How many hours was Jesus on the cross?

TL;DR:

: Jesus was on the cross for about six hours. The Gospel timelines place Jesus’ crucifixion beginning around 9 a.m. and His death around 3 p.m.

Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution designed to torture before death, with some victims remaining alive for days. To determine how long Jesus was on the cross, it's important to understand that the Gospels used two different timekeeping methods. John used the Roman system, which starts counting hours from midnight, like we do today. This account reports the final trial before Pilate at about the sixth hour, roughly 6 a.m. (John 19:14).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all used the Jewish method of timekeeping. The hours started around 6 a.m. modern time. Mark records Jesus being crucified at the third hour, which would be about 9 a.m. (Mark 15:24–25). Matthew noted that there was darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour, which would be noon to 3 p.m. (Matthew 27:45), and then Jesus died (Matthew 27:46–50). Luke also mentions the darkness and Jesus’ final cry at the ninth hour (Luke 23:44–46).

Taken together, these accounts show that Jesus was on the cross from around 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m., meaning He was on the cross for roughly six hours.

from the old testament

The account of Jesus on the cross is recorded in the New Testament.

from the new testament

John did not specify the exact time when Jesus was crucified. Instead, he provided the time of the trial before the crucifixion. He said, “It was about the sixth hour” (John 19:14). John was using the Roman method of telling time, which began counting hours at midnight, like modern clocks. The sixth hour, then, was 6 a.m.
The other three Gospels used the Jewish clock, which began counting around 6 a.m. modern time.
We learn the start time of the crucifixion from Mark. He wrote, “And it was the third hour when they crucified him” (Mark 15:25). Three hours after 6 a.m. means that the crucifixion began around 9 a.m.
Matthew recorded that darkness fell over the land. He said, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45). Using the Jewish time, six hours after 6 a.m. places the darkness beginning at noon. See also Luke 23:44a.
Matthew indicates that Jesus died at the end of the darkness. Matthew wrote, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ … And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit” (Matthew 27:46, 50). Also, see Mark 15:34–37 and Luke 23:44–46.
Taking the four Gospels together, we learn that Jesus was on the cross from around 9 a.m. to roughly 3 p.m. Note that each writer probably used rounded times so that the actual length might be a bit longer or shorter, but a close estimate is six hours.

implications for today

The six hours Jesus spent on the cross were not simply hours of physical agony; they were the decisive moment when God’s plan of salvation was accomplished. On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of humanity’s sin, taking the judgment we deserve so that forgiveness could be freely offered. His death was not merely an example of endurance—it was the once-for-all sacrifice that satisfied God’s justice and opened the way for peace with Him (Romans 5:8–10).

Consider today what Jesus has done for you. We cannot earn our salvation because everything we do is tainted with sin. Indeed, even if you were perfect from today until the end of your life, you would still have to pay with your blood for all the sins you have already committed before today. In short, being saved by ourselves is a hopeless endeavor. When Jesus died on the cross, He died as a perfect man, meaning He did not have to die (Romans 6:23a). Therefore, He willingly died as a substitute for the sins of others. Jesus’ death opened a path to God. However, though salvation is a free offer, it must be received. Repent of your sin today and trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. When you do, God will count your sin as having been paid for by looking at Jesus’ death, and He will consider you perfect by looking at Jesus’ perfection.

understand

Jesus was crucified around 9 a.m. and died around 3 p.m., spending about six hours on the cross.
The Gospels used different timekeeping systems but align in showing this six-hour period.
During His time on the cross, Jesus bore humanity’s sin, completing the work of salvation.

reflect

How does knowing the exact time Jesus spent on the cross deepen your gratitude for His sacrifice?
What do those six hours reveal about the depth of God’s love for you?
How can you live each day in a way that honors the price Jesus paid for your salvation?

engage

How do the Gospel accounts together help us understand the full picture of Jesus’ crucifixion timeline?
What do the physical and spiritual aspects of Jesus’ suffering teach us about the seriousness of sin?
How can discussing the cross help believers stay centered on the heart of the gospel message?