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The timing of the Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:37 to John 9:14, 16 shows that the crucifixion could not have been on Wednesday. I am assuming the story of the woman taken in adultery was not in the original text. If the *pericope adulterae* does not belong in the text then it is highly probable that the Last Day of the Feast fell on a weekly Sabbath, the 22nd day of Tishri. If the *pericope adulterae* does belong in the text then it is still difficult to arrive at a Wednesday crucifixion six months later.
John 7:37
In the last day, that
great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
JOHN 8
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
If John 7:53 through John 8:1-11 does not belong in the manuscripts that are translated in many Bibles the last day, the great day of the feast (John 7:37), was on a weekly Sabbath (John 9:14, 16). This would be the 22nd day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:36). Assuming six months of 29.53 average days would be 177 days. Just 177 days later from Tishri 22 (a weekly Sabbath) would be the 22th of the first month (Nisan), a Monday. But the 14th day of the first month would be on a Sunday. That means Friday would be Nisan 12. So the crucifixion couldn’t have happened on Friday in this scenario.
But, if the crescent new moon was spotted a day late twice in that six month period then Friday would be Nisan 14. This would fit the Friday crucifixion theory.
On the other hand, if John 7:53 to 8:11 (the
pericope adulterae) belongs in the text then Saturday would be the 23rd day of the seventh month and 177 days later would be 23rd day of the first month (Nisan) which would be a Monday, and the 14th of the first month would be Saturday, still not good enough for a Friday crucifixion. However, if only one new moon was spotted a day late in that six month period then Saturday would be the 15th day of the first month. which would support the Friday crucifixion view.
This works only if each month averaged 29.53 days after Tishri 23. Six months times 29.53 is 177 days. One hundred seventy-seven days after Saturday Tishri 23 would be Nisan 23, a Monday. That means Nisan 14 would be a Saturday, which is one date short of Saturday Nisan 15. This is approximate because the beginning of the months was determined by the spotting of the crescent new moon as the sun set in the west. If one of those new moons had been spotted a day late, then Nisan 15 would be a Sabbath and that would support a Friday crucifixion.
None of the scenarios offer proof of a Wednesday crucifixion so far.
However, if there was a leap year the year of the crucifixion, then 200 days after Tishri 22 would be on a Wednesday and the 15th of the first month. That means it would only take one late spotting of the new moon crescent to push Nisan 15 to a Thursday, sometime in late April. This would place the crucifixion on a Wednesday. But what year would it be?
If John 7:53 to John 8:1-11 does not belong in the texts.
Day of
Week Date Days after
Saturday Tishri 22 ----
Saturday Tishri 29 7
Saturday Heshvan 6 14
Saturday Heshvan 13 21
Saturday Heshvan 20 28
Saturday Heshvan 27 35
Saturday Kislev 5 42
Saturday Kislev 12 49
Saturday Kislev 19 56
Saturday Kislev 26 63
Saturday Tevet 3 70
Saturday Tevet 10 77
Saturday Tevet 17 84
Saturday Tevet 24 91
Saturday Shevat 2 98
Saturday Shevat 9 105
Saturday Shevat 16 112
Saturday Shevat 23 119
Saturday Shevat 30 126
Saturday Adar 7 133
Saturday Adar 14 140
Saturday Adar 21 147
Saturday Adar 28 154
Saturday Nisan 6 161
Saturday Nisan 13 168
Saturday Nisan 20 175
Monday Nisan 22 177
Saturday Nisan 27 182
Saturday Shevat 4 189
Saturday Shevat 11 196
Saturday Shevat 18 203
Using this list one can see if each month averaged 29.53 days then Saturday would be Nisan 13 and not Nisan 15, which doesn’t help either the Wednesday crucifixion theorists or the Friday crucifixion theorists. However, if the thin crescent of the new moon was spotted one day late twice in that six month period then Saturday would be Nisan 15 and that would be just the day that followed the Friday Nisan 14 crucifixion.
If the beginning of the count was Saturday Tishri 23 (when the pericope adulterae is accepted as part of the scriptures) then add one date to the chart above and you will see that Nisan 14 would be on Saturday. It would require only one late spotting of the crescent moon to make Saturday Nisan 15, the day after the crucifixion.
It is plain to see there is no chance of a Nisan 14 falling on a Wednesday. However, if the year Jesus was crucified was a leap year, and the countdown began on Tishri 23 then a Wednesday crucifixion is improbable as well.
Saturday Adar II 6 161
Saturday Adar II 13 168
Saturday Adar II 20 175
Monday Adar II 23 177
Saturday Adar II 27 182
Saturday Nisan 5 189
Saturday Nisan 12 196
Tuesday Nisan 15 199
So, if the year Jesus was crucified was a leap year, on a Wednesday, and Tishri 23 was the beginning of the countdown toward Nisan 15, then it is unlikely that there would be a Nisan 15 Thursday. However, if there were two late sightings of the crescent moon in the seven months since Tishri 23 then Thursday would be Nisan 15 and the Wednesday crucifixion would be possible.
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