In our first study it was shown that there are historical, calendar and astronomical constraints that allow us to place the Nativity at the end of the winter of 1 BC and the crucifixion of Jesus on Friday 23 April of the year 34. In a second study we critically analyzed all the evidence supporting the classical dating of Herod the Great’s death in 4 BC, showing that this dating has a low probability of being correct, due to astronomical, calendar and historical constraints. In light of the results already discussed, in this third study we examined other chronological constraints: the census mentioned in the Gospel according to Luke; the possible astronomical reference constituted by the Star of Bethlehem; the compatibility of the Synoptic and Johannine traditions on the Last Supper, in relation to the possible year in which it is possible to place the crucifixion of Jesus, from the astronomical point. In particular, in our previous studies, we hypothesized that in the year 34 Easter may have fallen on a Saturday due to a one-day delay in the beginning of the month of Nisan, for meteorological reasons that could have prevented the visibility of the first moon in the sky at sunset, at the beginning of the lunar month. Alternatively, the one-day delay of the festival can be explained by assuming that Passover may have been deliberately moved from the Sanhedrin to the next day, on a Saturday, to conform to Levitical prescriptions. In fact, the rite of offering the first fruits of the crops fell on the 16th of Nisan. The rite provided that the sheaves were vigorously shaken, that is, it involved physical work not compatible with the Sabbath rest if Nisan 16 fell on a Saturday. Therefore, in the year 34, all Jews not directly related to the temple priests, either by kinship or by service, would have celebrated the Passover on the evening of Thursday April 22, after sunset, when Nisan 15 began. At the end of the supper Jesus was arrested and the next day, on a Friday, he was crucified. Instead the priests, bound by the Levitical prescription, would have been forced to wait until the following day to celebrate Easter, at the beginning of Saturday. This hypothesis could explain the twofold tradition – synoptic and Johannine – of the Gospels, on the Last Supper. This explanation is possible only if the year of the Crucifixion is 34,

In our first study it was shown that there are valid historical, calendaring and astronomical reasons for placing the Nativity at the end of the winter of 1 BC and the crucifixion on Friday 23 April of the year 34. In a second study we critically revisited all the evidence supporting the classical dating of the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, showing that this date has a low probability to be the correct one due to astronomical, calendaring and historical constraints. In light of the results already discussed, in this third study we have examined some chronological constraints: the census mentioned in the Gospel according to Luke; the astronomical reference to the Star of Bethlehem; the compatibility of the Synoptic and Johannine traditions about the Last Supper in connection with the possible years in which it is possible to place the crucifixion from the astronomical point of view. In particular, in our previous studies, we hypothesized that in the year 34 the Easter may have fallen on Saturday due to the delay of a day on the beginning of the month of Nisan, for meteorological reasons that could have prevented the visibility of the first moon in the sky at sunset at the beginning of the lunar month. Alternatively, one can explain the delay of one day of the festival by assuming that Easter would have been moved on Saturday by the Sanhedrin, to comply with the levitical prescriptions. Indeed, the ritual of the offer of the firstfruits of the crops had to fall on the 16th of Nisan, shaking the sheaves, a physical work not compatible with the sabbatical rest if the 16th of Nisan had fallen on Saturday. Therefore, in the year 34, people not directly bound to the priests of the temple either for kinship or for service, would have celebrated the Easter on the evening of Thursday, April 22, after the setting of the sun, when started the 15th of Nisan. At the end of the supper Jesus was arrested and the next day he was crucified. Instead, the priests, bound by the levitical prescription, would have been forced to wait until the following day to celebrate Easter, at the beginning of Saturday. This hypothesis could explain the dual tradition — synoptic and Johannine — of the Gospels, about the Last Supper. This is possible if the year of crucifixion was the 34, but not if it had been the 30 or 33 because, in both these two alternatives,