For years, the date of Christ’s death has been debated.
But now, NASA scientists may have found the exact day.
How science aligns with the Gospels… (thread)🧵
The year and date of Christ’s death are highly disputed.
Most scholars agree it occurred during the governorship of Pontius Pilate, who ruled from A.D. 26 to 36.
But that’s where the consensus ends
Most scholars agree it occurred during the governorship of Pontius Pilate, who ruled from A.D. 26 to 36.
But that’s where the consensus ends
Turns out, the answer was hidden in plain sight all this time.
The Gospel of Matthew gives us an account of the Crucifixion, saying:
"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land." (Matthew 27:45)
The Gospel of Matthew gives us an account of the Crucifixion, saying:
"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land." (Matthew 27:45)
That’s a very specific detail, isn’t it?
A group of NASA scientists wondered if Matthew might be describing an eclipse.
So they ran astronomical models to see whether an eclipse occurred in the 1st century A.D.
A group of NASA scientists wondered if Matthew might be describing an eclipse.
So they ran astronomical models to see whether an eclipse occurred in the 1st century A.D.
Soon, they found a match.
A partial lunar eclipse occurred on April 3, 33 A.D.
That’s one of the two most widely proposed dates for the Crucifixion.
The NASA study both supports the proposition and verifies Matthew's account
A partial lunar eclipse occurred on April 3, 33 A.D.
That’s one of the two most widely proposed dates for the Crucifixion.
The NASA study both supports the proposition and verifies Matthew's account
Better yet, the lunar eclipse helps answer another important question:
How old was Jesus at the time of His death?
Luke 3:23 says Christ was about thirty when He began His ministry
How old was Jesus at the time of His death?
Luke 3:23 says Christ was about thirty when He began His ministry
Meanwhile, the Gospel of John mentions three separate Passovers during Christ's ministry.
Given that, scholars believe His ministry must've lasted about three years
Given that, scholars believe His ministry must've lasted about three years
Putting two and two together: Christ was thirty when He began preaching, and thirty-three at the time of the Crucifixion.
This means He was likely born around A.D. 1, not 4 B.C., as traditionally thought
This means He was likely born around A.D. 1, not 4 B.C., as traditionally thought
And that makes perfect sense.
Christ couldn’t have been born four years Before Christ.
That's impossible
Christ couldn’t have been born four years Before Christ.
That's impossible
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