Set in Tarsus, in the Roman province of Cilicia, 120 CE, the plot follows two Christian sisters who are sold as slaves in a story of love, vengeance, religious persecution, and martyrdom.

Beautiful and proud, Julia Marcia, is the spoiled daughter of Julius Tiberius, the Roman Proconsul of the province of Cilicia in the city of Tarsus.

These beautiful and educated slaves command a high asking price so Marco Valerio buys the sisters for Julia Marcia who pays for the transaction.

With this aim, he convinces the weak-minded Flavius Metellus to assassinate the proconsul and accuse the Christians of the crime leaving a cross on the scene to implicate them.

After her father's assassination, Julia Marcia, in order to maintain her status and fortune, marries Flavio Metello, the new proconsul.

Marco Valerio is ordered to carry out the campaign of persecuting the Christian, but he is soon convinced of their innocence as his friendship with the pious Lea allows him to see their courage and faith.

Marco Valerio finds refuge with fellow soldiers on abandoned caves outside the city and through his friend, Tullius rally up his supporters in the region including the powerful Praetor Licinius and the senators Faustus Domitius and Horace Tiberius.

They all plan to remove Flavius Metellus and the corrupt Publio Cornelio from power taking the city military from two sides.

Marco Valerio and Flavio Metolius face each other on a chariot race by the beach where hero and villain fight it out to the death on the sands.