BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Is Jesus’ Crucifixion Reflected in Soil Deposition?

A geological study may indicate Earthquake described by Matthew

Earthquake

The Gospel of Matthew describes an earthquake during Jesus’ Crucifixion. Sediment disturbances mentioned in a recent article in the International Geology Review points to the Biblical earthquake and may give a concrete date of the crucifixion. Painting by James Jacques Tissot.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A study of cores and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the Volume 54, Issue 10 of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27. Moreover, a recent report by Discovery News suggested** that the new research on sediment disturbances can be combined with Biblical, astronomical and calendrical information to give a precise date of the crucifixion: Friday, April 3rd, 33 C.E.

Matthew 27:50-54 reads:

“Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’”

Geologists Jefferson B. Williams, Markus J. Schwab and A. Brauer examined disturbances in sediment depositions to identify two earthquakes: one large earthquake in 31 B.C.E., and another, smaller quake between 26 and 36 C.E. In the abstract of their paper, the authors write, “Plausible candidates include the earthquake reported in the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake that occurred sometime before or after the crucifixion and was in effect ‘borrowed’ by the author of the Gospel of Matthew, and a local earthquake between 26 and 36 AD that was sufficiently energetic to deform the sediments at Ein Gedi but not energetic enough to produce a still extant and extra-biblical historical record. If the last possibility is true, this would mean that the report of an earthquake in the Gospel of Matthew is a type of allegory.”


In our free eBook Easter: Exploring the Resurrection of Jesus, expert Bible scholars and archaeologists offer in-depth research and reflections on this important event. Discover what they say about the story of the resurrection, the location of Biblical Emmaus, Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, the ancient Jewish roots of bodily resurrection, and the possible endings of the Gospel of Mark.


The geologists compared their findings with Biblical information, including the chronology of the reign of Pontius Pilate, the Gospels’ accounts of the crucifixion occurring on a Friday evening, and the Synoptic Gospel account that Jesus died just before Passover on the 15th day of Nisan. Using this Biblical information in conjunction with the geological report, the author of the Discovery News story reasoned that Friday April 3, 33 C.E. is the most likely date of the crucifixion.*** While there are no direct extant archaeological artifacts relating to Jesus’ crucifixion, the disturbances in soil deposition may reflect the earthquake described by Matthew. This quake, occurring during Jesus’ crucifixion, would have been too minor to be described by non-Biblical histories, but major enough to terrify the surrounding centurions.


Curious about what archaeology can tell us about Roman crucifixion? Read Hershel Shanks’s “Scholars’ Corner: New Analysis of the Crucified Man” as it appeared in Biblical Archaeology Review today in Bible History Daily.


Notes:

* Williams, Jefferson B., Markus J Schwab and A. Brauer. “An early first-century earthquake in the Dead Sea” International Geology Review, Volume 54, Issue 10, 2012.

** “Day of Jesus’ Crucifixion Believed Determined.” Discovery News

*** Update: Geologist Jefferson Williams responded to Bible History Daily about the online attention given to the geological study. Bible History Daily has updated the article to reflect his commentary, and has copied a portion of his comment here that clarifies the initial report :

“I am the primary author of the research article and the original Discovery Article grossly misrepresented our work… Our article had very little to do with the date of the crucifixion. The article discussed Earthquake Geology and primarily how we arrived at a date for this earthquake (31 AD +/- 5 years). Because of uncertainties associated with the text of Matthew 27, we departed from previous Dead Sea Paleoseismology and dated the earthquake based purely on what we saw in the sediments. We then used an article by Humphreys and Waddington to compare our earthquake date with the date range of the crucifixion and the two years most commonly cited; 30 AD and 33 AD. If I had a do-over, I never would have mentioned those years since the only relevant textual information for our 3 conclusions was the date range of 26-36 AD. We are not New Testament Scholars and did not try to add textual information to come up with an exact date. Unfortunately, that was the impression of the Discovery article and this spread all over the internet.”

This article originally appeared in Bible History Daily  on June 04, 2012

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22 Responses

  1. Brianroy says:

    In 52 A.D., Thallus tried to blow off Jesus’ 30 A.D. crucifixion event of noon-day to 3 pm darkness on an unclouded day as a full moon solar eclipse that even the Romans saw and experienced.

    But according to the Gospel accounts, and the failure of hostile Jewish sources to refute the event, the sun appeared to black out while the moon turned to blood from Jerusalem to Rome itself during a full moon when sun was at its meridian, and the moon was above the horizon in fullness.

    But when more closely examining the calendar calculations of both Gentile and Jewish calendars to address date certainty, we find that there is NO CERTAINTY. The solar and lunar calendar programs, whether software written by NASA or others are flawed, and need to be correctly re calibrated to historic observations.

    In Jesus’ ministry, the NASA software designates there were at least two lunar total eclipses:

    1) December 20, 28 A.D. between 1:27 to 3:07 pm, Jerusalem time.

    2) June 14, 29 A.D. between 9:01 -9:47 pm, Jerusalem time

    Oddly enough, the December 20 total eclipse is about 15 months and 3 days prior an ancient testified day for March 23, 30 A.D. being both the 14th of Nisan until sunset, and the day Christ was Crucified.

    Lactantius, On the Manner in which the Persecutors Died, .1 indicated; being the 10th of the Kalends of April or March 23 [30 A.D.]..

    If NASA would update the software, moving up / advancing the dates of Jerusalem time solar eclipses in the First Century A.D. by 119 days and 3 hours…and adjust lunar eclipses up as well by exactly 15 months and 3 days forward, the NASA software would then match ancient historical accounts regarding the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

    We can apply this same discrepency to the Herod death and Jesus birth timeline, Jesus’ actual birthday almost definitively as between September 15 – 22 of 5 B.C., and his removal from Israel to Egypt, and Herod’s death would be December 18 of 3 B.C., after which Joseph & Mary & Jesus go up to Jerusalem for the Simeon and Anna Hannukah blessing, then on to Galillee.

    I disagree with your 33 A.D. Good Friday dating, and many historical and literary proofs would itself be a series of articles in and of themselves to refute your and others dating errors, because you and they don’t test and compare accurately, probably the same way ignorance to Josephus alternate calendar reckoning is accurate when you know what calendars and calculations he was employing (to which probably 99.99% or more of your readers would and are oblivious to)..

  2. Conservative Thought says:

    Very interesting to correlate earthquake data to the biblical earth quake reported the day Christ dies. The fact that an earthquake data shows to have occurred within the same time as recorded in the bible is encouraging and uplifting. In a similar way, the biblical great flood also is supported by geological evidence. In a time where leaders and scholars deny that Jewish Holocaust never happened, it’s important to also remind the naysayers and atheists that evidence can be denied however those willing to see and hear will always recognize TRUTH

  3. […] According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A study of cores and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the Volume 54, Issue 10 of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27. Moreover, a recent report by Discovery News suggested** that the new research on sediment disturbances can be combined with Biblical, astronomical and calendrical information to give a precise date of the crucifixion: Friday, April 3rd, 33 C.E. Matthew 27:50-54 reads: “Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’” Geologists Jefferson B. Williams, Markus J. Schwab and A. Brauer examined… (READ MORE) […]

  4. arturol7 says:

    John 20:24-29New International Version (NIV)
    Jesus Appears to Thomas
    24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

    But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

    26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

    28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

    29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

  5. Dan says:

    Hi
    If Jesus was crucified on Friday, how do we get the 3 days and 3 nights period in the grave to fulfill the prophecy in Matt 12:40, which proves His Messiahship?

    Thanks

    1. kevin gibson says:

      Jesus was not crucified on a Friday. It was on Passover, which was a Wednesday that year.

    2. George V Bower says:

      That is a trick. The better interpretation is on the third day which includes Friday, then Saturday and, Sunday becomes the third day. It takes a careful read and also remembering that the authors were recalling things and perhaps use less than desirable wording. The confusion is a human failing.

  6. gary says:

    The only author in the Bible who mentions anything about guards being at the tomb, Matthew, says that the guards were not posted until the next day after Jesus body had been placed in the tomb, and, even though Joseph of Arimethea had rolled a great stone in front of the tomb, he had not sealed it. So, the tomb of Jesus was left unguarded and unsealed the entire first night, in the darkness, and probably part of the next day. That would provide ample time and ample opportunity for someone to have moved or stolen the body.

    So even if the biblical account of the “guards at the tomb” story is correct, the fact that there is a time period when the tomb was left unguarded, blows a hole in the Christian claim that a resurrection is the best explanation for the empty tomb and the disciples’ belief that Jesus had been resurrected. For instance, if grave robbers had taken the body, the Jews would say that the disciples took the body and the disciples would say that Jesus had fulfilled his prophecy and had risen from the dead.

    1. George V Bower says:

      You miss an important point. While an interesting conjecture that this might have happened, the first point: Jesus was laid in a rich man’s tomb. The second point, a declaration goes along with many other stories:
      First: The body was moved. A violation of religious law. Doubtful at best.
      Second: Jesus tricked everyone and got off the cross still alive. The Romans were skilled in their craft, and this just doesn’t fly.

      We should remember that Jesus was a well-known person. No explanation works very well. We are faced with women telling the story first. If a deception was planned, this would be that last way anyone would write it. A woman’s testimony was generally ignored. The whole situation is a little strange as nobody expected the resurrection. It must remain a proof of faith or some strange story that defies explanation.

    2. David says:

      Interesting thought. But the priesthood and the romans were just not that naive not to check if the body was still in the tomb before they seald it.

  7. gary says:

    Jesus’ resurrection after his death is the ultimate and defining proof of Jesus’ divinity. Just about everyone knows the story, which is summarized in the Apostles’ Creed. Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

    There is only one way for Jesus to prove that he rose from the dead. He had to appear to people. Therefore, several different places in the Bible describe Jesus’ appearances after his death:

    •Matthew chapter 28
    •Mark chapter 16
    •Luke chapter 24
    •John Chapter 20 and 21

    1 Corinthians 15:3-6 provides a nice summary of those passages, as written by Paul:

    For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. As you can see in this passage, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people a number of different times.

    Being like Paul: When we look at these Bible passages, there is a question that comes to mind — why did Jesus stop making these appearances? Why isn’t Jesus appearing today? It really is odd. Obviously Paul benefitted from a personal meeting with the resurrected Christ. Because of the personal visit, Paul could see for himself the truth of the resurrection, and he could ask Jesus questions. So… Why doesn’t Jesus appear to everyone and prove that he is resurrected, just like he appeared to Paul? There is nothing to stop Jesus from materializing in your kitchen tonight to have a personal chat with you. And if you think about it, Jesus really does need to appear to each of us. If Paul needed a personal visit from Jesus to know that Jesus was resurrected, then why wouldn’t you? It is an important question for the following reasons:

    •We are told by the Bible that Jesus appeared to hundreds of people.

    •We therefore know that it is OK for Jesus to appear to people — it does not take away their free will, for example.

    •We know that it would be easy for Jesus to appear to everyone all through history, since Jesus is all-powerful and timeless.

    •We know that, if Jesus did reappear to everyone, it would be incredibly helpful. We could all know, personally, that Jesus is resurrected and that Jesus is God. If Paul (and all the other people in the Bible) needed a personal visit to know that Jesus was resurrected, then why not you and me?

    •Yet, we all know that Jesus has not appeared to anyone in 2,000 years.

    THINK folks! Which is more likely: A dead man walked out of his grave 2,000 years ago, ate a broiled fish lunch with his fishing buddies and then 40 days later levitated into outer space, or, this entire story of a Resurrection is a legend: a legend based on false sightings and/or visions and hallucinations, of well-intentioned but uneducated, illiterate, hope-shattered, superstitious Galilean peasants, desperately trying to keep alive their only source of hope in their miserable, first century existence?

    1. Henry says:

      no made-up story has shaken humankind history to the point that its ripples still keep spreading,this meaning the events witnessed by some were extremely powerful and actually happened and were told generation after generation till today. Fantasies last little and then get extinguished, actual events last centuries.

  8. იესო ქრისტეს სიკვდილი – I ნაწილი | seminarieli says:

    […] [7]-შეად : http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus’-crucifixion-refl… […]

  9. The Shroud of Turin: Relic or Forgery? | newsantiques.com says:

    […] Carpinteri of a Politecnico di Torino in Italy hypothesized in a newly published study that an earthquake that strike Jerusalem in 33 C.E. might have been clever adequate to means proton radiation. This materialisation in spin might have […]

    1. George V Bower says:

      What you described is a little fanciful. It is easier to accept the power of the Lord and to try to imagine some physics that we can’t perform today.

  10. “Estudo indica possível terremoto no dia da morte de Jesus” | Entendendo a Vida says:

    […] Biblical Archaeology Avalie:Espalhe esse artigo:Curtir isso:Curtir Carregando… Tags: arqueologia, biblical, […]

  11. Earthquake Data Confirms Holy Friday As A Very Supernatural Day | agnus dei - english romanian blog says:

    […] from Chris Putnam at LogosApologia http://www.logosapologia.org/?p=1962 for full documentation. As of June 2012 now confirmed by new data see:http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/da… […]

  12. Art of Reason – Ancient earthquakes | Arguing With Friends says:

    […] around on the internet brings us to the Bible History Daily website and this article. At the bottom of the article is an update received from the author of the original geological […]

    1. George V Bower says:

      While the article suggests other supporting data, I must agree that we have no way of nailing an earthquake to a specific date with the science at hand. The only other supporting data comes from the scriptures and is of little help.

  13. William Kelly says:

    Let’s not forget the types and shadows of the Jewish Festivals, 10th of Nisan , 14th Nisan, and the Firstfruits after the Sabbath Week..Should explain it all…..

  14. K-House eNews for June 05, 2012 | Messiah Available says:

    […] Geologists Offer Evidence Of Crucifixion Earthquake […]

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22 Responses

  1. Brianroy says:

    In 52 A.D., Thallus tried to blow off Jesus’ 30 A.D. crucifixion event of noon-day to 3 pm darkness on an unclouded day as a full moon solar eclipse that even the Romans saw and experienced.

    But according to the Gospel accounts, and the failure of hostile Jewish sources to refute the event, the sun appeared to black out while the moon turned to blood from Jerusalem to Rome itself during a full moon when sun was at its meridian, and the moon was above the horizon in fullness.

    But when more closely examining the calendar calculations of both Gentile and Jewish calendars to address date certainty, we find that there is NO CERTAINTY. The solar and lunar calendar programs, whether software written by NASA or others are flawed, and need to be correctly re calibrated to historic observations.

    In Jesus’ ministry, the NASA software designates there were at least two lunar total eclipses:

    1) December 20, 28 A.D. between 1:27 to 3:07 pm, Jerusalem time.

    2) June 14, 29 A.D. between 9:01 -9:47 pm, Jerusalem time

    Oddly enough, the December 20 total eclipse is about 15 months and 3 days prior an ancient testified day for March 23, 30 A.D. being both the 14th of Nisan until sunset, and the day Christ was Crucified.

    Lactantius, On the Manner in which the Persecutors Died, .1 indicated; being the 10th of the Kalends of April or March 23 [30 A.D.]..

    If NASA would update the software, moving up / advancing the dates of Jerusalem time solar eclipses in the First Century A.D. by 119 days and 3 hours…and adjust lunar eclipses up as well by exactly 15 months and 3 days forward, the NASA software would then match ancient historical accounts regarding the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

    We can apply this same discrepency to the Herod death and Jesus birth timeline, Jesus’ actual birthday almost definitively as between September 15 – 22 of 5 B.C., and his removal from Israel to Egypt, and Herod’s death would be December 18 of 3 B.C., after which Joseph & Mary & Jesus go up to Jerusalem for the Simeon and Anna Hannukah blessing, then on to Galillee.

    I disagree with your 33 A.D. Good Friday dating, and many historical and literary proofs would itself be a series of articles in and of themselves to refute your and others dating errors, because you and they don’t test and compare accurately, probably the same way ignorance to Josephus alternate calendar reckoning is accurate when you know what calendars and calculations he was employing (to which probably 99.99% or more of your readers would and are oblivious to)..

  2. Conservative Thought says:

    Very interesting to correlate earthquake data to the biblical earth quake reported the day Christ dies. The fact that an earthquake data shows to have occurred within the same time as recorded in the bible is encouraging and uplifting. In a similar way, the biblical great flood also is supported by geological evidence. In a time where leaders and scholars deny that Jewish Holocaust never happened, it’s important to also remind the naysayers and atheists that evidence can be denied however those willing to see and hear will always recognize TRUTH

  3. […] According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A study of cores and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the Volume 54, Issue 10 of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27. Moreover, a recent report by Discovery News suggested** that the new research on sediment disturbances can be combined with Biblical, astronomical and calendrical information to give a precise date of the crucifixion: Friday, April 3rd, 33 C.E. Matthew 27:50-54 reads: “Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’” Geologists Jefferson B. Williams, Markus J. Schwab and A. Brauer examined… (READ MORE) […]

  4. arturol7 says:

    John 20:24-29New International Version (NIV)
    Jesus Appears to Thomas
    24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

    But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

    26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

    28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

    29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

  5. Dan says:

    Hi
    If Jesus was crucified on Friday, how do we get the 3 days and 3 nights period in the grave to fulfill the prophecy in Matt 12:40, which proves His Messiahship?

    Thanks

    1. kevin gibson says:

      Jesus was not crucified on a Friday. It was on Passover, which was a Wednesday that year.

    2. George V Bower says:

      That is a trick. The better interpretation is on the third day which includes Friday, then Saturday and, Sunday becomes the third day. It takes a careful read and also remembering that the authors were recalling things and perhaps use less than desirable wording. The confusion is a human failing.

  6. gary says:

    The only author in the Bible who mentions anything about guards being at the tomb, Matthew, says that the guards were not posted until the next day after Jesus body had been placed in the tomb, and, even though Joseph of Arimethea had rolled a great stone in front of the tomb, he had not sealed it. So, the tomb of Jesus was left unguarded and unsealed the entire first night, in the darkness, and probably part of the next day. That would provide ample time and ample opportunity for someone to have moved or stolen the body.

    So even if the biblical account of the “guards at the tomb” story is correct, the fact that there is a time period when the tomb was left unguarded, blows a hole in the Christian claim that a resurrection is the best explanation for the empty tomb and the disciples’ belief that Jesus had been resurrected. For instance, if grave robbers had taken the body, the Jews would say that the disciples took the body and the disciples would say that Jesus had fulfilled his prophecy and had risen from the dead.

    1. George V Bower says:

      You miss an important point. While an interesting conjecture that this might have happened, the first point: Jesus was laid in a rich man’s tomb. The second point, a declaration goes along with many other stories:
      First: The body was moved. A violation of religious law. Doubtful at best.
      Second: Jesus tricked everyone and got off the cross still alive. The Romans were skilled in their craft, and this just doesn’t fly.

      We should remember that Jesus was a well-known person. No explanation works very well. We are faced with women telling the story first. If a deception was planned, this would be that last way anyone would write it. A woman’s testimony was generally ignored. The whole situation is a little strange as nobody expected the resurrection. It must remain a proof of faith or some strange story that defies explanation.

    2. David says:

      Interesting thought. But the priesthood and the romans were just not that naive not to check if the body was still in the tomb before they seald it.

  7. gary says:

    Jesus’ resurrection after his death is the ultimate and defining proof of Jesus’ divinity. Just about everyone knows the story, which is summarized in the Apostles’ Creed. Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

    There is only one way for Jesus to prove that he rose from the dead. He had to appear to people. Therefore, several different places in the Bible describe Jesus’ appearances after his death:

    •Matthew chapter 28
    •Mark chapter 16
    •Luke chapter 24
    •John Chapter 20 and 21

    1 Corinthians 15:3-6 provides a nice summary of those passages, as written by Paul:

    For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. As you can see in this passage, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people a number of different times.

    Being like Paul: When we look at these Bible passages, there is a question that comes to mind — why did Jesus stop making these appearances? Why isn’t Jesus appearing today? It really is odd. Obviously Paul benefitted from a personal meeting with the resurrected Christ. Because of the personal visit, Paul could see for himself the truth of the resurrection, and he could ask Jesus questions. So… Why doesn’t Jesus appear to everyone and prove that he is resurrected, just like he appeared to Paul? There is nothing to stop Jesus from materializing in your kitchen tonight to have a personal chat with you. And if you think about it, Jesus really does need to appear to each of us. If Paul needed a personal visit from Jesus to know that Jesus was resurrected, then why wouldn’t you? It is an important question for the following reasons:

    •We are told by the Bible that Jesus appeared to hundreds of people.

    •We therefore know that it is OK for Jesus to appear to people — it does not take away their free will, for example.

    •We know that it would be easy for Jesus to appear to everyone all through history, since Jesus is all-powerful and timeless.

    •We know that, if Jesus did reappear to everyone, it would be incredibly helpful. We could all know, personally, that Jesus is resurrected and that Jesus is God. If Paul (and all the other people in the Bible) needed a personal visit to know that Jesus was resurrected, then why not you and me?

    •Yet, we all know that Jesus has not appeared to anyone in 2,000 years.

    THINK folks! Which is more likely: A dead man walked out of his grave 2,000 years ago, ate a broiled fish lunch with his fishing buddies and then 40 days later levitated into outer space, or, this entire story of a Resurrection is a legend: a legend based on false sightings and/or visions and hallucinations, of well-intentioned but uneducated, illiterate, hope-shattered, superstitious Galilean peasants, desperately trying to keep alive their only source of hope in their miserable, first century existence?

    1. Henry says:

      no made-up story has shaken humankind history to the point that its ripples still keep spreading,this meaning the events witnessed by some were extremely powerful and actually happened and were told generation after generation till today. Fantasies last little and then get extinguished, actual events last centuries.

  8. იესო ქრისტეს სიკვდილი – I ნაწილი | seminarieli says:

    […] [7]-შეად : http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus’-crucifixion-refl… […]

  9. The Shroud of Turin: Relic or Forgery? | newsantiques.com says:

    […] Carpinteri of a Politecnico di Torino in Italy hypothesized in a newly published study that an earthquake that strike Jerusalem in 33 C.E. might have been clever adequate to means proton radiation. This materialisation in spin might have […]

    1. George V Bower says:

      What you described is a little fanciful. It is easier to accept the power of the Lord and to try to imagine some physics that we can’t perform today.

  10. “Estudo indica possível terremoto no dia da morte de Jesus” | Entendendo a Vida says:

    […] Biblical Archaeology Avalie:Espalhe esse artigo:Curtir isso:Curtir Carregando… Tags: arqueologia, biblical, […]

  11. Earthquake Data Confirms Holy Friday As A Very Supernatural Day | agnus dei - english romanian blog says:

    […] from Chris Putnam at LogosApologia http://www.logosapologia.org/?p=1962 for full documentation. As of June 2012 now confirmed by new data see:http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/da… […]

  12. Art of Reason – Ancient earthquakes | Arguing With Friends says:

    […] around on the internet brings us to the Bible History Daily website and this article. At the bottom of the article is an update received from the author of the original geological […]

    1. George V Bower says:

      While the article suggests other supporting data, I must agree that we have no way of nailing an earthquake to a specific date with the science at hand. The only other supporting data comes from the scriptures and is of little help.

  13. William Kelly says:

    Let’s not forget the types and shadows of the Jewish Festivals, 10th of Nisan , 14th Nisan, and the Firstfruits after the Sabbath Week..Should explain it all…..

  14. K-House eNews for June 05, 2012 | Messiah Available says:

    […] Geologists Offer Evidence Of Crucifixion Earthquake […]

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