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Letter of Lentulus

“To His Majesty and to the Honoured Senate of Rome: Greetings from Senator Lentulus, Governor of Judea!

“I have learned what you desired to know and am now telling you by this letter. Living here is a man who enjoys a great reputation as a God-fearing person and who is called Jesus the Christ. People call Him Prophet of the Truth, but His Disciples hold that He is the Son of God – that is to say, the Son of Him who created the heaven and earth and all that has ever existed, exists, and will still exist in all eternity. In Connection with Him, O Emperor, there have been rumors every day of miracles performed by the said Jesus the Christ. By a single word He heals the sick and raises the dead.

“He is of medium height and of astonishing beauty. His glance is majestic and inspires a feeling of reverence, love, and fear in all those who look upon Him. His hair has the color of ripe pistachios–that is, reddish, falls tresses upon His shoulders, and parts in two in the middle of the head in the Nazarene manner. His forehead is high and expresses innocence and calm. In His rosy-colored face neither a spot nor a wrinkle appears. His nose and His mouth give rise to no criticism, and His dense beard is similar to His hair – long, and parted in two in the middle.

“His look is imposing and serene. He possesses sparkling eyes. The light shining forth from his face is like sunshine, so that it is impossible for anyone to behold Him too long. This radiance arouses fear, but as soon as He starts teaching and advising, He does it with so much sorrow that He evokes love and veneration among His listeners. It has been said that He never laughs, but that His eyes are always tearful. His hands are externally beautiful. When He speaks He is most pleasant. He very seldom contacts high society. As regards His teachings, by them He attracts all Jerusalem. He masters perfectly every science, without having studied even one of them. He walks bare-footed and bare-headed. Everywhere it is said, until now, such a man has never been seen in these places.

“Many Jews believe Him to be God, others denounce Him as acting against Your Majesty’s laws. I am very much upset and alarmed because of the grudging Hebrews. That man has never caused any harm to a single person. Should Your Majesty desire to talk with Him, as you recently wrote to me, then inform me of this and I shell send Him to you immediately, as I am ready to execute obediently and obsequiously whatever order Your Majesty will give me.

“Written in the Jerusalem District, the 9th day of the 10th month. Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant, “

(ss) PUBLIUS LENTULUS. “Governor of Judea.”