Three Days and Three Nights

by Greg Win

John 19:30-34 Jesus died on Friday In fact, it was some time after 3pm (Matthew 27:45)

John 20:1 Jesus arose on Sunday In fact, the resurrection had already occurred sometime before dawn, because Mary Magdalene arrived "when it was yet dark" and discovered an empty tomb.

From Friday PM to Sunday AM - How can this be three days and three nights?

"The Jews had no word corresponding to our natural day of twenty-four hours or from midnight to midnight; their meaning was expressed by a word meaning ‘a night day’ and to this they added the custom of saying ‘night and day’ for what we mean by a natural day or a revolution of the earth; hence to express the time of a part of three consecutive days, they were obliged to say three night days or three days and nights."
-H. Leo Boles (Commentary on Matthew)

IS THIS A FAIR EXPLANATION?

YES, as proved by these examples:

  1. 1 Kings 15:1-2,8-9; Abijam came to reign in Jeroboam’s 18th year, died in Jeroboam’s 20th year and it says he reigned three years.
    20 – 18 = 2
    but part of 18, all of 19, part of 20 = 3
  2. Other examples:
    1. Nadab’s reign (1 Kings 1:24,28)
    2. Baasha’s reign (1 Kings 15:33; 16:6,8)
    3. Joseph put his brothers "into ward" for three days, but he came to them "the third day" (Genesis 42:17,18)
    4. Rehoboam sent the congregation away for three days, but they returned "the third day, as the king appointed". (1 Kings 12:3-5,12)
    5. Esther told the Jews to fast for three days, night and day, then she would go to the king in their behalf. She went to the king "on the third day". (Esther 4:16; 5:1)
  3. A clear New Testament example: Acts 10 – Cornelius
    1. Verse 3 – an angel appears to Cornelius at 3 PM and he immediately sends men to Joppa to fetch Peter (for sake of reference, call this Monday).
    2. Verse 9 – the men arrive at Simon’s house about noon the next day (call this Tuesday).
    3. Verse 23 – they leave to return to Cornelius on the next day (call this Wednesday).
    4. Verse 24 – they arrive at Cornelius’ house on the following day at 3 PM (call this Thursday).

      From Monday at 3 PM to Thursday at 3 PM would amount to a total elapsed time of 72 hours – exactly three days.

      But in verse 30 Cornelius says the visit of the angel had been "four days ago". We see yet another case where any part of a day was referred to as a whole day.

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