In times of great upheaval during Passover in early-first-century Jerusalem the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea Pontius Pilate finds himself before a pressing dilemma. As part of a tradition the indecisive ruler offers the agitated crowd the choice to have either Jesus of Nazareth or the murderer Barabbas released from Roman custody; but instead the people demand the release of the thief. Now as Jesus takes Barabbas' place on the cross an inhumane act of punishment paves the way for an arduous spiritual journey of faith leading Barabbas to Sicily's dark sulphur mines and the blood-soaked soil of Emperor Nero's Coliseum. Will Jesus' sacrifice set Barabbas the slave free?