Summary

Book II: Behold the Man begins with Chapter 6 on the shores of the Jordan River in Pera in the year AD 26 as scores of believers wait for John the Baptizer to cleanse them of their sins. The people are enthralled by this “voice of one calling in the desert” (page 98) who preaches that the end of the world is approaching and a new king will stand in judgment.

Judea is now ruled by four governors, one of whom is named Pontius Pilate; he is no friend to the Jews and has developed an uneasy alliance with the head priest Caiaphas to monitor the Jews’ activities. Viewing John as a threat to Rome, the Temple sends priests and Pharisees to spy on him, but he mocks their hypocrisy before resuming his baptisms. The people wonder if John is the messiah that he preaches about, but...