"Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard claims to be a historical account of the life and death of Jesus Christ. Explaining the atmosphere into which Jesus was born in terms of the conflict between Rome and the Jews, the authors follow Jesus's life and teachings until his crucifixion, taking great care to explain the reasons that he was persecuted and also how his teachings have made him the most popular man in the world. "Killing Jesus" is an informative retelling of the classic story that sparked the Christian religion.

Learning that a baby boy destined to be the King of the Jews has been born in Bethlehem, Herod the Great orders the deaths of all baby boys, but fortunately, Joseph has a vision of the impending slaughter and escapes with Mary and Jesus in the middle of the night. Years earlier, after Julius Caesar was betrayed and murdered, civil war broke out in Rome, ending with Octavian being named the undisputed heir.

When Jesus is twelve years old, his parents realize he is missing from their caravan as they return home from celebrating Passover in Jerusalem, and they find him teaching in his "Father's house" to scholars who are amazed at his understanding of complex religious subjects. While Jesus enjoys a nice childhood, the Jews' outrage against Rome grow, and by age 30, Jesus realizes that silence is no longer an option, though his decision will change the world and lead to his death. As John the Baptist preaches about the messiah coming, he recognizes Jesus as the Son of God when a dove lands on Jesus's shoulder. Unfortunately, John the Baptist is arrested for offending Herod Antipas and his wife, and with Tiberius being the licentious Roman Emperor, the Jews receive little justice so they begin looking for a savior.

In the Temple in AD 27, Jesus overturns the money changers' tables and chases off the sacrificial animals being sold in anger at those who turn his Father's house into a market. He vows to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days; thus, Jesus begins traveling and teaching, gaining followers by performing miracles throughout Judea. He summons twelve disciples to learn his message and preach in his stead one day, and he encourages the oppressed Galileans when he preaches the Sermon on the Mount. When a Pharisee tries to trick Jesus by introducing him to a prostitute, Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene because of her love, and she becomes a follower of Jesus also. Herod Antipas orders the execution of John the Baptist in exchange for a favor from his stepdaughter, Salome.

Though the Jewish and Roman authorities begin to view Jesus as a threat, they leave him alone because his message is peaceful, but Jesus's disciples, especially Judas, worry about their positions as Jesus provokes these leaders. After Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave, the priests fear an uprising, and Caiaphas begins plotting against Jesus. In 30 AD, Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, fulfilling prophecy about the messiah, and this causes Caiaphas to determine that Jesus is a false prophet who must be eliminated. The priests try in vain to trap Jesus in blasphemy, but he is too smart for them. Caiaphas finds unexpected help in his plot to arrest Jesus when Judas, fearful of Jesus's predictions about dying and his disciples being persecuted, agrees to betray his leader in exchange for 30 silver coins.

During the Last Supper, Jesus predicts that one of his twelve disciples will betray him shortly before Judas rushes off to Caiaphas. After praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus submits to his arrest as Judas betrays him with a kiss. In custody, Jesus is interrogated illegally and beaten viciously by the Temple guards until, at last, they convict him of blasphemy and condemn him to death when he agrees he is the Son of God. Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas both refuse custody, and when Pilate is forced to accept custody of Jesus, he offers to release the Christ to the Jews for Passover; however, the Jews request Barabbas, a murderer, instead, so Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns and mocked as the King of Jews. Though Pilate plans to release Jesus after his punishment, the Jewish priests demand his death, so Pilate washes his hands of the arrangement.

Jesus is led to Golgotha where he is nailed to a cross and dies at age 36. He is removed from the cross and buried in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, but three days later, the tomb is found empty, and his body is never recovered. Over the next 40 days, Jesus Christ is said to have appeared twelve times before ascending into Heaven. His disciples preach his message throughout the world, and many are martyred. Indisputably, Jesus is the most famous person in the world, and his message reaches billions of people over the next 2000 years.