ANSWER: Yes, as the Jews reckoned time! Today, three days and three nights means seventy-two hours. This was not necessarily true in the first century. The Jews often spoke in round numbers, taking a part for the whole! Christ’s body was in the earth part of the day Friday, which the Jews reckoned as a whole day; that is, a day and a night (First). His body was in the earth all day Saturday (the Sabbath), a day and a night (Second). It was in the earth part of the day Sunday, which the Jews reckoned as a whole day; that is a night and a day (Third). Thus, according to the reckoning of that time, Jesus’ body was in the heart of the earth three days and three nights!