in contrast to other film versions of the life of christ, which show barabbas only as the murderer whose freedom is offered in exchange for jesus' life, in "king of kings" barabbas plays a major role, being depicted as an incendiary figure fighting roman domination and as a good friend of judas iscariot. judas believes that he can persuade barabbas to embrace christ as a liberator and that he can influence christ to take up arms against rome, but barabbas becomes disillusioned after listening to the sermon on the mount. it is then that judas decides to betray christ to the romans. when lucius frees barabbas, lucius pointedly commands barabbas to go look at christ as he carries his cross.