Jesus was killed in the midseason finale of season nine by an unknown member of the Whisperers who will become the main antagonists going forward in the television series.

They drive to Sanctuary, allowing Paul to get a good look at the area and he bails out of the jeep at the very last second, narrowly avoiding capture and reports it back to Rick.

Negan tells them to hold fire and at that moment Paul throws himself at the nearest Savior and orders Rick, Heath, Holly, and Nicholas into a trench.

[volume & issue needed] Two years after Negan's incarceration, Jesus acts as Maggie's second-in-command at the Hilltop, while still making periodic visits to Alexandria.

[volume & issue needed] In July 2014, Robert Kirkman confirmed that Jesus would recur in future seasons of the show.

Jesus pulls a smooth-talking con on them, pick-pocketing keys from Rick and planting the idea of approaching walkers in their mind so that they react predictably when firecrackers he had set go off, allowing him to drive off with their truck of supplies.

When attacked by Rick and Daryl later, Jesus is able to physically defend himself, displaying impressive combat abilities, though he surrenders when they threaten him at gunpoint.

Jesus is bound at his wrists and ankles and left at the side of the road but in seconds is able to free himself and climb onto the truck unobserved.

Later, when they realize he is on the truck and slam on the brakes, Jesus takes a considerable fall at speed but is immediately able to get up and run, outpacing Daryl who gives chase.

When Gregory, The Hilltop's leader, tries to get the upper hand on the Alexandrians who might face starvation without their food, Jesus works his influence to convince The Hilltop that being charitable with the Alexandrians in their time of need and building a relationship of trust and respect will pay back far more in the future than this single exchange.

Jesus also intercedes when Rick and his group stop an assassination attempt on Gregory instigated by Negan, preventing further bloodshed.

Jesus first appears in the fifth episode of the season, "Go Getters", where he attempts to comfort Maggie and Sasha (who are hiding in the Hilltop from Negan) on their lost loved ones.

When the Hilltop is attacked by walkers let in by the Saviors, Jesus helps Sasha fend them off (once again showing off his impressive skills in hand-to hand combat) while Maggie destroys the car system drawing them in.

The next day, Jesus continues to argue with Gregory as he refuses to turn away Maggie (who is pregnant) as well as Sasha as the two helped save them.

Jesus uses syrup from the supply shipment to mark a trail for them before suggesting they jump out and continue following on foot as "it's not the fall that gets you.

The following episode "Rock in the Road" shows Rick and Jesus failing to convince Gregory to fight the Saviors.

In "Something They Need", Jesus is part of the group Rick takes to a community called Oceanside with the intent of stealing their weapons.

In the final season "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" Jesus is with the group questioning Dwight in the prison cell, Rosita announces that the Saviors have Sasha.

Jesus is present when Rick, Maggie and Ezekiel climb onto a platform and address the crowd as the leaders of their respective communities: Alexandria, Hilltop and The Kingdom, united and ready for all out war.

Jesus appears in the season premiere "Mercy" where he joins the assembled army of survivors led by Rick, Maggie and Ezekiel in an attack on the Sanctuary.

When Negan attempts to divide them by having Gregory order the Hilltoppers to return home, Jesus is unsurprised by the betrayal and confidently states that the Hilltop stands with Maggie.

When the prisoners attempt an escape, the disagreement culminates in a heated fight, eventually ending in a draw and Morgan leaving the group in frustration.

He frequently takes secret trips to meet with Aaron, and the two develop a relationship while he trains the latter in martial arts.

They discover a herd of walkers behaving strangely but work their way around that to a barn, finding an injured Eugene hiding beneath the floorboards.

"[4] Noel Murray of Rolling Stone ranked Paul 'Jesus' Rovia 14th in a list of 30 best Walking Dead characters, saying, "his phenomenal abilities to avoid detection and escape any trap have justified his moniker as much as his long hair and beard.

Paul's biggest weakness is that he prefers to be a provider and facilitator, not a leader, which means that in a roundabout way he's allowed his friends at the Hilltop Colony to be governed by the unqualified Gregory.