The Date of the Crucifixion
Herr Kalb, the German savant, in his
work recently published, shows that there was a total eclipse of the moon concomitantly
with the earthquake that occurred when Julias Caesar was assassinated on the
15th of March B.C. 44. He has also calculated the Jewish calendar to A. D. 41,
and the result of his researches fully confirms the facts recorded by the
Evangelists of the wonderful physical events that accompanied the crucifixion.
Astronomical calculation proves without a shadow of doubt, that on the 14th day
of the Jewish month Nisan (April 6), there was a total eclipse of the sun,
which was accompanied in all probability by the earthquake, "when the veil
of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake and
the rock were rent."—(Mat. xxxii, 51). While St Luke describes the eclipse
in these words: "And it was the sixth hour (12 noon), and there was a
darkness over all the land till the ninth hour (8 o'clock p.m.), and the sun
was darkened." (Luke xxii, 44.)
The mode of reckoning corresponds
perfectly with the result of another calculation our author made by reckoning
backward from the great total eclipse of April, 1818, allowing for the
difference between the old and new styles, which also give April 6, as the date
of new moon in the year A.D. 31. As the vernal equinox of the year fell on
March 25, and the Jews ate their Easter Lamb, and celebrated their Frib
Passoh, or Feast of the Passover, on the following new moon, it is clear
April 6, was identified with Nisan 14, of the Jewish calendar, which moreover,
was on Friday, the Paraskevee, or day of preparation for the Sabbath,
and this agrees with the Hebrew Talmud. Thus, by the united testimony of
astronomy, archaeology, traditional and Biblical history, there can be little
doubt that the date of the crucifixion was April 6, A.D. 31. (“The
Date of the Crucifixion,” The True Latter Day Saints' Herald 19, no.
15 [August 1, 1872]: 479)
