Summary

A month later in October AD 29, Pontius Pilate returns to Jerusalem with his wife, intending to lend a dominant Roman presence to the Feast of Tabernacles. The Jews see Pilate as a villain because he used Temple funds to build a new aqueduct in Jerusalem, but he cannot rule the Jews without the aid of the high priest Caiaphas who maintains his power by staying out of Rome's business. The two form an alliance, and since neither of them need a messianic figure upsetting the balance of power, Caiaphas plans to arrest Jesus as soon as he enters Jerusalem; "the plot to kill Jesus is about to unfold" (page 171).

To his chagrin, Jesus has other plans, remaining in Galilee while his disciples visit Jerusalem and refusing to publicly announce himself as the Christ as they request. The Temple authorities are disappointed by his absence...