According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A study of cores of soil deposition and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the Volume 54, Issue 10 of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27.The article presents evidence that there was a local earthquake within a few years of the crucifixion of Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew (27:51) says there was an earthquake at the time Jesus was crucified. Maybe there was. Perhaps more likely, the author of Matthew knew there was an earthquake around that time and added it to the story. Or the oral traditions about the crucifixion acquired the earthquake over time. Who knows? As stories are told, they tend to attract and include other signficant characters and events.[...]
The Discovery News article mentioned in the next paragraph reportedly tried to work out the exact date of the crucifixion based on the new evidence about the earthquake. The lead author of the International Geology Review disavowed this claim. See the relevant note to this essay.
For other biblical earthquakes, see here.
The Synoptic Gospels (Mark 15:33 par.) report another upheaval of nature during the crucifixion; the three hours of darkness. For more on that, and a supposed solar eclipse around the same time, see here (scroll down).
For the walking dead episode in Matthew 27:52-53, which, as far I know, no one has tried to connect to some other historical event, see here.
I was about to press publish when I saw that this BHD essay is actually 12 years old. Never mind, I missed it the first time. The comments are still relevant.
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