Time in the New Testament

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
We believe there is no question but that Roman time was reckoned the same as ours now. What might appear a discrepancy as to the hours of the crucifixion is in perfect harmony, supposing John to give Roman time and the others Jewish time. Indeed there is much to favor the thought that John usually used Roman time. In John 4:66Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6), "the sixth hour," or 12:00 noon, would be a most unlikely time, but 6:00 p.m. (Roman time) is much more probable.
Then in verse 52, had this been 1:00 p.m. (Jewish time), there would have been time for the nobleman to return from Cana to Capernaum. But if it were 7:00 p.m. (Roman time), this accounts for the nobleman's remaining all night.
If, then, John, who wrote his gospel so much later than the others, used Roman time, the case stands thus: the trial of our blessed Lord was concluded about the sixth hour—6:00 a.m. (Roman time and our time; John 19:1414And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)). He was crucified the third hour, Jewish time—our time would be 9:00 a.m. (Mark 15:2525And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15:25)). There was darkness over the land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour (Jewish time), or from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. (our time), as recorded in Mark 15:33-3433And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33‑34); Matt. 27:4545Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (Matthew 27:45); Luke 23:4444And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (Luke 23:44). Thus, the trial closed about 6:00 a.m.; the crucifixion was at 9:00 a.m.; the darkness was from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
It is not stated what took place from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., but if we compare John 18:2828Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (John 18:28) with ch. 19:14 it appears that our blessed Lord was waiting to be crucified While the Jews kept the very Passover feast that pointed to Him! Truly they knew not what they were doing. B. F. Pinkerton