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The film Jesus of Nazareth opens before Jesus’ birth. During this time, Jews and Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire. The time period was 6 B.C. to around 30 A.D. At the time of Christ’s birth, Herod the Great stilled ruled. There were rumors of a king to be born and rule Israel. Ultimately, Herod’s fear of a future king had him order all children two years and under to be murdered. Matthew 2:16 “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”. Historically this has not been proven, but given Herod’s nature and known history for his deeds, it is conceivable. This epic tale of the life of Jesus Christ is possibly the best and most accurate accounts of his life. Using all 4 gospels as a reference Franco Zeffirelli creates a historical and accurate account. Using the gospels Luke and Matthew primarily as a guide Zeffirelli paints a humanistic quality