'Three' in the Bible

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),

Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

It was at this [critical] time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and for three months he was nourished in his father’s house.

And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you.

Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,

This happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.

And right then the three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.

And Paul entered the synagogue, as was his custom, and for three Sabbaths he engaged in discussion and friendly debate with them from the Scriptures,

And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of the Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue].

And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece).

Therefore be continually alert, remembering that for three years, night or day, I did not stop admonishing and advising each one [of you] with tears.

Now Festus arrived in the province, and three days later he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea [Maritima].

In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed and entertained us hospitably for three days.

At the end of three months we set sail on a ship which had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.

We landed at Syracuse [on Sicily] and stayed there three days.

And the brothers and sisters, having heard news about us, came from as far away as the Forum of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Kinsmen, though I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.