Jesus was most likely crucified on a Friday, on or near Passover (Nisan 14), during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (AD 26–36), with scholarly estimates favoring either April 7, AD 30, or April 3, AD 33 as the exact date. The traditional and majority scholarly view holds that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, known as the "day of Preparation" before the Sabbath, which aligns with the Gospel accounts stating Jesus died on the day before the Sabbath and rose on the first day of the week (Sunday)
. There are alternative views proposing a Thursday or even a Wednesday crucifixion based on different interpretations of the "three days and three nights" prophecy and calendar considerations. The Thursday crucifixion theory suggests Jesus was crucified on the 14th of Nisan, coinciding with the slaughter of the Passover lambs, fulfilling symbolic significance
. Another perspective argues for a Wednesday crucifixion to account for a literal three full days and nights before the resurrection on Sunday
. However, the consensus remains that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, with the most widely accepted date being Friday, April 3, AD 33, around 3 p.m., shortly before the start of the Passover Sabbath
