Gospel of Nicodemus The Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate) is
an apocryphal Gospel which contains a supposedly official report
of the procurator concerning Jesus. Both Justin Martyr (ca. 150)
and Tertullian refer to a report supposedly made by Pilate to
Emperor Tiberius. In these references and in the Gospel of
Nicodemus is seen the tendency to use Pilate as a witness to the
history of the death and resurrection of Christ. This Gospel in
the first 16 chapters contains an elaborate account of the
trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus. Part II, which has 13
chapters of varying length, is an elaboration of the sentence,
"He descended into hell," from the Apostles' Creed. This book
cannot be older than the fourth century, although the central
idea, the delivery of the righteous Fathers (Patriarchs) from
Hades, is exceedingly ancient and was common in the second
century (James, 95). Quasten states, "During the Middle Ages,
the influence of the Acts (of Pilate) in the field of literature
and art was tremendous"