Almost twenty centuries ago, as a carpenter from Nazareth entered Jerusalem, he was hailed by the population. About the same time, another figure made his appearance in the ancient city. His name was Herod Antipas. The two might have arrived on that significant day.

Passover was at hand. A faithful Jew looked upon it as one of the three principal festivals of Israel. Its celebration brought huge crowds to Jerusalem. Josephus mentions that Governor Cestius, in reporting to Emperor Nero, asked the high priest for an estimate of the number attending the festival. Priests counted 256,500 paschal lambs and reckoned ten men would partake of each lamb, and approximated 2,700,000 people.

HEROD ANTIPAS

Herod Antipas probably came to Jerusalem simply because it was the popular thing to do. We kno…