After the Babylonian captivity during the 400-year span of the Greek and Roman occupations, two important political / religious groups emerged in Israel, the rise of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The Romans, Greeks and Hebrew cultures were merging and both Jews and pagans were becoming frustrated with religion. The pagans were beginning to question the validity of polytheism and the Romans and Greeks were attracted toward the Hebrew scriptures available in Greek and Latin.
The understanding and interpretation of the Law of Moses between the aristocrats and the populace divided society, so the time was ready for a Jewish messiah.