How Long Was Jesus in the Tomb?

March 2, 2009


The expression “three days and three nights” was a common Jewish expression that meant “any part of a three-day period.” To us that literally means 72 hours, but that’s not what it meant to the Jews in the first century. So if Jesus was crucified on Friday, that would be Day 1, in the tomb on Saturday would be Day 2, and rising on Sunday would be Day 3. The Jews counted any part of the day as the whole day so there is no problem with a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday resurrection. See How Long Was Jesus Dead in the Tomb?

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