The incident may very well have happened, and it bears every appearance of being accurately reported.
"The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I"
Marcus Dods
And that explains why a noon observation is the best of the day for getting your latitude accurately.
"Lectures in Navigation"
Ernest Gallaudet Draper
Now latitude is always secured most accurately at noon by means of your meridian altitude.
"Lectures in Navigation"
Ernest Gallaudet Draper