Plot

In the Roman province of Judea during the 1st century, Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio is ordered to crucify Jesus of Nazareth but is tormented by his guilty conscience afterwards.

Marcellus is a tribune in the time of Christ. He is in charge of the group that is assigned to crucify Jesus. Drunk, he wins Jesus' homespun robe after the crucifixion. He is tormented by nightmares and delusions after the event. Hoping to find a way to live with what he has done, and still not believing in Jesus, he returns to Palestine to try to learn what he can of the man he killed.—John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

In this biblical epic, a drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the Crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius, but when Demetrius escapes with the robe, Marcellus experiences disturbing visions and feels guilty for his actions. Convinced that destroying the robe will cure him, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius--and discovers his Christian faith along the way.—Jwelch5742

Son of a critical senator, tribune Marcellus Gallio offends imperial prince Caligula over a prestigious slave auction and is punitively posted to the garrison in godforsaken Palestine, as deputy of governor Pontius Pilate. Along comes his proud, indulgence-spoiled slave Demetrius. Clueless about the Messianic Jewish monotheism, they attend the Crucifixion of 'Jesus king of the Jews'. The red robe which Marcellus wins playing dice with his detachment officers however seems to have magical properties: it terrifies the brazen tribune as never before by inducing nightmarish visions, but is estranged by runaway Demetrius. This poisons his life even after being allowed back to Rome, where his youth love Diana luckily has the ear of the superstitious old emperor, who still refuses a marriage, but is puzzled by the magic and allows Marcellus to return to Palestine of a quest for it. looking for Demetrius, Marcellus learns compassion and about charitable commoners before retrieving it. Returning home with Demetrius, he faces the hostile mad new emperor, Caligula, who craves Diana and persecutes the Christian sect, which she and both men have joined, a recipe for a bloody finale.—KGF Vissers

The Roman nobleman and tribune, Marcellus Gallio, is transferred to turbulent Jerusalem in Palestine, by order of Emperor Tiberius' regent, Caligula, shortly after the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, in Galilee. There, followed by his defiant servant, Demetrius, an educated Greek slave from Corinth, Marcellus takes charge of the detail of Roman soldiers assigned to crucify Jesus. Inebriated, Marcellus wins the robe worn by Jesus in a dice game after the Crucifixion, only to find himself tormented by nightmares and delusions right after the inhuman execution. As anguished Marcellus returns to Italy to report to Tiberius at Capri, before long, he is under the impression that the robe is cursed, and as a result, Gallio returns to Palestine to learn more about the man who was crucified. Little by little, this investigation leads to Him, and now, Marcellus' fate is sealed by the savagery of Rome and the new ruler, Emperor Caligula.—Nick Riganas