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What Caused the Three Hour Darkness at Jesus’ Execution? – An Eclipse?

What Caused the Three Hour Darkness at Jesus’ Execution? – An Eclipse?

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A Total Eclipse of the Sun. Dramatic Solar Eclipse illustration.

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour”—Matthew 27:45 ESV

“And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour”—Mark 15:33 ESV

“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour”—Luke 23:44 ESV 

Starting right in the middle of the day, when the sunlight is the very brightest, from about noontime until about 3 PM, on the day Jesus was executed, a mysterious darkness covered “the whole land” (Greek, “ge”), meaning Jerusalem and the surrounding area of Judea. Three extra-Biblical ancient historians, Thallus, Phlegon, and Africanus, also mentioned this three hour period of darkness in their writings read more

Do the Gospels Contradict About When the Earthquake Occurred & the Stone Moved?

Do the Gospels Contradict About When the Earthquake Occurred & the Stone Moved?

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“I am struck by a certain consistency among otherwise independent witnesses in placing Mary Magdalene both at the cross and at the tomb on the third day. If this is not a historical datum but something that a Christian storyteller made up and then passed along to others, how is it that this specific bit of information has found its way into accounts that otherwise did not make use of one another? . . . all of our early gospels–not just John and Mark (with Matthew and Luke as well) but also the Gospel of Peter, which appears to be independent of all of them–indicate that it was Mary Magdalen who discovered Jesus’ empty tomb. How did all of these independent accounts happen to name exactly the same person in this role? It seems hard to believe that this just happened by way of a fluke of storytelling. It seems much more likely that, at least with the traditions involving the empty tomb, we are dealing with something actually rooted in history”—Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene, p 226, by Bart Ehrman  read more

When, and by Whom, Was the Book of Isaiah Written?

When, and by Whom, Was the Book of Isaiah Written?

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“The vision which Isaiah, son of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah”—Isaiah 1:1 NAB

Until about the last 250 years, the book of Isaiah was generally accepted by Christians as being written entirely by the prophet Isaiah in the latter part of the 8th century BCE. Nowadays, however, many “scholars” think the book was written by various writers over the course of several centuries, citing factors such as differences in subject matter, style, theology, vocabulary, and the viewpoint that predictive prophesy is impossible. The real reason for this is, however, that they don’t think predictive prophecy is possible. While there are a variety of views about the writership of Isaiah, critics often claim that chapters 40-66 were not written by “Isaiah, son of Amos.” However, careful examination of the book reveals that chapters 36-39 are a historical interlude that concludes the first section of the book, chapters 1-35, and introduces the last section, chapters 40-66. This reveals the unity of the entire book.  read more

IS THE BOOK OF JONAH HISTORY OR FICTION?

IS THE BOOK OF JONAH HISTORY OR FICTION?

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“A light satire, with no prentions to being historical . . . This fictional form is unique in the prophetic tradition”—Catholic commentary on Jonah

“There are convincing reasons why the book cannot be historical”—Dictionary of the Bible, by John L McKenzie

“Jesus replied, ‘Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here–but you refuse to repent'”—Matthew 12:39-41 NLT (also, see Matthew 16:4 and Luke 11:29,30,32) read more

Archaeological Discoveries of Baalis, King of Ammon

Archaeological Discoveries of Baalis, King of Ammon

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“Now Johanan, son of Kareah, and all the military leaders in the field came to Gedaliah in Mizpah and said to him, ‘Surely you are aware that Baalis, the Ammonite king has sent Ishmail, son of Nethaniah, to assassinate you?’ But Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, would not believe them”—Jeremiah 40:14 NAB

Even in minor details, the Bible proves true, when examined in the light of external evidence. “Baalis, the Ammonite king” is mentioned only once in the Bible (Jeremiah 40:14), and that in a very incidental way. A seal and a seal impression with the name of Baalis have been discovered. read more

Articles About Israel On This Site

Articles About Israel On This Site

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Due to the fierce fighting that has been going on in Israel and Gaza lately, there is much keen interest in Israel and the Bible. Below are some articles on this website about Israel and the Bible:

“Should We Pray for Israel?”

“Does Modern Israel fulfill Bible Prophecy?”

“Are Restoration Prophecies About Israel Literal — Or Symbolic?”

“The Spiritual Use of ‘Israel’ in the Bible”

“Restoration Prophecies — Israel of God” read more

SHOULD WE PRAY FOR ISRAEL?

SHOULD WE PRAY FOR ISRAEL?

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To get the correct Biblical view in answer to this question, we need to understand and view the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and not the other way around. People often misunderstand and mistinterpret the scriptures by doing this.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem .  . . For the love of the house of  Yahweh our God I will pray for your well-being”—Psalm 122:6,9 NJB

There is the Old Testament exhortation above to pray for Jerusalem, which represents the ancient nation of Israel. Yahweh is referred to as “the God of Israel,” “the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 41:13; 59:8; 68:8; 78:41; 106:48).  Today, there are a number of  Christians who strongly believe that the modern nation of Israel, which was established in 1948, should be prayed for. Is this what God wants us to do? We are told to: read more

Daniel & Ezekiel Predicted Alexander the Great 200 Years in Advance

Daniel & Ezekiel Predicted Alexander the Great 200 Years in Advance

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“Alexander of Macedon son of Philip . . . defeated Darius king of the Persians and Medes, whom he succeeded as ruler, as first of Helias. He undertook many campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses . . . So he advanced to the ends of the earth, plundering nation after nation; the earth grew silent before him, and his ambitious heart swelled with pride. He assembled very powerful forces and subdued provinces, nations and princes, and they became his tributaries . . . Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died”—1 Maccabees 1:1-7 NJB read more

AHAZ, KING OF JUDAH, AND REZIN, KING OF ARAM, AUTHENTICATED

AHAZ, KING OF JUDAH, AND REZIN, KING OF ARAM, AUTHENTICATED

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“Ahaz . . . reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years”—2 Kings 16:2 NIV

He is remembered most for his war against Israel (under Pekah) and Aram (Syria) (under Rezin):

“Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him”—2 Kings 16:5 NIV

Ahaz reached out to Assyrian king Tiglath-Pilesser III when Pekah and Rezin tried to force him to join a coalition against Assyria:

“Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, ‘I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel who are attacking me”—2 Kings 16:7 NIV read more

IS MORDECAI IN ESTHER HISTORICALLY ACCURATE?

IS MORDECAI IN ESTHER HISTORICALLY ACCURATE?

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“The book is a free composition, not a historical document”—Catholic Commentary

“The only character known to history is Ashasuerus”—Catholic Commentary

“Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled”—Esther 2:5,6 NASB read more

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