(notes from Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, p. 271ff)

Day of the Week: Friday

  1. Jesus was crucified on Friday
    1. the next day was the Sabbath
      1. Mt 28:1a, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:56, Jn 19:31
    2. Resurrection was the “first day of the week”
      1. Mt 28:1b, Mk 16:2, Lk 24:1, Jn 20:1
    3. Resurrection “on the third day”
      1. Mt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, Lk 9:22, 18:33, 24:7, 46, Acts 10:40, 1 Cor 15:1
      2. The way of counting is confirmed by Lk 13:32
  2. Difficulties:
    1. Mt 12:40, “The Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.”
      1. Compare Esther 4:16 and 5:1, Genesis 42:17
    2. “After three days” Mt 27:63, Mk 8:31, 9:31, 10:34
      1. Note how Matthew uses “after” and “on” interchangeably
      2. Mt 27:63
    3. Confirmed by Jesus’ promise: Mt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, Lk 9:22, 18:33, 24:7

Lunar Date: Nisan 14

  1. The Passover Meal is prepared on “the first day of Unleavened Bread”
    1. Mt 26:17, Mk 14:12, Lk 22:7-8
    2. This indicates that Friday sundown is Nisan 14 (Thursday day Nisan 13).
    3. 1 Cor 5:7, “Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.”
  2. Difficulties
    1. John 19:14, Jesus trial took place on “the day of Preparation of the Passover”
      1. The Day of Preparation FOR the Passover is the day when the Lamb is Sacrificed in the late afternoon.
      2. “Day of Preparation” can be a technical term for “Friday” (i.e. the day to prepare for the Sabbath), see Mk 15:42, cmp Lk 23:54, Jn 19:42 (See also Josephus, Ant. 16:163 [16.6.2])
      3. “Passover” sometime indicated the entire eight-day time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Lk 22:1, cmp Acts 12:3-4, Lk 2:41.
        1. “Feast of Unleavened Bread” can also refer to the Passover and the seven days that followed. Mk 14:12, cmp Mt 26:17, Lk 22:7, Acts 12:3, 20:6
          1. Josephus conflates the two as well. JW 2.10 [2.1.3], Ant 14.21 [14.2.1], 17.213 [17.9.3], 18.29 [18.2.2]
          2. Philo Spec. Laws 2.150
      4. “Given this evidence, the phrase ‘the day of Preparation of the Passover” does not denote the day when the Passover was prepared (13 Nisan), but a Friday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread broadly understood. That is, it was a Friday during the eight-day period encompassing Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” (Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 278.)
        1. This also explains the “great Sabbath” (John 19:31), the next day was not only the Sabbath, but the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on which specific sacrifices are to be offered (Num 28:18-23)
    2. John 18:28, “They did not enter the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.”
      1. Jesus was brought early in the morning () some time after 4:30a, but most likely before sunrise.
      2. The Passover was to be eaten before dawn
        • Ex 12:10, 34:25, Dt 16:4, cmp. Ex 23:18, 29:34, Lev 7:15
      3. The Pharisees were so busy plotting Jesus arrest, His trial, etc. that they had not eaten the Passover, and were hoping for a quick sentence by Pilate so they could eat the meal before the sun came up. (But their refusal to enter the Praetorium might have delayed Pilate’s ruling.)
      4. Nisan 14 was Friday, a “Day of Preparation”
        • Mt 27:62, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:54, Jn 19:14, 31, 42

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

  1. 14 Nisan, beginning at Twilight: Passover begins. Meal eaten at night, lamb then sacrificed in the day, or the night before?
  2. 15-21 Nisan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
  3. 15 Nisan, first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread
    1. Special sacrifices were made. This day would have fallen on Holy Saturday.