Original subtitles

In the year 789 after the foundation of Rome, during the reign of Tiberius Caesar

The Roman Empire stretches unto Palestine.

The province of GaliIee is governed by the tetrarch Herod Antipas,

son of Herod the Great.

That of Judea by the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate.

The people of IsraeI are no longer free.

But the Holy City, Jerusalem,

retains all its splendor and all its prestige.

It looks forward to the Easter celebrations,

hundreds of thousands of pilgrims rush from all parts of the country

The Temple, recently rebuilt, flaunts under the sun

the solemn majesty of its cloisters,

of arcades, its columns, its marble facades,

its golden roofs.

In one of its associated buildings is the meeting place of the Sanhedrin,

the senate of the Jewish nation...

involving priests, intellectuals, scribes,

noblemen, or princes of the people...

It is headed by the Great Priest Caiaphas.

It assembled on the ninth day of the month of Nissam

that the Christian centuries will call Palm Sunday.

We outlawed him, do we need to discuss more?

This man does not do any harm, his doctrine is the doctrine of love.

But it is false! And because of him GaliIee is in turmoiI.

I told you he is a black magician.

They say he performed miracles.

He raised Lazarus of Bethany from the dead, you heard it.

We are the keepers of the law.

We want respect.

We must keep the people from believing in him, before it's too late.

The people want to make him King.

This must have an end.

The crowd follows him and has come to Jerusalem.

We must not wait, woe to those who hesitate!

He will not dare to enter the city.

He is laughing at us, and the crowd is behind him.

Come, let us proclaim him King

Let us go to the meeting.

This is a great day for IsraeI.

What's happening?

What happening? What's going on?

Jesus of Nazareth is coming!

He spent last night in Bethany.

He is on the way, hurry, or we will miss him.

It's the King of IsraeI!

The King? What King?

Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus of Nazareth? Who is that?

Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah foretold by the prophets.

He resurrects the dead, gives eyesight to the blind.

He commands the winds, the storms.

This way, we want to see the King,

he healed, he will heaI again

HeaI me! HeaI me!

Come, rejoice in his triumph.

We are the first.

I believe in the Messiah!

Is that a riot? Just wait for the counciI to intervene.

Jesus of Nazareth has more power than the Sanhedrin.

Look how afraid they are.

Jesus of Nazareth has more power than the Sanhedrin.

There he is!

Accursed be these people!

He is here.

I told you so, now it is too late.

We must arrest him.

With all this crowd around him? With these GaliIeans unleashed?

We can't wait any longer

They want to make him King!

King? I wonder what Rome will do now.

They will use it as a pretext to take away our remaining freedom.

Pilate will have to decide.

Calm down.

Prepare the cohort to intervene.

The crowd likes this prophet.

But I was told he is not dangerous.

We'll see.

There may be riots.

That will be an excellent opportunity to intervene...

and finally get rid of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin rabble.

And then we will the masters.

It's true that he is the Messiah foretold by the prophets.

What prophets?

The prophets inspired by Jehovah.

Ah, what do they say?

That the Messiah will come, and do justice according to the truth.

He will heaI the sick, resurrect the dead.

How clever you are!

But he will be despised, will be put to death as a criminaI.

He already entered the main gate!

Behold, he is the King!

And 'the son of God!

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Son of David.

- Blessed be the King of IsraeI! - Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna!

You apostles must have reason to believe in him, with all that triumph.

He calls them his friends.

And you, Peter, will have the keys to the kingdom.

He said: You will have life a hundredfold.

How happy must be the mother of such a son.

What is he doing?

I don't understand

This would be the perfect moment to proclaim his Kingdom.

All are ready to proclaim him King Why does he not dare?

He should celebrate his triumph but he talks about death.

And his resurrection. - Ah, the resurrection...

This GaliIean is deluded.

He will end up on a cross on the edge of a road.

And those who are with him will pay dearly.

Have you seen this, what a triumph!

I didn't think that they would be allowed to enter.

I recognize you, I saw you in Bethany with Jesus of Nazareth.

Do you really believe that he is the Messiah?

In your place I would stay away from this story.

Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.

There will be earthquakes, famines,

and this will be only the beginning of the ordeaI.

But take care of yourself, they will drag you unto their councils.

They will scourge you in their synagogues.

They will take you before the magistrates for my sake.

To bear witness of me.

Changing staters, anyone?

I only take a sixth for a dinar.

He is not a king, he is just a babbler.

Babblers don't scare me.

The crowd is fickle.

Now they cheer him, tomorrow they stone him.

You have to disgrace him in the eyes of all.

Yesterday you thought that his popularity was over, didn't you?

Look,how the crowd gathers around him and how they listen.

disappointed the people, and today they are there again

- What is this? - What is happening?

What is he doing?

My temple should be a house of prayer.

And you have made it a den of thieves.

This is a provocation!

We will take care of him soon.

He commands, he expels the money changers...

I have payed for my space, it was very expensive

The mob took advantage of the turmoiI and stole my cages.

I demand justice, arrest this man.

My sheep have fled, I'm ruined.

He called us snakes.

A brood of vipers.

He cried out: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees!

Shall we go and ask him, if we should pay taxes to Caesar?

But why? He will not admit what he really thinks.

Go and ask him, if we have to pay the tax to Caesar

In front of the whole crowd - if he says no, it is an act of disobedience to Rome.

Then we can denounce him to Pilate and we'll be rid of him.

If his answer is yes, the people will regard him as a friend of Rome

and an enemy of Jewish liberty.

Give me a coin.

Whose image do you see? And what inscription?

Caesar's!

Render therefore unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God what is God's

Nothing to do, he does not buy the trickery.

We have to take him by force.

Force? But he knows how to perform magic.

They say that he raised the daughter of a widow.

He seems to have strange powers

Who knows what he will do to us, if we confront him.

And if someone could hand him over to us?

I know someone, he belongs to his band.

An engraver named Judas Iscariot.

He has regrets having followed him, because hoped for a important position

in his fabulous kingdom. Now he's afraid of being compromised...

I want to see this man.

What I say is in your best interest.

I like you, you are worth more than the other disciples,

fishermen, farmers, people from nothing, but you are compromised now...

You're smart, you cannot expect anything more from this adventure.

If you want to facilitate our work and if you are short of money, come!

Sell??what you have and give it to the poor.

Then come and follow me.

My kingdom is not of this world.

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

If you want to follow me take up your cross.

- Hosanna to the Son of David. - Hosanna!

- Hosanna to the King of IsraeI! - Hosanna!

They will spit upon me, scourge me, put me to death

When I will be raised upon the cross I will draw everything upon me.

They will persecute you for my sake.

"You are compromised now, think about it!"

"You cannot expect anything more from this adventure. "

Yes, I'll deliver him.

Are you sure? Nothing to fear from him?

No.

No miracle?

But no.

How much?

How much will you give me?

I left my profession for him, I have left everything.

I was an engraver, now I have nothing.

For thirty pieces of silver you'll be our slave. That is the price.

Do you accept?

You will have 30 pieces.

30 pieces...

Everything is ready. The Master is already there with his disciples.

He knew that a friend would host them for the Easter meaI.

I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you

before leaving.

I tell you, I will eat no more untiI the kingdom of God is accomplished.

Verily, I say...

...One of you will betray me.

- What? - That's impossible, O Lord!

What did the Lord say?

- We all love him, he knows it. - How can we betray him?

Who is it, O Lord?

He with whom I will share this piece of bread.

What you have to do, do it now.

Even if all fall away from you, I never will.

Verily, I tell you Peter...

this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.

Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.

- We will never abandon you. - Even if it costs our lives.

Never, Master.

He will soon be in Gethsemane, he will spend the night there,

as he previously has done.

Is he dangerous?

Not at all, he seems worried. He only speaks of death.

Okay, wait here.

Take it.

Wait in the lobby.

It's done.

Well, aren't we going to arrest him?

Arrest? We can not imprison him during the holidays.

The GaliIeans are behind him.

If we arrest him, we must judge and execute him immediately.

Just summon the Sanhedrin.

Yes, but Pilate...

Only Rome has the right to death. What authority do we have?

Pilate certainly will not object.

You have to explain to him. Go and tell him.

He who is guilty of disorder and of causing sedition,

shall be beheaded or crucified or deported to an island,

according to the dignity of his rank. It's the text of the law.

We just ask you to act according to this law.

If he is dangerous, we will get rid of him.

I will arrest him, and bring him to you tomorrow, in the first hour.

All right.

- Will you apply the sentence? - Yes, yes.

Take some soldiers, so there will be no troubles during the arrest.

They are under your order.

Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by.

Nevertheless, thy will be done, and not mine.

Peter.

Are you sleeping?

Could you not keep watch with me for just an hour?

Quickly, let's go!

The prefect will send the guards, we will meet them there.

All right.

The prophet upsets them.

It is not for the state they are trembling, but for themselves.

They're afraid of losing their positions.

If this man is really the Messiah, he will drive them out,

just as he drove the merchants out of the Temple.

And you, as Caesar's representative

are just helping these greedy rogues to play their game

You have promised to apply the sentence.

They want him to be put to death.

But why do you care about this GaliIean?

When the crowd cheered you were laughing.

I did not know him then; but now I was told about him.

He healed the sick, has resurrected the dead.

He is a saint!

You have all the power of Rome in your hands.

You who come from the people and are Prefect of Judea, you have all the authority.

Caiaphas is your subordinate.

His is just the power that is sold again every year.

Don't get fooled like a schoolboy.

Get up, let us go!

The hour has come. He who will betray me, is near

Take him, whom I will embrace

HaiI to thee, Master!

Must you betray me with a kiss?

Whom do you seek?

Jesus of Nazareth.

I am him.

But whom do you seek?

Jesus of Nazareth.

I've already said it, I am him.

Quick, quick!

The rope, tie him up!

If it is me you're looking for, then let the others go.

There.

It is done, I have the promise of Pilate.

Soon everything will be finished.

The Nazarene has been taken to Annas.

He is waiting for us.

So, you do perform miracles?

You take us for children, huh?

Have you risen against the law?

Speak!

Do you have nothing to say?

Let him enter.

Aren't you one of those who were with the man they took?

Me? I don't know him.

Me?

I'm sure, you were with the GaliIean. I saw you.

I tell you I do not know him.

Let's go.

What do you want from me?

You are a GaliIean, I can tell from your accent.

But no, I don't know what you mean.

You were the one who cut Malchus' ear in Gethsemane.

No!

No! I swear I do not know that man.

Untie him.

Silence!

Silence everybody!

They told me that you preach a new doctrine.

How about that?

To those who follow you,

what do you teach?

I have always spoken clearly to the world. Ask those who have heard me.

Is this how you answer the High Priest?

If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong;

but if rightly, why do you strike me?

Silence!

Where are the witnesses?

Silence!

You first.

I have heard you.

He said...

What did Jesus say?

That he would destroy the Temple. Yes, I have heard that.

And then...

That he would build... another one.

- Another one? - Yes, another Temple.

Within three days, he said.

Did he say he would destroy the Temple himself?

No, no, he said: Destroy this Temple built by men.

And I'll make it anew in three days.

This is blasphemy. The Temple is the house of the Lord.

Threatening the Temple means to threaten God!

Why do you not respond to what they say against you?

Answer!

I ask you by the living God, are you Christ, the Son of God?

If I told you, you would not believe me.

So you are the Christ, the Son of God?

You have said it, I am.

Blasphemer!

There is no need of more witnesses.

Have you heard his blasphemy? - Yes, yes!

He deserves death!

Silence, the High Priest has arrived.

Death. - Death!

- Quick, bring him to Pilate. - Not right away, wait.

Take care of him. He will pay for that.

Oh Prophet, who was it, who hit you?

You are no longer among your silly GaliIeans here.

You must get used to Jerusalem.

You know what happens to the prophets.

When they are wrong they get killed.

Here... fine.

Just make it quick, will you?

It's really cold.

Soon all will be finished.

How stupid! I am risking to catch a cold

just because it's Easter

and they need their "purity"!

That's the big difference between Romans and Jews.

We are pure allright.

So, what has this man done wrong?

If he were not a criminaI, we would not have brought him to you.

Well, so take him

and judge him according to your law.

But we do not have the right to condemn to death.

What is he accused of?

He has not only violated our law, but yours.

- He is stirring the people to revolt. - He has proclaimed himself Messiah.

He prohibits the payment of tribute to Caesar.

That should suffice.

I don't understand, he promised to me...

Are you the King of the Jews?

My kingdom is not of this Earth.

But yet you are a King?

You have said it, I am a King

And I came into the world, to testify to the truth.

What is truth?

- Pilate is mocking us. - What about his promise of last night?

Time runs out, a different crowd will come.

The square is not large, we can fill it with our own people.

Yes, we summon our friends, and all those working in the Temple.

I questioned him, I find no guilt in him.

I will testify against this man!

- He incites revolt. - He stirs up the people.

He prohibits to pay taxes.

Defend yourself. Don't you understand the gravity of the accusation?

I confirm that this man has incited GaliIee.

And now he is inciting Judea.

You speak of GaliIee? Is this where he was born?

He is from Nazareth in GaliIee.

Then he is Herod's subject. He is in town for Easter.

Bring him to the Tetrarch.

- Oh, it's a comedy. - Why bring him to Herod?

- Herod has no jurisdiction here. - Pilate wants to buy time.

Follow my instructions

You say that it is by order of Caiaphas.

Call on me later.

Do not worry, the Great Priest will pay

It is by order of Caiaphas, and there is something to gain as well.

Come with me, bring your friends, we will pay them all.

Caiaphas said that one must die so that all the others can be saved.

Oh, come on. There is to gain something.

I can not understand this change of mood.

Last night, he promised me to ratify the judgment,

and this morning... it is incredible.

Talk to him then of Tiberius.

The Romans who want intimidate us are themselves afraid of Caesar.

Pilate wants to keep his position, and has no desire for exile.

Talk to him about Tiberius.

I saw this GaliIean...

The judge sentenced him...

and then it was immediately night,

there were ruins,

and death...

He must not be condemned!

We must warn the prosecutor.

Give me my tablet and stiletto.

Apparently they have taken him to Herod.

He claims to be the Messiah!

The son of God! The King of the Jews!

Enough. Your accusations are not...

But he said... I said enough!

Bring this prophet.

Pilate probably sends him to me to oblige me...

It would be an pportunity to reconcile...

It is said that this prophet looks like John the Baptist...

Even that he is John the Baptist himself, raised from the dead...

I believed that as well for a moment.

But this man, he never attacked me.

But he called you a fox!

That's not an insult!

You'll see! He said: "Tell that fox that I cast out demons...

and heaI the sick. "

Well, he shall do it, then.

The Sanhedrin accuses you...

You are making troubles.

I've killed people for that before.

Don't bother to answer...

I don't think you are a criminaI.

This man says he is the son of David.

And in GaliIee...

GaliIee, GaliIee... leave that to me.

Come closer.

Come!

I have been wanting to meet you for a long time.

Why did you call me "fox", eh?

Come closer.

Is it true that you perform miracles?

He raised the dead.

Is it true?

You have strange powers?

Don't be afraid, you're among friends here.

And no modesty, please. Show us a miracle.

HeaI my son!

No, make the deviI appear!

It's a good opportunity to show your power.

HeaI the son of my housekeeper.

Or make Beelzebub appear.

You who drive out demons must know how to invoke them.

- He despises you, he is a rebeI. - Shut up!

Come on, prove them wrong.

A miracle. If you are the great miracle worker...

prove it to us!

Make him turn your scepter into a serpent!

Here you go.

One.

Two.

Three.

Definitely there is nothing to expect from you.

Your reputation is botched.

Try to disappear before our eyes, then you'll be free.

So this is the dangerous agitator,

The destroyer of the public authorities, the terror of Caiaphas,

The fear of the Sanhedrin, nothing but a wretched dreamer!

Let him proclaim himself King, I won't be jealous.

In a few days nobody will talk about him anymore.

Now go, I've had enough.

King of the Jews, your mantle.

Dress him up.

Back to prefect with him.

He did not resist his arrest.

Yes, and they will condemn him.

How shall we get back to GaliIee?

He promised us the kingdom.

Yes, that's what we hoped for.

Herod as well did not find any crime in this man.

He has done nothing to deserve death.

I will have him scourged and then I will let him go free.

Death to him!

Crucify him!

But what did he do wrong?

Crucify him!

This is a just man. Let come nothing between him and you.

I had painfuI dreams because of him last night.

It is a custom that I pardon an offender each Easter.

We have here a bandit named Barabbas.

Whom do you want me to pardon?

Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?

- Barabbas! - Barabbas!

Death to him!

To the cross! Let him be crucified!

Listen to me!

Scourge him.

- I cried out well, eh? - Here.

- Me too. - Here.

I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.

Stronger! Do not slow down.

You still want to proclaim him King of the Jews?

See? The King of the Jews!

HaiI the King of the Jews!

Bow down to the King!

Long live the King!

He needs his mantle!

And his crown!

And the scepter!

You promised me not to condemn him.

Just to please you and save him I can not risk exile.

Exile?

They accuse me of opposing Tiberius.

Why are you afraid? You are the master.

And then you promised me...

Listen, I won't take the responsibility for the sentence.

Not ever.

- The Prophet! - The Messiah!

HaiI, Messiah!

HaiI to the King of the Jews.

Look at the King!

He is crowned.

Ecce homo!

Crucify him!

It is you who judge him, to me he is innocent.

If you free him, you betray Caesar.

We demand respect for the law.

Anyone who proclaims himself King rebels against Caesar.

Do not force us to intervene with Tiberius.

To the cross with him!

You condemn your King?

We have no king but Caesar.

I am innocent of this righteous man's blood.

See to it yourselves.

His blood shall be on us and on our children.

Yes! Yes!

The tablet.

Write: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

Don't write that he is the King of the Jews.

Write that he just said he was the King of the Jews.

What I have written, I have written.

You will be going to the cross.

The people don't like the inscription.

That's what I wanted.

Now, put to the cross this Dismas... and that other bandit...

They shall escort the King of the Jews.

They are crucifying Jesus of Nazareth!

Jesus of Nazareth? Why, what eviI has he done?

He gave me back my eyesight.

Ah! Ah! Jesus of Nazareth. King of the Jews!

Master! HeaI me, heaI me.

Make me see again.

Make me walk again.

Carry his cross untiI the end. - It is the law!

- Smash his face. - Simulator.

Now that's our King

Up, up, false Messiah.

You, take up the cross and follow us.

No, it's up to him to take it.

My son!

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me.

Weep for yourselves and for your children.

The people are all behind us.

She is the mother of Jesus

Father!

Forgive them for they know not what they do.

Woman, behold your son.

Son, behold your mother.

- You, who have saved the others. - Now it's time for a miracle.

If you are the King of the IsraeI, come down from the cross.

Oh, he will descend from the cross today.

Afew women and a peasant, that is all that is left.

His mother.

The story is over.

Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.

Verily, I say...

...Today you will be with me in Paradise.

Father!

Into your hands I command my spirit.

Truly, this man was the son of God

The veiI is torn.

God is leaving our Temple.

And if it was really the Messiah that we crucified?

Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body.

He offers his own new tomb to bury him.

Let's keep an eye on the disciples.

They would be capable to steaI the body and say he is resurrected.

We will put a seaI on the stone and ask Pilate for soldiers.

They are afraid he will disappear.

It seems that he said he will be resurrected in three days.

The one you are looking for is not here.

He is resurrected.

Go, tell his disciples and Peter that all happened as he promised.

Confess, were you asleep?

And his disciples? His friends?

They came at night and entered the tomb, didn't they?

But we were awake.

And what happened the?

As we have said, the stone moved all by itself.

A dazzling light, a thunderclap.

They came to steaI the body at night...

and you were sleeping, is that understood?

They came to steaI the body at night.

It's Cleophas and led, open up.

- We come from Hebron. - Open up.

- The Lord appeared to Peter. - To us as well!

We arrived early at Emmaus, when someone appeared

whom we didn't hear approaching.

What are you two talking about?

You must be the only one in Jerusalem

who does not know yet what happened.

The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.

As night fell, he stayed to eat with us.

He looked into our eyes, and then and we recognized him.

Peace be with you.

Why are you upset?

Look, it's me.

I'll stay down here a little longer.

We will meet again in GaliIee.

Hey, come help us.

Simon, son of John, do you love Me?

Lord, you know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?

But Lord, you know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Simon, son of John, do you really love me?

Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Go, teach all nations...

...I am with you all days untiI the end of time.