The Gospel of Peter is one of many non-canonical gospels produced in the early centuries of Christianity. Only a fragment is extant, containing an account of the trial, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. While having numerous parallels with the passion narratives in the canonical synoptic gospels, the Gospel of Peter departs from them in significant ways, such as by exonerating Pontius Pilate, by blaming Herod Antipas for the crucifixion of Jesus, and by making those soldiers who were guarding Jesus’s tomb witnesses of the resurrection. Most famously, the narrative features an enormous walking and talking cross. Scholars continue to debate whether the Gospel of Peter used one or more of the synoptic gospels as sources or was written independently of them by utilizing common sources. While the dating of the Gospel of Peter has been a heavily contested issue, the majority of scholars assign it to the years 150–190, making it one of the earliest non-canonical gospels to survive.