Timeline.

A wealthy follower named Joseph buries Jesus in his own new tomb before the Sabbath begins.

Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus but buckles under political pressure and hands him over to be crucified.

Joseph Caiaphas served as high priest from 18 to 36 CE — an unusually long tenure that reveals his political skill.

Pontius Pilate served as Roman prefect of Judea from 26 to 36 CE, a tenure marked by repeated clashes with his Jewish subjects.

The Jewish Sanhedrin could judge religious matters but likely could not carry out death sentences without Roman approval.

Every Passover, Jerusalem's population exploded from roughly 40,000 to over 250,000 as Jewish pilgrims flooded the city.

Sejanus, the most powerful man in Rome after Tiberius, was arrested and executed in 31 CE after a dramatic fall from power.

Roman historian Tacitus writes about 'Christus' and his execution under Pontius Pilate — the most important non-Christian reference to Jesus.