See Cat. ii. 15, note 8, and xiii. 25, 34, 38.  On the supernatural character of the darkness mentioned in the Gospels see Meyer, Commentary, Matt. xxvii. 45.  An eclipse of the sun was of course impossible, as the moon was full.  Mr. J. R. Hind (Historical Eclipses, “Times,” 19th July, 1872) states that the solar eclipse, mentioned by Phlegon the freedman of Hadrian, which occurred on Nov. 24, a.d. 29, and was partial at Jerusalem, is “the only solar eclipse that could have been visible at Jerusalem during the period usually fixed for the ministry of Christ.”  He adds, “The Moon was eclipsed on the generally received date of the Crucifixion, 3 April, a.d. 33.  I find she had emerged from the earth’s dark shadow a quarter of an hour before she rose at Jerusalem (6:36 p.m.), but the penumbra continued upon her disc for an hour afterwards.”  Thus the “darkness from the sixth hour unto the ninth” cannot be explained as the natural effect of an eclipse either solar or lunar.