In John 19:14 (KJV), the reference is made to "about the sixth hour". This was probably Roman time, or about six in the morning. John's gospel was written near the close of the century, and chiefly for Gentile believers. (see John 1:38) Here he gives the time in terms familiar to them. In other places, he seems to reckon the hours of the day from sunrise rather than from midnight. (see John 4:6, 52; 11:9)
Most commentaries seem to indicate that Jesus was seized at approximately midnight. His first trial was in the house of Caiaphas at approximately 1 a.m. and the second attempt to incriminate Him was at around 2 or 3 a.m. Then the trial before the Sanhedrin took place somewhere between 3 and 4 a.m. At this season of the year day dawns at about 4 p.m. in the latitude of Jerusalem, and the sun rises about 5:30, local time. This trial resulted in a unanimous verdict of death, but the verdict must be affirmed during daylight hours in order to be legal. Therefore it had to be reaffirmed in daylight. The Sanhedrin did this when they reassembled soon after sunrise. They got to Pilate around 6 a.m. or soon after. The hearing before Herod took place around 7 o'clock Friday morning. The second trial before Pilate began around 8 a.m. and according to Mark 15:25 ended before 9 a.m.
Around noon, while He was on the cross, total darkness surrounded the area, until about 3 p.m. when He cried out, "It is finished." (John 19:30)
In the time of Jesus, watches of three hours each were used. We do not agree with the premise that there was a copyist error in John.
In the year of the crucifixion, Nisan 14, the day appointed for slaying the paschal lambs fell on a Thursday; the preparation for (or eve of) the Passover which coincided with the preparation for (or eve of) the weekly Sabbath. (John 19:14; cf. vs. 31, 42; ch. 20:1) The first ceremonial Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15, also coincided with the weekly Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:6-8; cf. Mark 15:42 to 16:2; Luke 23:5 to 24:1)