When Did Jesus Die? What Month, Day, Year?

Full Moon and Jesus’ Death

There isn’t a verse that explicitly says “Jesus died on a full moon.”
But Scripture does connect His death with Passover, and Passover is always celebrated on the 14th day of Nisan in the Jewish calendar.

📖 Numbers 28:16 (NKJV):

On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord.

Because the Jewish calendar is lunar-based, the 14th of Nisan always falls on or very near the full moon.

So while the Bible doesn’t literally say “full moon,” it establishes Passover’s date, which astronomically places His crucifixion at the time of a full moon.

📖 Scriptural Timeline of Jesus’ Death

• The Gospels agree Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation before the Sabbath (Friday), at Passover time:

  • Mark 15:42 – “Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath.”

  • John 19:14 – “Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour.”

This means:

• Jesus died on Friday afternoon, just before sunset.

• It was Nisan 14, the eve of Passover, during a full moon.

📅 When Did Jesus Die?

Scholars narrow it to two most likely dates, based on astronomy and calendars:

1. Friday, April 7, 30 AD (Nisan 14)

   • Passover full moon: April 6, 30 AD (Thursday).

   • Would place crucifixion on the Friday immediately following.

2. Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Nisan 14)

   • Passover full moon: April 3, 33 AD (Friday).

   • This date aligns with both Scripture and astronomy, and many consider this the strongest candidate.

Most accepted date:

• Friday, April 3, 33 AD (14 Nisan, full moon).

• Jesus died mid-afternoon, around the ninth hour (3 PM), and was buried before sundown as the Sabbath began.

So:

• The Bible doesn’t say “full moon,” but it does say Passover → and Passover = full moon.

• Historically, the crucifixion most likely happened on Friday, April 3, 33 AD.

Let's celebrate each year together! See you on April 3rd of each year!

Xo,

Elsie Blass PhD