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"Because the Roman Church insists that Friday was the day of crucifixion is no reason you should keep that tradition."

You missed my point. It is clear that Jesus predicted that he would rise on the THIRD day. Start the count-down whatever day pleases you, but you have to start on a day (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44, John 19:31). To get three nights into the equation, you have Jesus arising on the 4th day, or the 3rd night, but NOT the 3rd day!

A few things you may be overlooking, which I don't have the definative answer to....

Jonah didn't have to be swallowed or reguritated on any specific day, therefore his "three days and nights" could have started anytime. Calvary has a specific start and end time.

The "days and nights" conotation may have had more then one meaning. When we use the term "day" it doesn't always mean 24 hours. When I get home from work, my wife asks "Did you have a good day?" She's not talking 24 hours. Because I work varying shifts, she's also not just talking daylight hours.

The answer to conotation would have to be answered by someone who has studied Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic languages, which I haven't. However, I can easily see where "three days and three nights" was a general term for three days. Especially when the third day is emphasized far more.

Sincerely

Start the count-down whatever day pleases you, but you have to start on a day (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44, John 19:31). To get three nights into the equation, you have Jesus arising on the 4th day, or the 3rd night, but NOT the 3rd day!

The fourteenth of Nisan [Leviticus 23:5] as the lambs are being slaughtered in the temple our Saviour is also being slaughtered on Golgotha. This is Wednesday, between the evenings....or about 3:00 P.M. The preparation day for the Passover.

[Matthew 27:57-60] [Mark 42:46] [Luke 23:50-54] [19:31-42]. Wednesday, being the preparation, he was laid in the tomb shortly before sunset....as the Sabbath was (Epiphosko) drawing on.

As Douglas is fond of saying...."Stay with me now". Wednesday sundown/Thursday sundown = First 24 hour day. Thursday sundown/Friday sundown = Second 24 hour day. Friday sundown/Sabbath sundown = Third 24 hour day. 72 Hours in the tomb as Matthew 12:40 prophesied.

Another way to count it is in the tomb at sundown on Wednesday. Nisan 15 is Wednesday evening/ Thursday = one day. Nisan 16 is Thursday evening/Friday = two days. Nisan 17 is Friday evening/Sabbath = the third day and resurrected at sundown....72 hours after entering the tomb.

A point I would like to make at this time is that Jesus said he would be in the tomb 72 hours....not dead 72 hours. He obviously expired prior to the entombment and Joseph of Arimethia hurriedly attempted to get the body in the tomb before the sundown.