Of medieval origin, the book appears first in Greek. There are multiple parts to it, which are uneven in style and would seem to be by different hands, but the oldest section probably dates to the fourth century. The book purports to be a written report made by Pontius Pilate containing a description of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its central narrative concerns the Harrowing of Hell; it depicts St Dismas accompanying Jesus in Hell, and the deliverance of the righteous Old Testament patriarchs by Jesus.
Since it purports to be a report by Pontius Pilate containing evidence of Jesus Christ's messiahship and godhead, yet there is no record in early Christian lore of Pilate's conversion to Christianity it seems unlikely that the work was ever meant to have been taken seriously by pagans. Its purpose, instead, was to offer further conjectural details about the life of Christ as a pious entertainment.