206 ÉTIENNE NODET split into two components: on the one hand, Jesus’ last Passover meal, and on the other the institution of the Eucharist, which would have taken place previously. Incidentally, these observations show that the reworking of facts and events in the Synoptics has been greater than in John. The common outline of their Passion narrative begins to take shape as a Christianized Passover, starting with the memorial rite and culminating with the crucifixion. 2. Resurrection on the Third Day. Its Celebration Paul’s kerygma mentions Christ’s resurrection “the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15,3-4). The stated tem- poral interval hardly matches a crucifixion late on Friday and res- urrection early on Sunday. Counting Friday as the first day, Saturday as the second and Sunday as the third does work somehow, but seems somewhat forced (see Matt 16,61; 17,23; 20,19). Moreover, contrary to his usual habit, Paul does not quote any passages from the Scriptures here. Similarly, Matt 2,23 quotes “ He shall be called a Nazorean”, which is a passage from a proph- etic oracle that is nowhere to be found in the Scriptures. In Matt 12,40, Jesus speaks about the sign of Jonah and declares: “The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth ”. In John 2,19, Jesus tells the Jews: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. The short report of Josephus on Jesus 3, which is more like a report on the Christian faith in Rome, includes (Ant. 18 :63-64) : “On the third day he appeared to [his dis- ciples] restored in life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these things and myriads of others”. The Persian sage Aphrahat (270-345), who follows the Babylo- nian lunar calendar, offers a solution which actually defines the problem quite clearly (On the Passover, § 6-7) : in his view, the first Since the work of R. EISLER, the discussion about the authenticity of this 3 testimonium flavianum has focused upon the sentence “he was the Christ”, see L.H. FELDMAN, “The Testimonium Flavianum: The State of the Question”, Christological Perspectives (eds. R.F. BERKEY – S.A. EDWARDS) (Cleveland, OH 1982) 179-205; S. BARDET, Le Testimonium flavianum. Examen historique (Paris 2002).