XIV), wrote that Phlegon, in his Chronicles, mentions Jesus: "Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events (although falling into confusion about some things which refer to Peter, as if they referred to Jesus), but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions." 12:40 mention three nights. Another writer, a Christian historian named Sextus Julius Africanus, also commented about Phlegon's writings which connect the above event to the the crucifixion: "Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Csar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth - manifestly that one of which we speak. The 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad is from July 32 to June 33 CE, which confirms the date of 3 April 33 CE. Africanus refutes the attempt of Thallus to explain away this darkness as being a regular solar eclipse. Modern context of the calendar of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad at July 32-33AD. I found further confirmation of this earthquake from other sources that also dates it in the year 33 AD. It has only been referenced in Christian apologist books hundreds of years later. Does this necessarily mean that Phlegon was referencing the seismic activity, if you dare to call it that, that occurred during the Crucifixion in the Gospel accounts? Los Angeles is approximately 380 miles from San Francisco, by comparison. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). The answer is a resounding yes.Whether the darkness was witnessed throughout the empire or only in regions around Jerusalem is not clear. The website for this is the National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov). However, history provides a sufficient answer as to why such documentary evidence has not survived on these topics of great interest. It even mentions buildings collapsing in Nicea, which would be over 1,000 miles Northwest from Jerusalem by land. And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. Is this a powerful confirmation of the events described in the New Testament? An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a text widget. At some time during that twelve months occurred the darkness over Asia in which lay Bithynia and Nicea to which Phlegon refers. However, what concerning the bottom line? Sect 257 f16, c, p. 1165. Many authors have suggested various means of resolving all the mysteries about the date of the crucifixion. This earthquake did not center near Jerusalem exactly but it was strong enough to be very noticable in effects at Jerusalem if it did damage in Nicea. Z's Blog - What Does The Prayer Really Say. Thesestatements reveal several key things: 1. Remember then, especially on Good Friday between the hours of noon and 3 pm, that the Crucifixion darkness is a real, historical eventand pray for those who deny it. The speaker continued The 53rd chapter of Isaiah, written over 700 years before the birth of Christ, describes the most important aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ!! Last month: Next month: new 11:37 32/06/26 UTC : 1: 32-06-27/28: Noumenia kata Selene : 2: 32-06-28/29: Agathos Daimon : 3: 32-06-29/30: Athene : 4: 32- . From Friday evening at sunset to Saturday evening at sunset was an entire 24 hour day cycle, so it also counted as a day and a night. Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1 (Leipzig Teurber, 1877), p. 101., 2 Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in The AnteNicene Fathers, ed. . This is writing from an early Christian apologist named Jerome. On this basis the Fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would commence in July A.D.32 and finish in June A.D.33. Second, though the Passover week celebrations of the Jews are well understood, no written records exist regarding the calendar and New Moon from the time of Christ, as the Jews used them. The above said, we may venture still further in suggesting another reason for theseemingsilence. Some Christian scholars argue Jesus was crucified on Thursday and some even hold to a Wednesday crucifixion. The Romans, for example, are known to have have kept archives which included data on eclipses of the moon and sun. We do not know what other sources that Africanuswho established a library for Severus Alexander might have had at his disposal with regard to Phlegons writings. (Sextus Julius Africanus,Fragment 18. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea.' Annular (ring) eclipse. Volume 2 contains the quotes on this webpage. "[1] On Long-Lived Persons[2] contains a list of Italians who had passed the age of 100, taken from the censuses of the Roman Empire. Such is the difficulty of the argument from silence. Adding these figures up, we find that Jesus began proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of heaven when he was 33 years old. Tertullians statement certainly suggests he himself had seen the account of this world-portent. Otherwise, it would have been foolhardy of him to have made such a bold challenge to such sticklers for record keeping as the Romans, who could have proven him wrong. The first Olympiad was conducted in 776 BC. In Phlegon's Olympiades we are told it happened in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad which is AD 33. Christ still changes lives like he did in the first century. Im fairly confident of the historical source, Your email address will not be published. We believe that the event referred to by Phlegon is the same event that is recorded in the New Testament. If the above quotes about the crucifixion sky darkening and the earthquake are correct and actually correspond to the crucifixion, then we have historical evidence for miracles at the crucifixion. He quotes Phlegon as stating it was the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, conflicting with Africanus who quotes Phlegon as stating it was the 2nd year; He asserts this occurred at the Passover both in the 18th year of Tiberius (spring 32AD) and in Olympiad 202.4 (spring 33AD); From the direct quote above, it is clear Phlegons source is an observer in Bithynia (in modern day Turkey), which is well over 500 miles away from Jerusalem. Note that the path of this eclipse was over present-day Russia. The dramatic story recorded above is fictional but the facts presented, namely Bible prophecy, Phlegon and Thallius writings, etc., are very true. So a 24 hour daily cycle was from sunset to sunset. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Death, And The Free Gift Of Eternal Life, The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Sickness, And The Availability Of Supernatural Health, The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Poverty, And The Availability Of Gods Supernatural Abundance, Victory Over Satan Won At The Crucifixion, Accreditation, Acknowledgements and Legal notices for Crucifixion, Contact Dr Richard Kent and Recommendation. (The Olympics began in 776 B.C., and by counting every fourth year you come to the 202 nd Olympiad, and the fourth year of same is 33 A.D.) Most But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? From historical sources telling when these individuals were in office you can show that the possible range of years of the crucifixion to be from AD 26 to AD 36. One of the strengths of Humphrey's book is the way it clarifies calendar issues and the way the Jews counted months, days, and nights. This sediment outcrop is a distinctive one-foot thick mixed layer of sediment that is tied strongly to the Qumran earthquakes onshore ground ruptures of 31 B.C. In October, I will perform a miracle here so that all may believe. One day it occurred to me that there were physical events that were extraordinary that WOULD most likely be preserved in historyand here are some very awesome references. Thankfully we have a more detailed fragment from Phlegon's Olympiades: We know from the Bible that on the day of Crucifixion the Sun was darkened for three hours, and there was a great earthquake. Unfortunately for the skepticand a sign of his desperation as wellthe argument from silence is, perhaps, one of the most difficult types of arguments to make. Is there any evidence of global or regional darkness in 36CE? They were not myths or literary devicesas skeptics or modernist biblical scholars might now suggest. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it. (Acts 2: 14-24)[Emphasis and formatting added]. First, there are differences between the synoptic gospels in the New Testament and the gospel of John that have puzzled Bible scholars. Your email address will not be published. One problem with AD 30 being the crucifixion is that it does not allow enough time for Jesus ministry. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica." [4] "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse [Greek EKLEIPSIS] of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the 6th hour the day was changed into night and the stars were seen in the heavens. Luke clearly goes out of his way to be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different important officials. Only one earthquake in this span of years came up in the results, in 33 AD The database showed two published geological sources regarding this earthquake. A few verses later in Matthew 27:51 it is recorded that there was an earthquake at the exact moment that Jesus died. One such quotation is as follows, "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. Bugnolan Conclave in surprise move, elects Bergoglio! From the work of Phlegon we can work out the date of the Crucifixion. How could the science not possibly confirm this level of coincidence? EARTHQUAKE AND DARKNESS THAT OCCURRED AT JESUS DEATH WAS RECORDED IN SECULAR HISTORY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics#/media/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg. Sixty thousands people could witness with awe the sun dancing in the sky. A solar eclipse supposedly occurred during a full moon. This needs to be updated they just found evidence if quake from 26 to 36ad. Phlegon's ``Olympiads" (2nd century) says that Christ's crucifixion was in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad (AD 29-33), when a total solar eclipse occurred in the 6th hour. Is there historical evidence for the darkness & earthquake at the crucifixion? Bursa is approximately 600 miles from Jerusalem. Early Christian writers, such as Origen, Africanus and Eusebius, also cited a 2nd century writer, Phlegon, as having written of the Crucifixion darkness. However, this is scientifically impossible. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour. (Matthew 27: 45), And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. Thus, if the quote is accurate, and Phlegon's eclipse has . Thus geological data seem to confirm the 33 AD date. A solar eclipse can occur only at new moon, but we know that Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover (Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:12,12; Luke 22:12, 7; John 13:1), and that the Passover is at the time of full moon (Exodus 12:111; Leviticus 23:5). We have no need to be dogmatic about precise numbers regarding His age at the time of His crucifixion. He wrote extensively about natural phenomena earthquakes and such. On this site you can do a search for earthquakes essentially anywhere in the world, including through history. This one too is during the 202ndOlympiad, although in the first year, not the fourth. In light of themassobservation and notoriety of a three hour darkness, it would not have made any sense for the Apostlesin preaching or writing about the truth of Christ to believers and nonbelievers aliketo have mentioned this darkness if it had notreallyhappened. He said, "A day and a night are an Onah, and the portion of an Onah is as the whole of it." Check it out for yourselfhttp://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE0001-0100.html. Contact Dr Richard Kent and recommendations, Bible Prophecy Concerning The Crucifixion, The Blood Covenant In Relation To The Crucifixion, Recording of The Crucifixion by Contemporary Historians, The Three Hour Period Of Darkness Is Confirmed By Many Historians, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion According To Phlegon, A Secular Greek Historian, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion From Bible Prophecy, Caiaphas Prophesied About The Crucifixion, In Gethsemane Jesus Sweated Blood, The Disciples Slept, And Judas Betrayed Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot Betrayed Jesus Christ For Thirty Pieces Of Silver, The Timing Of The Night Before The Crucifixion, Jesus Christ Stood In Our Place At The Six Trials, Jesus Was Condemned To Death For "blasphemy", The Crowd Choose Barabbas Rather Than Jesus. Therefore, he relied on transcribed information; either written or oral. Jeremiah 9:23-24. Emma Southon: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". event bed is another distinctive mixed layer less than one inch thick. Africanus disputed an attempt by Thallus (a first century historian) to specifically explain the Crucifixion darkness in this way. What about all the other earthquakes that have hit California in the first part of the 20th century? (31 B.C. Since Passover took place in the Spring before the Olympics, I think the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would be Summer 32 AD to Summer 33 AD. /*
April 2
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