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To clarify: Matthew 12:40, under your interpretation, involves three full chronological days and nights - placing the resurrection on the fourth day after the crucifixion. However, every place else the chronology of the resurrection is mentioned, it is on the third day. Not the fourth. Your timeline is based purely and solely on your personal interpretation of one verse. I ask again: why does Matthew 12:40 have more authority than Matthew 20:19? If we are to accept your thesis that Matthew 12:40 overrules Matthew 20:19, we need to know why.

Let us set the record straight. I did NOT write Matthew 12:40 and the WORDS recorded say the following.

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

This is Christ speaking, not me, and there is NO need for anyone to interpret what is said. IT is a declaration, plain and simple.

Matthew 20:19 does NOT change the three days and three nights as was Jonah in the whale's belly. Day three would be on Saturday right up until the clock struck the instant of the sun setting. The NEW day (first day of the week) began AT sun set.

And given the night after the cruifixation was a 'holy' day the burial staff would have done everything they could to have Him entombed BEFORE the 'sun set'.

Let's go with your timeline: the crucifixion happens on a Wednesday during the day and the disciples scramble to entomb the Lord before the sun sets. All right.

So the sun sets and then sets again on Thursday. One day. Then it sets on Friday. Two days. Then it sets on Saturday. Three days "in the heart of the earth." Then, after the sun sets on Saturday - in other words, on the fourth day - He rises.

We are left with the same problem: everywhere else in Scripture He rises on the third day, not the fourth.

Starting the timeline on Wednesday does not resolve that difficulty. If He is "in the heart of the earth" for three entire chronological days, He does not rise on the third day - He is "in the heart of the earth" that entire day.