The events leading to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus were power-packed. Not all is recorded in the Bible that took place that day. The Roman soldiers ultimately crucified Jesus on the Hill of Golgotha, a place reserved for the meanest of criminals. The Sadducean leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman Procurator of the Province of Palestine hoped to rid themselves of the great disturbing religious influence that surrounded Jesus  – which challenged their authority. 

Jesus’ ultimate death in 31 A.D. on Passover day was the crowning jewel in His sacrifice for the sins of the world. However, there was a man – mentioned but fleetingly in Scripture – that history bears out became the most important character in the rescue of the “saints” in Jerusalem from the horrible persecution that was to follow Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Ancient documents, carefully preserved and others more recently recovered from the dusty, long-forgotten archives that refer to the year of Jesus’ crucifixion and the next few years, record this silent figure as having been cast upon the seas with a faithful few companions by their enemies. They were in an open, oarless boat without sails, on an ebbing tide over which they drifted far from the shores of their Judean homeland – never to return. In order to grasp the significant and historical importance of this silent, behind the scenes person, we must retrace the footsteps of history and examine more closely the soul-stirring events that began with the accursed kiss of Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, then the aftermath of the Crucifixion. In retracing our steps we cannot help but find a revolting series of extra legal actions that allowed the arrest of Christ and His death.