>> in the span of three centuries, the life and death of the jewish rabbi from nazareth had become the basis of the favored religion of the roman empire and gospel to millions. an astounding development that still fascinates and confounds even the experts. >> it's interesting that one single jew becomes the focus of the devotions of a whole people. while, you know, there were many other jews who were -- who had also been crucified, and many of them were also known as messiahs in the same time period. none of them had the following. so the big question is, why jesus? why did he get that type of following? and that's the real question of people who work out in the field in archaeology is trying to