The Gospel of Nicodemus - Acts of Pilate (Trial of Jesus) and the Harrowing of Hell

Modern English Edition with Essays and Commentary (Large Print)

The Gospel of Nicodemus: A Clear Text Edition in True 16pt Large Print

Experience one of early Christianity’s most dramatic and influential works—now presented in modern, accessible English and genuine 16pt large print for effortless reading.

Includes both sections of the traditional text: the Acts of Pilate (the Trial of Jesus) and the Descent into Hell, fully translated and rendered in clear modern English.

What if the trial of Jesus was only the beginning?

The Gospel of Nicodemus takes you beyond the familiar Gospel accounts into a world of courtroom drama, miraculous testimonies, and the most epic scene early Christianity ever imagined: Christ’s descent into Hell to break open the doors of death and lead the righteous into Paradise.

This ancient text reveals:

• The dramatic trial before Pilate, including testimonies from people Jesus healed
• Nicodemus’s passionate defense of Jesus before the Sanhedrin
• Pilate’s internal struggle as he attempts—and fails—to acquit an innocent man
• The Harrowing of Hell: Jesus confronts Satan, shatters the gates of the underworld, and frees Adam, Eve, and the righteous dead

Why This Edition Stands Apart

Includes Original Clear Text Essays:

• The Trial of Heaven Before Rome - a deeper look at the political and spiritual clash behind Jesus’ trial
• Pilate’s Dilemma: The Judge Who Tried to Acquit God — why Pilate’s conflict became one of history’s enduring moral struggles
• The Harrowing of Hell - the core themes behind Christianity’s most dramatic underworld narrative
• The Lost Christian Epic: When Jesus Raided Hell — why this story shaped art, theology, and imagination for centuries

Complete Modern English Translation: A full, line-by-line rendering from the public-domain source, crafted for clarity without losing the ancient tone.

True 16pt Large Print: Printed in authentic 16-point type throughout—not a mislabeled “large print” edition, but genuinely comfortable for long reading sessions.

Contextual and Scholarly: Includes M.R. James’s essential historical introductions plus new Clear Text Editions essays on the text’s origins, its role in early Christian imagination, its influence on medieval art and literature, and why it faded from Western tradition.

Perfect for:

• Readers exploring apocryphal gospels and early Christian writings
• Anyone fascinated by the “missing pieces” of Christian history
• Those who need or prefer true large-print formats
• Students of theology, medieval literature, or religious history
• Readers seeking the original source of the Harrowing of Hell narrative

Perfect for readers interested in: the lost books of the Bible, Christian Apocrypha, biblical mysteries, the Book of Enoch, the Gnostic Gospels, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, the Nag Hammadi library, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Book of Jubilees, non-canonical gospels, apocryphal texts, and ancient Christian literature.

"The Gospel of Nicodemus gives us the trial of heaven before Rome, the testimony of miracles in a hostile court, and the greatest jailbreak story ever told. This Clear Text Edition finally makes it accessible to modern readers."

Rediscover the text that inspired Dante, shaped centuries of Christian imagination, and preserved one of the most powerful visions of Christ’s victory over death—now in clear, modern English and comfortable large print.