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Heritage Baptist Bible Church

Dr. Max D. Younce, Pastor                                           Walnut Grove, MN - USA

Bible Questions & Answers

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 Bible Questions & Answers Archive 

 

The Answer To the So-Called Discrepancy Between John 19:14,16a & Mark 15:25

By Dr. Max D. Younce
0183

 

 Question 

Can you help me with a so-called discrepancy between John 19:14 and 16a, “And it was the preparation of the passover and about the sixth (6th) hour: and he (Pilate) saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!”  “Then delivered he him (Christ) therefore unto them to be crucified…” and Mark 15:25, “And it was the third (3rd) hour, and they crucified him (Christ).”  John says it was the sixth hour and Mark says it was the third hour.  Help!

 Answer 

One simple thing to remember which will clarify this so-called contradiction is this, John used the Roman time (just as we have today) and the other Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, used the Jewish time.

The Roman time, divides the day from Twelve Midnight (12:00 A.M.) to Twelve Noon (12:00 p.m.) and to Twelve Midnight again.  Therefore, the sixth hour in John 19:14 would be six hours from Midnight, or 6:00 A.M. in the morning.  Remember, this is the time Pilate released Christ to the people to be crucified.  He was not crucified until 3 hours later.

In Mark 15:25 we are told Christ was crucified at the third hour.  Jewish time is reckoned from 6:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.  The third hour from 6:00 A.M. would be 9:00 A.M.  The events that took place in the three hours from the time Pilate released Christ (6:A.M.) until He was actually crucified (9:00 A.M.) are recorded in Matthew 27:26-36; Mark 15:15-25; Luke 23:25-33 and John 19:14, 16-23.

Remember, John gives the time Pilate released Christ to the people to be crucified and Mark gives the time he was actually crucified, being put on the cross.  No contradiction at all!

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