On Which Day of the Week Was Christ Crucified? A Biblical and Chronological Examination

Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

The Problem of “Three Days and Three Nights”

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including the precise day on which it occurred, has long been a subject of theological inquiry and debate. The central difficulty arises primarily from Matthew 12:40, where Jesus states: “For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” This statement appears to conflict with the traditional Good Friday to Easter Sunday timeline, which only allows for two nights and one full day.

Jesus’ statement is not presented as a minor aside but as the central proof of His divine authority: the “sign of Jonah.” Consequently, this reference demands serious attention and exegetical precision. Any proposed solution must not only account for the language of “three days and three nights” but also harmonize with the explicit statements in the New Testament that Jesus would rise “on the third day” (Luke 24:7; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4) and with the known historical and chronological markers of that week.

Hebrew Idiom and Reckoning of Time

Understanding first-century Jewish time reckoning is crucial. In Jewish idiomatic usage, any part of a day was often counted as a whole day-night unit. This practice, known as inclusive reckoning, is thoroughly documented in both Scripture and Jewish rabbinic tradition. For instance, Esther 4:16 speaks of fasting for “three days, night or day,” yet Esther approaches the king “on the third day” (Esther 5:1), not the fourth.

This practice is also evident in 1 Samuel 30:12-13, where a servant had not eaten for “three days and three nights,” but the phrase “three days ago” clearly shows inclusive reckoning. It would be an error to impose modern Western expectations of exact 72-hour time blocks onto ancient Jewish expressions.

Therefore, the phrase “three days and three nights” in Matthew 12:40 is idiomatic and need not mean three full 24-hour periods. It refers to parts of three calendar days.

The Crucifixion on Friday: Biblical Evidence

The Gospel narratives are explicit in affirming that Jesus was crucified on the day of Preparation (Greek: paraskeuē), the day before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31). This places the Crucifixion on Friday. The Synoptic Gospels confirm this sequence:

Jesus dies at approximately the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.) on the day of Preparation (Mark 15:33-37).
He is buried before the Sabbath begins at sundown (Luke 23:54).
The women rest on the Sabbath (Saturday) according to the commandment (Luke 23:56).
On the first day of the week (Sunday), they find the tomb empty at dawn (Luke 24:1).

There is no textual support in the Gospels for a Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion. Instead, the structure clearly indicates Friday (Preparation), Saturday (Sabbath rest), and Sunday (Resurrection). Jesus’ resurrection on “the third day” is repeated across the New Testament (Luke 9:22; 18:33; Acts 10:40), and this naturally corresponds with Friday (day 1), Saturday (day 2), and Sunday (day 3).

Clarifying “Three Days and Three Nights” in the Light of Friday Crucifixion

According to Jewish reckoning, a day began at sunset (6:00 P.M.). Jesus’ burial on Friday before sunset counts as Day One. Saturday, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, is Day Two. Jesus rose early on Sunday morning, which constitutes the beginning of Day Three. Therefore, Friday (partial), Saturday (full), and Sunday (partial) form three calendar days.

The phrase “three days and three nights” in Matthew 12:40 is best understood as a Semitic idiom for “three days,” without requiring three complete nights. The formula expresses the idea of a tripartite period spanning parts of three days. The Resurrection occurring early Sunday morning before full daylight means Jesus had been in the tomb for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday.

This idiom is reinforced by Jesus’ repeated prophecies that He would rise “on the third day,” not “after three days and nights” (cf. Luke 24:21: “it is now the third day since these things happened”).

Refuting Alternative Theories (Wednesday or Thursday Crucifixion)

Proponents of a Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion base their view on a literalist reading of “three days and three nights.” They argue that only a full 72-hour entombment satisfies Jesus’ prophecy. However, such a reading imposes an anachronistic standard on the text and contradicts clear Gospel chronology.

A Wednesday crucifixion would require Jesus to rise on Saturday afternoon, which contradicts the consistent testimony that He rose on “the first day of the week” (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). A Thursday crucifixion similarly distorts the “third day” reckoning and lacks any textual indication.

Furthermore, the attempt to redefine the Sabbath mentioned in the Gospels as referring to an annual feast day, rather than the weekly Sabbath, fails to consider the clear language of paraskeuē as denoting Friday, the regular day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath (cf. Josephus, Antiquities 16.6.2).

Harmony with the Sign of Jonah

Understanding the “heart of the earth” as referring not merely to the tomb but to the totality of Jesus’ experience in death (including His descent into Sheol, the abode of the dead), the phrase “three days and three nights” covers the period from late Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning. This includes His burial and His presence in the realm of the dead (Luke 23:43; Ephesians 4:9).

Thus, Jesus’ statement about Jonah’s three days and nights is not an exact measurement of time but a thematic parallel: just as Jonah was lost to the world for a period before emerging alive, so the Son of Man would be swallowed by death before triumphing over it on the third day.

Conclusion: A Biblically Faithful Chronology

The traditional understanding that Jesus was crucified on Friday afternoon, buried before sunset, and rose early on Sunday morning is entirely compatible with the biblical data. The idiom “three days and three nights” reflects Jewish inclusive reckoning and should not be pressed into a modern chronological mold.

The crucifixion on Friday aligns with the Gospel timeline, Jewish calendrical structure, and the typological significance of the Passover lamb’s death before the Sabbath (Exodus 12:6; John 19:14). Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed in fulfillment of prophecy and rose exactly when He said He would—on the third day, as the Scriptures foretold.

You May Also Enjoy

Did Jesus Mean He Would Return During His Disciples’ Lifetime? Understanding Matthew 16:28 in Its Context

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).