Mark 15:25

15:25 It was nine o’clock in the morning ¹  when they crucified him.

Mark 15:33-34

Jesus’ Death

15:33 Now ²  when it was noon, ³  darkness came over the whole land ⁴  until three in the afternoon. ⁵  15:34 Around three o’clock ⁶  Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁷ 

Luke 23:44-45

23:44 It was now ⁸  about noon, ⁹  and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ¹⁰  23:45 because the sun’s light failed. ¹¹  The temple curtain ¹²  was torn in two.

¹ tn Grk “It was the third hour.” This time would have been approximate, and could refer to the beginning of the process, some time before Jesus was lifted on the cross.

² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

³ tn Grk “When the sixth hour had come.”

⁴ sn This imagery has parallels to the Day of the Lord: Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9; Zeph 1:15.

⁵ tn Grk “until the ninth hour.”

⁶ tn The repetition of the phrase “three o’clock” preserves the author’s rougher, less elegant style (cf. Matt 27:45-46; Luke 23:44). Although such stylistic matters are frequently handled differently in the translation, because the issue of synoptic literary dependence is involved here, it was considered important to reflect some of the stylistic differences among the synoptics in the translation, so that the English reader can be aware of them.

⁷ sn A quotation from Ps 22:1.

⁸ tn Grk “And it was.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

⁹ tn Grk “the sixth hour.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “until the ninth hour.”

¹¹ tc The wording “the sun’s light failed” is a translation of τοῦ ἡλίου ἐκλιπόντος/ ἐκλείποντος (tou Jhliou eklipontos/ ekleipontos), a reading found in the earliest and best witnesses (among them Ì⁷⁵ א B C*^vid L 070 579 2542 pc) as well as several ancient versions. The majority of mss (A C³ [D] W Θ Ψ Ë^1,13 Ï lat sy) have the flatter, less dramatic term, “the sun was darkened” (ἐσκοτίσθη, eskotisqe), a reading that avoids the problem of implying an eclipse (see sn below). This alternative thus looks secondary because it is a more common word and less likely to be misunderstood as referring to a solar eclipse. That it appears in later witnesses rather than the earliest ones adds confirmatory testimony to its inauthentic character.

¹² tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up. It also pictures a judgment that includes the sacrifices.