At the trial of Christ, Theophilus, brilliant young "assessore" raised in the Roman aristocracy, stands behind Pontius Pilate and whispers, "Offer to release Barabbas." The strategy backfires, and Theophilus never forgets the sight of an innocent man unjustly suffering the worst of all possible deaths--Roman crucifixion.When he returns to Rome, Theophilus must prove himself in the legal ranks of the Roman Empire. He endures the backstabbing intrigue of the treason trials and the attempts of a cruel tyrant to control the woman he loves. But his struggle for revenge leaves a stain on both the empire and his own troubled soul.Ultimately, he will face the most notorious Caesar, defending the man Paul in Nero's deranged court. Can Theophilus mount a defense that will keep another innocent man from execution?The Advocate's first trial altered the course of history. His last will change the fate of an empire.