The final non-biblical ancient historian is Thallus. While his writings have not survived, fragments of what he wrote appear as quotations by other writers. One of those writers is Julius Africanus, who, in A.D. 221, quotes Thallus. It is thought that Thallus probably wrote his History around A.D. 52.
What is questionable about the Thallus quote is (1) we no longer have direct access to his work so (2) we cannot know if the quote that Julius Africanus uses was used by Thallus in reference to Jesus' death. Africanus uses the quote in that manner, but there is no way to corroborate if that use is appropriate or not.
Either way, the quote from Thallus reads
As to His works severally, and His cures effected upon body and soul, and the mysteries of His doctrine, and the resurrection from the dead, these have been most authoritatively set forth by His disciples and apostles before us. On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun.[1]
Africanus continues on in his writing and discounts the explanation that Thallus provides given the position of the Sun relative to the moon and Earth during the time of Passover. According to the Jewish calendar, Passover takes place during the time of a full moon and therefore, an eclipse cannot be the cause of the Sun going dark.
If we are to take Thallus' description as referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, then we can know the following facts[2]:
- The Christian gospel, or at least an account of the crucifixion, was known in the Mediterranean region by the middle of the first century.[3]
- There was widespread darkness in the land, implied to have taken place during Jesus' crucifixion.
- Unbelievers offered naturalistic explanation for what occurred.
- Julius Africanus, Extant Work, Fragment 18.1, On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviour's Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection.
- Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 197.
- This corresponds to what we see recorded by both Suetonius and Tacitus. Christianity had spread and was known by the middle of the first century AD.