Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

At the Joppa Gate in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph pass through on their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They stop at the inn at the entrance to the city, but there is no available room. Mary is pregnant and as labor begins, they settle in a nearby cave where a baby is born in Bethlehem among the shepherds and visited by the Magi. Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish man, returns from Antioch and reconnects with his Roman childhood friend, Messala. Judah invites him to his home with his mother Miriam and younger sister Tirzah. Messala fully embraces Rome's glory and imperial power over the Jewish people while Judah remains devoted to the Jewish people's freedom. Valerius Gratus, the new Roman governor of Judaea, and his procession enter the city as Judah and Tirzah watch from an upper terrace. Loose roof tiles fall, frightening the governor's horse and throwing him off. Messala condemns Judah to the galleys and imprisons Miriam and Tirzah. Judah vows revenge upon Messala. As he and other slaves are marched to the galleys, they stop in Nazareth. Denied water, Judah collapses but is revived when Jesus, the carpenter's son, offers him water. Judah is sentenced to slave labor in a Roman war galley. Once aboard ship, his attitude of defiance and strength impresses a Roman admiral, Quintus Arrius, who allows him to remain unchained. Soon, his ship is attacked and sunk by pirates, and Judah saves Arrius from drowning. Arrius then adopts Judah as his son, and over the years Ben-Hur becomes a victorious chariot racer. He receives permission from Arrius to travel to Antioch, where he meets with Simonides, a former merchant for the Hur family. Judah also meets Esther, Simonides's daughter, whom he encountered years earlier. He is told by Simonides that Miriam and Tirzah are dead. Meanwhile, Sheik Ilderim is competing in a chariot race and selects Judah to drive his horses. Judah refuses at first until he learns Messala will also compete in the race. At the arena, Judah has a flirtation with Iras, who then tells Messala that Judah is alive. Before the chariot race, Ben-Hur and Messala confront each other, and Messala wagers fifty-thousand pieces of gold to win. During the race, Messala wrecks his chariot when it comes too close to Judah's. He is trampled by another chariot while Judah wins the race. However, Messala does not die. In Ilderim's tent, he is visited by Balthazar who states the Messiah is an adult man. Judah pledges to give Jesus his wealth in hopes he will overthrow the Romans. Judah and Balthazar head back to Judaea where Judah finances two legions. Pontius Pilate is the new governor of Judaea who releases prisoners held without a documented crime record. Miriam and Tirzah, who have developed leprosy, are freed and venture into the Valley of the Lepers. On their way, they see Judah sleeping outside of the Hur mansion. Judah and Esther reunite, but he leaves when he learns that Jesus has been arrested. Esther eventually sees Miriam and Tirzah but conceals their whereabouts from Judah. The next day, convinced that Jesus can heal them, Esther takes Miriam and Tirzah to meet him. During the crucifixion, Judah hears Jesus's voice, stating his kingdom is not of this world and to put away his sword. Jesus later revives a dead child and miraculously cures Miriam and Tirzah. Judah sees his healed mother and sister and reunites with them. Jesus dies and an earthquake occurs. Balthazar informs the legion armies of Jesus's death and disperses them, telling them to forgive their enemies and love one another. Reunited with his family, Judah states Jesus is not dead and will live forever.

Plot from Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925 film)CC BY-SA 4.0