“About the SIXTH hour” Is There a Contradiction?

John 19:14 “And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the SIXTH hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

Matthew 27:45 - “Now from the SIXTH hour there was darkness over all the land unto the NINTH hour.

Mark 15:25 - “And it was the THIRD hour, and they crucified him.”

Mark 15:33 - “And when the SIXTH hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.”

Luke 23:44 - “And it was about the SIXTH hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the NINTH hour.”

Bible skeptics, atheists, Muslims and those who mock at our infallible Bible (the King James Holy Bible) often bring up what they believe is an undeniable error recorded in Scripture in John 19:14. And now with the proliferation of numerous modern version paraphrases that often contradict each other, the skeptics have additional ammunition to show what they believe is an obvious error.

The Bible critics point out that Jesus was crucified at the 3rd hour as recorded in Mark 15:25 ( “And it was the THIRD hour, and they crucified him.” ) and he hung on the cross for a total of 6 hours (Mark 15:33), and that darkness was over the whole land from the 6th hour till the 9th hour. So they ask, How could Christ have been crucified at the 3rd hour in Mark 15:25 and yet be standing before Pontius Pilate at the 6th hour as recorded in John 19:14?