Includes bibliographical references and indexes

Prolegomenon : Of history, historians, and biographers -- From Alexander to Alexandra and beyond (356-67 B.C.) -- The rise of the Herodians, the birth of Jesus, and the dawn of an Empire (63-4 B.C.) -- The Herodians and their prophetic adversaries : John and Jesus (4 B.C - A.D. 27) -- The coming of the prefect and of the perfect : Pilate of Rome and Jesus of Nazareth (A.D. 26-29) -- The trials and tribulations of Jesus (A.D. 29-30) -- The rising of the Son and the birth of the church (A.D. 30-33) -- The roads from Jerusalem (A.D. 33-37) -- Dark passages (A.D. 37-47) -- The Gentile mission and the Jerusalem Council (A.D. 48-49) -- Good News heading West (A.D. 50-52) -- The expansion of the enterprise (A.D. 53-57) -- Trials and executions : signs upon the earth (A.D. 58-62) -- Through the refiner's fire (A.D. 63-68) -- The dawn of the age of inspiration (A.D. 68-70) -- Beyond Jerusalem, Jamnia, and the Julio-Claudians (A.D. 70-81) -- The dominion of Domitian (A.D. 81-96)