Three years have passed, and Ben-Hur has repurchased his family’s estate in Jerusalem. Balthasar, Iras, Simonides, and Esther now reside at the estate. Simonides receives a message from Ben-Hur and asks Esther to read it to him. Before she begins, Simonides asks her if she loves Ben-Hur, and she says yes. He warns her that Ben-Hur has given his love to Iras. In the letter, Ben-Hur writes that he is coming to Jerusalem with Jesus and that he is bringing some of his troops incognito. Esther is crushed that Ben-Hur does not write anything to her, not even addressing her by name. Iras comes onto the roof and joins Simonides and Esther. Iras and Simonides spar verbally before Iras mocks Esther for her provincialism. Iras tells Esther that Ben-Hur has promised to marry her and make her mistress of his estate in Rome. Esther asks if Iras loves Ben-Hur or Rome and luxury. Esther then returns to her father’s side to wait upon him.

Ben-Hur soon arrives. He is startled by Esther’s beauty and greets her. Ben-Hur now tells them that, from what he has witnessed of Jesus, he believes Jesus to be more than human.