D and E

d.)Briefly describe the political situation in Palestine during Jesus' lifetime.

◦The area of Palestine, the ancient homeland of the Jews, was conquered by Romans in 63 B.C. When

Jesus was young, most of Palestine (including Jerusalem) was under the direct rule of a prefect. This individual served as a regional governor and reported directly to the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate occupied this position from A.D. 26 to 36. The northern region of Galilee (where Jesus grew up and carried out most of his ministry) was ruled by Herod Antipas. He was a "puppet king" who was under the control of the Roman emperor. The Jews, being placed under Roman rule, were in an extremely difficult situation. The Romans primarily cared about maintaining order and collecting taxes. However, the Jews had a longstanding hope that they'd achieve political independence. Tensions were high, and this sometimes lead to conflicts and even executions.

e.) Name and briefly describe the varieties of Judaism at the time of Jesus, including their response to Roman Rule.

◦The three major varieties of Judaism at the time of Jesus were the Sadducees, Essenes, and Pharisees. The Sadducees, wealthy aristocrats who ruled the Jerusalem Temple, generally remained on good terms with the Roman rulers. The Essenes fled from the troubles brought upon by Roman rulers, often leading lives of discipline and purity in desert communities. The Pharisees were moderate and obeyed traditional Jewish commandments. There was also another group known as the Zealots. They believed the only way to achieve Jewish independence was through armed rebellion.