Judah Ben Hur is supposed to be crucified and his mother and sister garotted. The mother and sister just end up in prison and Ben Hur becomes a galley slave instead of being crucified. Who changed their sentence? Was it Octavius Massala (Stephen Campbell Moore) or Gauis (Kris Holden-Ried). Gaius was in charge at that point so I've always assumed it was him. What do others think?
shareDuring an argument between Pilot, Massala and Marcellus, Massala admits that he never carried out the death sentences because of his friendship for Ben Hur.
It almost a note of compassion. When Ben Hur is first heading to the galley Jesus tells him to forgive which Ben Hur cannot comprehend, but when the line is repeated by Jesus when he is himself on his way to the cross, that's when Ben Hur feels contrition and decides to forgive Massala, as he has just returned from visiting his mother and sister after once thinking that Massala had killed them.
That was my take on it anyhow.