For centuries, scholars and theologians have sought to determine the exact date of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. While the Bible does not explicitly specify the precise day, historical and astronomical data provide compelling evidence for the date of Friday, April 3, AD 33. This conclusion aligns with Biblical chronology, Roman and Jewish historical records, and astronomical findings, making it the most probable date for the pivotal moment in Christian history. Please remember this post could be wrong, we are just going over the evidence.
Why Determining the Date Matters
Though not an essential salvation doctrine, pinpointing the date of the crucifixion reinforces Christianity’s historical foundation. The events of Jesus’s life are interwoven with verifiable historical occurrences, placing the gospel accounts firmly within human history. Among the Gospel writers, Luke especially emphasizes this point, meticulously documenting historical markers to ground the life and ministry of Jesus in real-world events.
Establishing the Timeline
The Beginning of John the Baptist’s Ministry
Luke 3:1 provides a significant chronological anchor: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…” This reference situates John the Baptist’s ministry in a defined historical context.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Luke 3:1-3
Tiberius succeeded Augustus as emperor, officially confirmed by the Roman Senate on August 19, AD 14. His fifteenth year, therefore, falls between AD 28 and AD 29, depending on whether his reign was counted from AD 14 or AD 15. Consequently, John’s ministry likely began between mid-AD 28 and the end of AD 29 according to this calculation.
The Commencement of Jesus’s Ministry
If Jesus began his ministry shortly after John, the earliest possible date for his baptism would be late AD 28, but more plausibly, early AD 29. Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was “about thirty years of age” when he began his ministry. Given that Jesus was likely born in 6 or 5 BC, this places him at approximately 32–34 years old in AD 28–30, fitting well within Luke’s description.
Duration of Jesus’s Ministry
The length of Jesus’s public ministry is another key factor. The Gospel of John mentions at least three Passovers during Jesus’s ministry:
- The first Passover in Jerusalem (John 2:13, 23)
- A second Passover (John 6:4)
- The final Passover at the time of his crucifixion (John 11:55, 12:1)
There is also a possible fourth feast (John 5:1), which, if another Passover, extends the ministry by an additional year.
Given that the earliest Jesus could have begun his ministry is AD 28 or 29, and he attended multiple Passovers, his crucifixion could not have taken place as early as AD 30. The necessary time frame points to AD 33.
Calculating the Crucifixion Date
To determine the exact day, we must consider:
- The Jewish calendar, where Passover falls on the 15th of Nisan.
- The Gospel accounts stating that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the Day of Preparation before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42, John 19:31).
- Astronomical data confirming that Nisan 15 in AD 33 fell on Friday, April 3.
Thus, the best-supported date for the crucifixion is April 3, AD 33.
Jesus’s Final Week Chronology
| Gregorian Date | Jewish Date | Day of the Week | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2, AD 33 | Nisan 14 | Thursday | Last Supper, day of preparation for Passover |
| April 3, AD 33 | Nisan 15 | Friday | Crucifixion, Passover begins at sundown |
| April 4, AD 33 | Nisan 16 | Saturday | Sabbath rest, Jesus in the tomb |
| April 5, AD 33 | Nisan 17 | Sunday | Resurrection, first day of the week |
Addressing Alternative Dates
Some scholars argue for AD 30 as the year of Jesus’s death. However, given that the fifteenth year of Tiberius’s reign places John’s ministry no earlier than AD 28, and Jesus’s ministry lasted at least three years, AD 30 is too early. Some proponents of AD 30 suggest Tiberius had a co-reign with Augustus before AD 14, but there is no conclusive historical evidence supporting this claim.
Conclusion: A Firm Historical Anchor
The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Jesus was crucified on April 3, AD 33. While exact dating is not a salvation requirement, it reinforces the historical reality of Christianity. Unlike mythological religions, Christianity is anchored in historical events that align with recorded human history. As believers reflect on Easter and Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice, we can confidently affirm that our faith is rooted in both divine revelation and historical reality.
Daniel's Prophecy
Although this post is about making 33 AD the most likely crucifixion's date the prophecy in Daniel aligns with 30AD as the date of the Crucifixion. Although the arguments above are very compelling for the 33AD year, you cannot deny there is much evidence for the year 30 AD as well. This is a back and forth battle and very frustrating but you have to ask yourself, is it designed this way? We have taken the attitude of Daniel, where we may not know everything, but what we do know is it happened. We think Friday April 7th 30 AD is the date according to Daniel's prophecy. How is that for a twist after reading this whole post?