What is the third hour of the day?

In the New Testament in Jesus' day and beyond, the day was divided into rough periods. The third hour of the day would span 6 to 9 a.m. The sixth hour of the day would extend from 9 to 12 midday. The ninth hour of the day would encompass 12 noon to 3 p.m., and the twelfth hour of the day would last from 3 to 6 p.m.

This explains Peter the Apostle's response in Acts 2:15 to the charge of drunkenness on the Day of Pentecost that "... it is but the third hour of the day", meaning 9:00 a.m. The ninth hour is described in Acts 3:1 as the 'hour of prayer', which was observed by devout Jews and followers of Judaism. Hence Cornelius, in Acts 10:3 & 30 respectively, records that he was praying around the ninth hour.

Lastly, at the crucifixion of Jesus, the Gospel record states that there was darkness over the whole land from the sixth to the ninth hour, (meaning from 12 midday to about 3 p.m.) in Matthew 27:45 & Mark 15:33, respectively.