First Followers of Jesus were Government Conspiracy Theorists

Conintuing my thoughts from WTC 7 and Jesus, it is interesting to note that according to the Book of Acts, the first Jewish followers of Jesus thought that Jesus's death was the result of a government conspiracy (from Acts, chapter 4):

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage     and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up     and the rulers band together against the Lord     and against his anointed one."

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."

Just so no one accuses the author of Acts of anti-Semitism, note that he has the Jewish followers blame both the Gentiles and the people of Israel, and both Herod and Pontius Pilate. The point that the author is making is that the political rulers of this world conspired to kill Jesus. It is also interesting to note that the same author of Acts is the author of the Gospel of Luke. In his account of the temptations of Jesus, he writes (in chapter 4):

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

There is definitely a dim view taken of governments and who actually controls them. We 9/11 Truthers, regardless of whether or not we believe in God, should feel a kindred spirit with the New Testament.