoehner, 1978; Humphreys & Waddington, 1985; Schaeffer, 1990)
• Friday, April 23, AD 34 (Newton)
• Wednesday, April 25, AD 31 (other scholars)

Each of these proposals carries specific historical and scriptural challenges, particularly concerning the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about His time in the tomb.

2. Problems with the Friday Crucifixion Theory

The traditional Friday crucifixion hypothesis presents several difficulties:

A) The Three Days and Three Nights Issue Matthew 12:40 states that Jesus would be in the grave for "three days and three nights," aligning with the sign of Jonah. A Friday evening burial to a Sunday morning resurrection fails to fulfill this prophecy in a literal sense.

B) Timing of the Resurrection All four Gospels confirm that when the women visited the tomb early Sunday morning, Christ had already risen (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). John's account states that it was still dark, further complicating the Friday crucifixion assumption.

C) Jesus' Burial Timeline Jesus died around 3:00 PM (Matthew 27:45) and was buried at dusk (Matthew 27:57). This suggests that even the Friday crucifixion model does not allow for partial daylight on Sunday, undermining the "third day" claim.

D) The High Sabbath Confusion John 19:31 clarifies that the Sabbath following the crucifixion was a "high day," referring to an annual Sabbath (Passover) rather than the weekly Sabbath. Many analyses mistakenly assume that this necessitates a Friday crucifixion.

E) Preparation of Spices Luke 23:56 states that the women prepared spices before resting on the Sabbath. If Friday was the crucifixion day, no time would be available for the spice preparation before the weekly Sabbath.

3. First-Century Jewish Passover Practices

To accurately determine the crucifixion date, it is necessary to understand Jewish timekeeping and religious practices during the period.

3.1 The Jewish Day In first-century Judaism, the day began at twilight, meaning a full day consisted of the night followed by the daylight period (Mark 1:21, 32). This detail is crucial in reconciling Biblical timelines. {Evening to Evening}

3.2 The Passover Observance The Pharisees observed the Passover by sacrificing lambs in the afternoon of the 14th of Abib and consuming them that evening, which coincided with the beginning of the 15th. Other Jewish sects, such as the Samaritans and Karaites, had slight variations in their observance.

3.3 The Wave Sheaf Offering Diverse sects observed the Wave Sheaf Offering differently, with the Pharisees celebrating it on the day after the High Sabbath and the Sadducees observing it after the weekly Sabbath within the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

4. Timeline of the Crucifixion Day

Integrating historical, astronomical, and scriptural data suggests the following chronology for Christ's final day:

• Tuesday evening: Last Supper and Gethsemane prayer.
• Wednesday early morning: Arrest, trials before Pilate and Herod.
• Wednesday morning: Crucifixion at approximately 9:00 AM.
• Wednesday afternoon: Jesus dies around 3:00 PM.
• Wednesday evening: Burial before sunset.
• Saturday evening: Resurrection after three full days and nights.

5. Astronomical Evidence for the Crucifixion Date

Given that Jesus was crucified under the rule of Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36), the lunar cycle limits the potential Passover dates to the following Wednesdays:

• March 12, AD 27
• April 28, AD 28
• April 25, AD 31
• March 24, AD 34

However, Mark 11:13 describes Jesus noticing fig trees with leaves near the time of the crucifixion. Since fig trees bear leaves later in the year, this suggests a post-equinox crucifixion, eliminating the AD 27 and AD 34 options and leaving:

• April 28, AD 28
• April 25, AD 31

6. Duration of Christ’s Ministry

To further refine the date, we analyze the length of Jesus’ ministry:

• Jesus was baptized in spring/summer AD 26 (Luke 3:1-3, 21-23).
• Ministry overlapped John the Baptist’s during AD 26-27.
• Christ’s final Galilean ministry lasted five to six months (AD 27-28).
• Crucifixion occurred in AD 28 (April 28, Julian calendar).

Clement of Alexandria’s writings further support the AD 28 crucifixion by correlating it with Jerusalem’s destruction 42 years and three months later.

7. Conclusion

This study reaffirms the timeline of Christ's life as follows:

• Birth: Summer/autumn, 5 BC.
• Flight to Egypt: 3 BC.
• Return to Nazareth: 1 BC.
• Baptism: Spring/summer, AD 26.
• Calling of disciples: Autumn, AD 27.
• Crucifixion: Wednesday, April 28, AD 28 (Julian calendar).

This conclusion aligns with historical accounts, astronomical calculations, and Biblical records, offering a compelling case for an AD 28 crucifixion date.

Many of you may question what I have written so far on this site and think, that is not what was written before in other articles. Yes, that is true. However, to seek the truth is a journey. Like Christ said, "Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking and it will be open to you". Truth is free, free to investigate, free to seek and free to know. It is we that must change with the truth, the truth does not change for us.

Keep in mind that this site is NOT agenda driven. We do not care about being wrong in the past, we care about having the humility to admit when we are wrong after the evidence shows us to be. Here we fail forward and that is all we can do.

This also reminds me of Jesus when He said, let the wheat grow with the weeds and then at harvest time the Angels can tell the difference. 

I am very thankful of the men who have done this research seeking only the truth and not an agenda.

References

1. Fotheringham, J.K., "Astronomical Evidence for the Date of the Crucifixion." The Journal of Theological Studies, 1910.

2. Hoehner, H.W., "Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ." Zondervan, 1978.

3. Humphreys, C.J., W.G. Waddington, "The Date of the Crucifixion." Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, 1985.

4. Schaefer, B.E., "Lunar Visibility and the Crucifixion." Royal Astronomical Society Quarterly Journal, 1990.

5. Newton, I., "The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended." 1728.

6. Pratt, J.P., "Newton’s Date for the Crucifixion." R.A.S. Quarterly Journal, 1991.

7. Scroggie, W.G., "A Guide to the Gospels." 1948.

8. Banks, W., "Three Days and Three Nights." Xulon Press, 2005.

9. Josephus, F., "The Wars of the Jews." Plain Label Books.

10. Zerubavel, E., "Easter and Passover: On Calendars and Group Identity." American Sociological Review, 1982.

    #prophecy #theElect #endureToEnd #theElect #messiah2030 #messiah2033 #thegreattribulation

    
    

20) PHD DATES CRUCIFIXION AD 28 - 2028 END

University of Cambridge student Pallant Ramsundar writes a thorough doctoral thesis paper dating Christ’s crucifixion to AD 28, supporting the message 2028 END.

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