Historical Evidence

Golgotha hill

Did you know there is historical evidence that backs up the three hours of darkness, the great earthquake, and the dead people coming back to life that all happened on the day Jesus was crucified?  Yes, ancient historians Africanus, Thallus, Phlegon, and Tertullian wrote about these amazing events!  It is recorded history that backs up the Bible!

The picture above is Golgotha hill in Jerusalem, Israel.  That is the place where Jesus was crucified and died to forgive the sins of all mankind!


Matthew 27:33

Golgotha skull face
Golgotha, The Place of the Skull (see the skull face to the right)

Golgotha skull face 2

Golgotha art
Fine Art by Jon McNaughton

Let’s take a look at those incredible events that happened during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ:


Matthew 27:45-46

In the next verses we read about the great earthquake and the miracle of the tombs breaking open and dead people coming back to life!  Remember, Jesus is the resurrection and the life, so when He gave up His Spirit and died, a bunch of people came back to life and started walking around!  We also read about the curtain of the temple being torn, which was also a supernatural event from God (that signified a new covenant where we can approach God with freedom and confidence through Jesus).




Matthew 27:50-54

Historical Records

That is one incredible day!  Total darkness over the earth for three hours, a great earthquake, and dead people coming back to life!  Surely that would be recorded outside the Bible because so many people experienced it!  That’s right, history records it!  The historians don’t mention the curtain, but they talk about everything else that happened that day!  Here is research done by ChristianEvidence.net.  Listen to how these men try to explain what happened that day in history.  They thought it was an eclipse, but that did not make sense because it was not the right time for that.  Africanus knew it was supernatural.

Africanus wrote a five volume History of the World around A.D. 221.



-Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII

“Thallus wrote a history of the eastern Mediterranean world since the Trojan War.  He wrote his regional history in about AD 52.6.  Unfortunately his original writings have been lost, however he is specifically quoted by Julius Africanus as in the quote above, and Africanus was a renowned third century historian.  Africanus stated, ‘Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun—unreasonably as it seems to me.’  Thallus attempted to give a naturalistic explanation to the darkness during the crucifixion.”


“Phlegon was a Greek historian who wrote an extensive chronology around A.D. 137.  Phlegon provides powerful confirmation, identifying the year and the exact time of day.  In addition, he writes of an earthquake accompanying the darkness, which is specifically recorded in Matthew 27:51.”


“In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e. AD 33) there was ‘the greatest eclipse of the sun’ and that ‘it became night in the sixth hour of the day (i.e. noon) so that stars even appeared in the heavens.  There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea.'”


“An additional possible reference to the Darkness, is related by St. Tertullian (160-220), in his Apology addressed to the “rulers of the Roman Empire”.  He also writes of the Darkness at Christ’s Crucifixion:”




The Bible is recorded history of events that actually happened, and even ancient historians back that truth up!  Pretty cool if you ask me!  There is plenty of evidence that God’s Word is true.  The world just doesn’t want you to know that!  Well, now you know!

Stand strong in your faith in Jesus Christ!  Grace and peace to you all!

Romans 6 v 23

Author: Ryan Callahan


4 thoughts on “Historical Evidence”

  1. I never thought I would see the exact place Jesus died for us!! The historical places are so amazing to see. And to know they still exist blows me away.


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