Quote:The books of the New Testament are some of the most extraordinary documents ever created-brilliant, vivid works central to the lives of many millions of readers over the centuries. Yet the picture they give of Jesus's world is a very partial one. Written some time after the events they describe, and with very specific doctrinal aims, they offer fascinating glimpses of Palestine that are nevertheless often refracted through a prism of doubtful clarity.

Geza Vermes, one of the world's foremost biblical scholars, is uniquely positioned to guide the reader through the many conundrums presented by the New Testament. Who's Who in the Age of Jesus is an ambitious and enjoyable attempt to sift through the sources for the period to create biographies of all the major (and some fascinating minor) figures from Jesus's era. The book allows readers to understand a Jewish, Roman, and Hellenistic world crowded with explosive, mutually antagonistic groups-a world that would give rise both to a new Judaism and ultimately to Christianity.