I shook my head hopelessly. “The more I learn, the more confused I become. Some claim that he is your Messiah and they now await his return each day, as you are certainly aware, in the Temple courtyard. Others deny that he was any more than a charlatan and a sorcerer. Some claim to be witnesses to his curing the sick, healing the blind, and even raising the dead. Others insist he was only a magician and a rabble-rouser. Many even believe that he himself rose from the dead on the third day after his burial, while others say that his body was removed from the tomb in order to fool the people. This is why I prevailed on my old friend Joseph to try to arrange a meeting between us. From you, the holiest and most respected man in all Israel, I knew I would hear the truth.”

Caiaphas nodded and pretended to study the woven designs on his vest. He tugged on one earlobe and then the other. “Very well,” he said, “I’ll do whatever I can to help you learn the truth about this man. However, you must remember that we are dealing with events that took place six years ago, and memories, especially unpleasant ones, tend to fade away. Exactly what is it you want to know?”

“Let us begin, if you are willing, sir, by your telling me when you first became aware of Jesus. And, to simplify our discussions, let us base all our times on their relationship to his crucifixion.”

The high priest stroked his beard and spoke slowly, choosing his words with great care. “As best I can recall, we began to hear stories about this Jesus perhaps ten months before his execution. They were the usual sort of thing. As you know, every Jew is waiting for the coming of the Messiah who will deliver our people to a perpetual Kingdom of God here on earth. God had once promised our ancestor Abraham that in him and his descendants all the world would be blessed and that someday we would enjoy the fruits of peace and plenty. It is our belief that God has continued to remind us of his promise through the words of those we call prophets, men such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel, Ezekiel, and Moses. As one might expect, it is inevitable that a land which brings forth so many true messengers of God’s word also spawns countless false prophets, motivated by selfish and base interests. One of my most important duties, as high priest, is to protect the purity and integrity of Israel against the poison of such imposters by any means at my disposal.”

“You considered Jesus another false prophet?”