How Long Was Jesus On The Cross?
According to the Mark's Gospel, The Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross for about 6 hours from the third hour(between 9am and noon) to the night hour, around 3pm.
| Jewish Hour | Modern Time Approx. | Event / View | Scriptural Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd hour | 9:00–10:00 AM | Jesus is crucified; nails driven; crucifixion begins | Mark 15:25 |
| 4th hour | 10:00–11:00 AM | Jesus hangs on the cross; witnesses present | Mark 15:26–27 |
| 5th hour | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Continued suffering; mockery and insults | Matthew 27:39–44 |
| 6th hour | 12:00–1:00 PM | Darkness begins over the land; sign of divine judgment | Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44 |
| 7th hour | 1:00–2:00 PM | Darkness continues; Jesus speaks from the cross | Luke 23:34 |
| 8th hour | 2:00–3:00 PM | Darkness continues; final statements | Luke 23:43, John 19:28 |
| 9th hour | 3:00–4:00 PM | Jesus says “It is finished”; bows head and dies; crucifixion ends | John 19:30; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46 |
Clearly, following the outlines given in Scripture (as shown above), He was on the cross for approximately 6 hours.
Here's more scholarly consensus on this timing.
| Scholar / Years / Institution | Work | Duration / Approx. Time | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (1602–1675), Cambridge | Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae | ~6 hours; from 9:00 AM (3rd hour) to 3:00 PM (9th hour) | Jesus was crucified from the third to the ninth hour, during which darkness fell from the sixth to the ninth hour; the crucifixion ended with His death (Mark 15:25, 33–37; John 19:14, 19:30). |
| Matthew Poole (1624–1679), England | Annotations on the Holy Bible | ~6 hours, 9 AM to 3 PM | Confirms Jesus was on the cross for about six hours, enduring suffering, and spoke His final words “It is finished” shortly before dying (Mark 15:25, 33–37; John 19:30). |
| John Gill (1697–1771), England | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | 6 hours | Crucifixion lasted from morning until the ninth hour; darkness marked the final three hours, ending with His death (Luke 23:44–46; John 19:30). |
| Adam Clarke (1762–1832), England | Clarke’s Commentary | around 6 hours | Jesus hung on the cross from about 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the ninth hour corresponds with His final words, completing the sacrificial act (Mark 15:25, 33–37; John 19:30). |
| Keil & Delitzsch (1807–1888 / 1813–1890), Germany | Commentary on the New Testament | 6 hours | Jesus’ crucifixion spanned from the third to ninth hour; darkness from the sixth to ninth hour emphasizes divine judgment and fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 27:45–50; John 19:14, 30). |
The Death of The Lord Jesus
28 After this, Jesus, [a]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
