Act II: The Last Supper
During the Last Supper, the apostles treat it as a regular meal rather than a sacrament until Jesus sings, "This is my blood you drink / This is my body you eat." Their indifferent expressions reveal to Jesus that they will forget him after his death. When he announces that one of them will betray him, everyone protests except Judas, who accepts the challenge. Judas leaves, the apostles fall asleep, and Jesus is left in solitude. He starts to question his destiny, God, and his mission on Earth. As his determination wanes, he accuses God, "You’re far too keen on where and how but not so hot on why." Receiving no divine reassurance, he braces himself for the coming trials, hoping to finally see God. The scene concludes with Judas kissing Jesus on the cheek, and Jesus asks, "Judas, must you betray me with a kiss?"

Act II: The Arrest
When Roman soldiers arrive to apprehend Jesus, the apostles groggily wake up and reach for their swords. Jesus calms them and willingly goes with the soldiers, who push him along. As they move, a crowd forms around him, including Annas and Judas. Some jeer, "Now we’ve got him," while others, like reporters hounding a celebrity, ask, "What would you say were your big mistakes?" Caiaphas solemnly confirms the arrest and sends Jesus to Pilate, who holds the authority to sentence him to death.

Act II: Peter’s Denial
A maid and her grandfather identify Peter as a follower of the prisoner, which Peter denies three times. Mary reminds him that Jesus had foreseen his denial.

Act II: Pilate and Christ
Pilate reluctantly questions Jesus, realizing that the crowd's fervor to kill him has diminished his own authority. He is struck by Christ's calm demeanor and wishes not to harm him. To avoid responsibility, Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod, who has jurisdiction over the Jews, saying, "You’re Herod’s race! You’re Herod’s case!"

Act II: King Herod’s Song
King Herod, an overweight, self-indulgent, and corrupt ruler, is surrounded by flatterers and lives in decadent luxury. In a well-choreographed ragtime song and dance, he mocks Jesus, demanding a miracle on command. When Jesus remains unresponsive, Herod angrily sends him away. Meanwhile, Mary and Peter sing, "Could We Start Again, Please?"

Act II: Judas’s Death
Overcome by guilt, Judas confronts Annas and Caiaphas, accusing them of mistreating the person he betrayed. They dismiss him, amplifying his torment. In his anguish, Judas sings an apology to Christ, adapting Mary’s song, "I Don’t Know How to Love Him." Realizing his culpability too late, he hangs himself. The choir chants, "So long Judas / Poor old Judas."

Act II: Trial Before Pilate
Caiaphas hands Jesus over to Pilate, demanding a final execution. Pilate, however, feels uneasy about this heavy responsibility. During his interrogation, he seems to seek any reason to free Jesus, saying, "I’ll agree he’s mad / Ought to be locked up / But that’s no reason to destroy him." Despite this, Jesus offers no defense, further indicating his divine nature. Pilate consents to have Christ flogged with thirty-nine lashes, a brutal punishment. Afterwards, Pilate gently lifts the broken Jesus, but when Jesus tells him he has no power, Pilate becomes enraged and permits Christ’s "great self-destruction" to proceed.

Act II: Superstar
Miraculously revived, Judas oversees the walk to the crucifixion, aided by three choirs of "angels" who sing the "Superstar" reprise. Judas questions Jesus, suggesting that perhaps this event should have occurred in a more modern era, since "Israel in 4 B.C. had no mass communication." Jesus dies on the cross, in a simple manner.

Act II: John Nineteen Forty-one
With the show concluded, the actors begin to repack and board the bus. Some do so briskly and businesslike, while others, like Mary, take a final wistful look back at the set. The curtain falls.