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Evidence ID: HIS-EV41
Evidence: Darkness & Earthquakes
Summary: Cataclysmic events occurred at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. These included earthquakes and darkness. Extra-biblical writers agree that these events were widespread throughout the regions of Israel and Asia Minor, and were extraordinary in nature. This confirms the biblical accounts recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Description: Cataclysmic events occurred at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. These events are cited by both biblical and extra-biblical writers. The common facts found in these accounts include widespread darkness that lasted for three hours and severe earthquakes that were felt for hundreds of miles in the regions of Israel and Asia Minor.
These events are recorded in three of the four Gospels.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. ... And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Matthew 27:45-54, also see Luke 23:44-46, Mark 15:33-37)
The common theme in these passages is the prolonged darkness that accompanied Jesus' crucifixion.
The Gospel accounts are corroborated by Thallus the Greek historian. Thallus wrote his historical account the Trojan Wars in his histories of the Eastern Mediterranean world written in 52 AD.
The works of Thallus are no longer available in their original form. However, Thallus' original works were referenced by Sextus Julius Africanus (cs. 160-240) in his historical works entitled History of the World written in 221 AD [REF-THA01].
On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. cs. (221 AD)
In this passage, Africanus took exception to Thallus's explanation of the super-natural phenomena of the earth shaking and darkness as a mere eclipse. He argued that an eclipse could not have occurred during a Jewish Passover celebration during the time of a full moon.
Regardless of Thallus' terminology, he clearly states that there was a "most fearful darkness" and that this darkness covered the "whole world". This is consistent with the gospel accounts of a darkness that covered "all the land" (Matthew 27:45).
The Gospel accounts are also corroborated by Phlegon of Tralles. Phlegon was a prolific Greek historian. He wrote his Book of Chronicles around 137 AD.
Phlegon's chronicle of the 202nd OLYMPIAD (202.2-3) was translated by Jerome [REF-PHL01].
"Phlegon, in the 13th book of his admirable account of the Olympiads, writes about this as follows: "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was an eclipse of the sun, greater than any which had occurred previously. At the sixth hour, the day became as dark as night, and the stars were visible in the sky. An earthquake in Bithynia destroyed many buildings in Nicaea." Proof that the passion of our Saviour happened in this year is provided by the gospel of John, who writes that our Lord taught for three years after the 15th year of Tiberius."
Phlegon's narrative of the darkness and earthquake is notably quoted by Origen of Alexandria (182-254 AD), in Against Celsus (Book II, Chap. XXXIII & XXXV) [REF-ECW01], Eusebius of Caesarea (264 – 340) in his Chronicles and Origen in his Contra Celsum. Many other extra-biblical authors refer to Phlegon's description of these events.
These events recorded by Phlegon likely occurred during Olympiad 202.2 from 29-33 AD [REF-PHL02]. What was unusual about Phlegon's account is that the 202nd Olympiad was held in Bithynia which is approximately 800 miles from Jerusalem. This implies that the darkness and earthquakes were widespread throughout the regions of Israel and Asia Minor.
Tertullian (155-240 AD) was an early Christian writer of the second century. He recounts the events of Jesus' crucifixion as accompanied by a withdrawal of day light.
He (Jesus) exhibited many notable signs, by which His death was distinguished from all others. At His own free-will, He with a word dismissed from Him His spirit, anticipating the executioner's work. In the same hour, too, the light of day was withdrawn, when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives. (Tertullian, Apologia 21) [REF-ECW02]
Tertullian is arguing that those who were unaware of the prediction of this prolonged crucifixion darkness were attempting to explain away the darkness as being a normal solar eclipse. Tertullian refers to this darkness as a "notable sign" or wonder of Jesus.
From these narratives we establish the following common facts concerning the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion:
While an eclipse of the sun was cited by Thallus and Phlegon as a possible cause of the darkness, the real cause remains a mystery. Many other theories have been proposed. Given that these extraordinary events were witnessed both in the regions of Israel and Asia Minor, one can assume that they were to some extent supernatural. While it is possible that the seismic shocks of an earthquake can travel hundreds of miles from its epicenter, a darkening of the sun midday for three hours cannot be explained by an eclipse. Furthermore, an eclipse of the sun could not have occurred at the Jewish Passover celebration during the time of a full moon.
The precise cause of the darkness is not important. What is important is that darkness signifies judgement, death and the absence of God's presence. During the time of these cataclysmic events, Jesus cried out while on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). For that moment in time, God withdrew his presence and let Jesus bear the sin of the world alone. God judged the sin of the world and poured out his wrath on Jesus.
Extra-biblical writer Phlegon cited extraordinary darkness and earthquakes in the region of Asia Minor. This, together with Thallus' and Tertullian's testimonies, confirms the biblical accounts recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
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