Introduction describes the historical background - the film is set in Jerusalem during the time that Jesus was born and became identified for his "radical" teachings:

In the year of our Lord, Judea for almost a century had lain under the mastery of Rome. In the seventh year of the reign of Augustus Caesar, an imperial decree ordered every Judean each to return to his place of birth to be counted and taxed.

• Converging ways of many of them led to the gates of their capital city Jerusalem, the anxious heart of their land...Even while they followed the will of Caesar, the people clung proudly to their ancient heritage always remembering the assure of their prophets that one day there would be born among them a Redeemer to bring them salvation and perfect freedom.

• The film opened with a series of tableaux of the birth of Christ Nativity series and the coming of the Magi.