Transcript for:
Transformation and Faith in Early Christianity

(light music) (upbeat dramatic music) (horse neighing) - Saul! Saul! Saul! - Who has blinded you Saul? - Jesus blinded me! Jesus blinded me! (crowd cheering) - Give up, priest! - Why? God is on my side, tent-maker! Pharisees! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! - One! Two! Three! Hurray! Hurray! - [Crowd] Boo! - Don't be a bad loser!

  • I'm a very bad loser. - You're just not as strong as me! - Nor as old. - Why did you wear that Roman sword? It looks ridiculous! - I'm a captain of the Temple Guard! - You're a business man. Why do you pretend to be a warrior? - Leave me alone! - A child playing war games. - You're not my priest, Sadducee! Pharisee! - The priest wins the match but the tent-maker wins the hearts of the crowd! - Dina! Go home and make my supper! - The tent-maker rubbed the dirt in the face of the priest and the crowd loved it. - Hey, how did you know I won? - How did you know I rubbed dirt in his face? - I was watching! - Watching? - Save me, Saul! Save me! - Were you really watching? - He pushed your face in the dirt and you were almost naked! - God will punish you for this sin! - When are you going to marry that girl? - Never! I don't love her. - Yes, you do! - When her father died she was put in my care! I took her in! It doesn't mean I have to marry her! - Of course not! Why would anyone marry a girl that is beautiful, smart, wild and in love with you? - Wild, yes! She questions my knowledge of the Torah! I am a Sadducee priest! I've studied the Torah every day of my life! - She doesn't question your knowledge of the Torah, she questions your slavery to it! - You wouldn't understand, you're an ignorant Pharisee! - What I understand is that you want to be High Priest of the temple and you're not sure marrying Dina is best for your ambition! - There are not many men I would allow to talk to me in that way. - There are not many men who know you as well as I do. - Don't move! Don't move, Hagar! No! - So the Rabbi said fish. - Stop! - Hagar! Run! Run! Kill him! Kill him! - Run! Saul, that's most impressive! - Eh, I apologize for all of my remarks! You're a hero to your people! - Hagar. - Barnabas.
  • Be quiet, Ruben. - Forgive me. - No. - I wanted you to kill that man. - He was going to kill you! - Jesus teaches us to love our enemies! - Jesus? Saul, you saved the life of a Jesus madman! - Jesus is the Messiah! - Jesus is dead! - Dead? - For more than a month now. Get up. - No! No! No, this can't be true! - It is true, my misguided friend! And if I were you I'd keep quiet about your silly belief in that charlatan. Come on, Saul!
  • Dead? - This is not true! Jesus is not dead! - Uh huh, crucified - My name is Barnabas. This is my wife, Hagar. We came to serve Him. - I'm Saul. Find another savior, friend. - Greetings, Saul! - Peace be with you, Saul! - Greetings, Saul! - I wouldn't argue with the- - Gamaliel, the finest teacher in all of Judea! - Saul, my best student! Who has learned the art of flattery. - I don't remember your teaching me anything about flattery, Gamaliel. - Solomon spoke of vanity, you have learned that lesson well! - I am hungry, great Saul! - If you have not eaten, today you will. - As taught by the Law of Moses. You have learned well. - But what will I do when all the beggars have eaten and I have no more money? - You will beg, and others who follow the Law of the Torah will feed you! - Lord Jesus, you promised us saying: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit will come upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, and to the ends of the Earth." - Please, we beg you, Jesus, give us your Holy Spirit because we can do nothing without you. Give us the power to carry your name to the ends of the Earth! (wind whistling) (thunder cracking) - The Lord is with us! - His Spirit has come! - Oh, Peter! - The Holy Spirit has been given to us! - I saw the Lord, always before me. For He is my right hand! So that I cannot be shaken! - Peter!
  • John! The time is now! I must know, do we have the power? Or is His mission dead? Let the entire house of Israel know, that God made Him both Lord and Messiah. His name is Jesus! - False Prophet! - False Prophet! - He's dead! - He was crucified, but He lives! - The Romans crucified Him! - Jesus is not dead! - I saw Him on the cross and He looked dead to me! (audience laughing) - He came out of the tomb, He is alive! - We saw Him alive! - You're both drunk! - God raised Jesus, freeing Him from death. - No one defeats death! - What should we do to receive the spirit of God? - Fool! - Shh, I want to hear this. - Repent and be baptized, so your sins may be forgiven. - God took my legs what else does He want? (audience laughing) (dramatic music) - Look at us. I have no silver or gold. But what I have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Do you want this? Stand up and walk. Israelites, why do you stare at us? Do you think we made him walk by our own power? Jesus has given him this, in your presence! - This is blasphemy! Jesus of Nazareth is dead, a false prophet! This is not a miracle. - He walks! - This man has been pretending to be lame all these years, just so that he can beg for money. Tomorrow he will be at the gate once again begging! This is hysteria! - This is God's will. - And now you blaspheme, too? You stand in the temple, God's house! You be careful what you say! - Faith in Jesus' name made this man walk. - Arrest this man! - You know this man! You can see for yourself that Jesus has given him strength in his legs once again! - Saul! Help me!
  • Repent! - I didn't save your life to see you die in prison! Be quiet! - The Messiah! The Messiah! The Messiah! - I am the High Priest of the temple. What are your names? - Simon, known as Peter. - John, son of Zebedee from Capernaum. - By what power or by what name did you commit this act? - This man has been healed by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom God raised from the dead. - If he is raised from the dead, where is he now? - He ascended into heaven. - He ascended into heaven? - We saw him. - While you watched? - There is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven or given amongst mortals by which we must be saved. - Can you read? Can you write? What is your profession? - Fishermen.
  • Fishermen! You are fishermen from Galilee? How dare you presume to tell this learned body of scholars what God intends? - Does this man walk? Did he walk two days ago? Two years ago? 20 years ago? Did you save him? - Did you save him? - No, Jesus did. - See! (staff banging) - Take them outside! Outside! (staff bangs twice) Silence! Silence! Silence! These men have committed a blasphemy against God in the presence of many witnesses. - And those same witnesses watched them heal a lame beggar! A man we have all seen sit by the temple gates for decades! You cannot deny it! - We cannot allow them to teach this "myth" of Jesus of Nazareth! - The man is dead! - The "myth" is alive. - Yes. - A myth is like a fire: confine it and it will die, if it spreads, it will grow. Bring them in! You will not speak of Jesus of Nazareth, you will not preach in his name, you will not heal in His name, ever! If you are found publicly speaking of this man, this dead man, you will be arrested, tried for blasphemy and treason! I speak as High Priest of this God's temple. - Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you, rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard. - We will teach and heal in the name of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. - Then you will spend the rest of your life in prison! - As God wills. - Send them away! (dramatic music) (man screaming) - It is Stephen. This is John, one of Jesus' close friends. John, this is Barnabas and his wife, Hagar. They are believers. - Welcome. Please come in. Mary, I want you to meet two believers: Barnabas and his wife, Hagar. This is Jesus' mother, Mary. - I'm your servant! - Mother of Jesus! - I'm just a person like you. Don't kneel to me. - You are chosen by God. - We all are chosen for a task by God. It is our job to find what He needs from us. Come and eat with us and we will tell you all about Jesus. - Jesus said, "Take, eat, for this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me." - Barnabas, do you believe in the Lord Jesus, our Christ, our Messiah, and our Savior? - With all my heart and soul. - I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God's promise is to you who believe. Hagar, wife of Barnabas, do you believe in Jesus Christ, as our Lord and our God? - I do. I believe with all my heart. - I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. - Simon, known as Peter, you are under arrest. By order of the High Priest of the temple. - Yesterday, 3,000 more were baptized in a matter of hours! We have a new heresy to deal with! - Heresy? Are you sure? - You restrain this sect of yours or Rome will make us suffer! - Our teaching is clear! At the end of time, we shall all rise again! - But the Torah does not teach that! The Torah is the law as given by God to Moses on Sinai! - You speak the teachings of Sadducees, but to Pharisees, the Torah, was given by God to every man! It is up to each man to decide how to interpret these words for himself! - You delude the people with a promise of resurrection and this is what you get: a risen Messiah! (crowd mumbling) - Bring in the prisoners! - The prisoners. - Yes? - The prisoners have escaped! - They are teaching at the temple at this very moment! - Our Master, Jesus, said: "In truth, I tell you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God- - How did you escape from the prison? - God's angel opened your doors for us. - Liar! You bribed the guard and now he will die! - Jesus wants His words to be known to Israel! He released us! - We gave you strict orders not to preach in this man's name! - We must obey God. - 40 lashes minus one! (dramatic music) (whip snapping) (men shouting) - Rejoice, John, that we are worthy to suffer for our Lord. - For our Lord! - Martyrs are such fools. - They say the Messiah is here, and that Jesus rose from the dead! - Jesus was crucified! - Yes, of course, my lord. - Don't pander to me, priest. Now we have thousands following this carpenter from Nazareth! What have you priests done to let this happen? - They are fanatics. A threat to Israel. The Law of Moses is the law of Israel. Without the law, Israel is in chaos. - Ah, speaking of the "law" here it is. But not your ancient Law of Moses, priest, no. The Tribune and General Gaius, bring us the law of the Roman sword. Welcome, gentlemen! - Rome demands peace! If you cannot control your people, the Empire will. - Is that true, Tribune? Will Rome crush Judea if we allow these Jesus fanatics to continue? - I would prefer diplomacy, King Herod. But there are many like General Gaius here who would welcome an excuse to exercise the swords of their men. He is a cruel man in charge of an army of cruel men. - If there is a rebellion from these mad Jews, Rome will crush it and you along with it and me. Destroy them! - Barnabas! - Peter, there is word on the street, King Herod has ordered your death, you and John. God taught us that if we are to follow in His footsteps we must sell everything and trust in Him. You're going to need this now. - We sold everything: our house, our farm. We want to follow Jesus. - Are you sure? - Yes, we're sure. - Why do you think they do it? Money, power? - Eh, they believe it. - Even worse. - Have you heard them talk? - Have you? - Yes. - When? - Your mother took me. - Don't ever speak of my mother again. - Your mother thought they were saints. - Ruben! Are you insane? - Look what's happening! Even she is defending these madmen! Wake up, Pharisee! Do you care about your God? - Yes! - Do you care about your country? - Yes!
  • Then act! Crush them now, before the Romans crush us! - Romans? - The most troublesome province in the empire. They are just waiting for an excuse to destroy our religion! Saul, join with me. An oath, a solemn pact to destroy these lies once and for all time! We will exterminate them! Every last one of them! - Ruben, no! Saul, don't do this! - If you defend these blasphemers once more in my house, you will not be allowed to live here! - Please, Saul! - To destroy false teachings. - Till Israel is safe. - Children of Israel! Brothers and sisters! Come! Come! Come! Gather together and listen to Stephen as he tells you the words of Jesus! - Jesus, our Master, said- - Bring Paul of Tarsus and Gamaliel. They're in the second courtyard. And quickly. Who was Jesus? - The son of God! - So, was He man or God? - Both! God sent to us in the form of man! - Ah, so Jesus was not God! - God's son! - Divine? - Yes! - It's two gods! - No! - Jesus said that He'd destroy the temple! Now is that true? - He meant the temple of his body! - No, no, no, no, no. Jesus said He'd tear down the temple, destroy our Holy of Holies, change the way we've lived for centuries! Jesus was a destroyer! - No, Jesus is our savior! Jesus is our savior! - The savior! The savior! - Gamaliel! Is that what the Pharisees teach? A man God? - You know it's not. - Saul, can your God be condemned by man and crucified by Romans? - Of course not. - He teaches of at least two gods, the destruction of the temple, and the resurrection having come and gone! - Blasphemy! Take him away! - No! - Take him away now! It is forbidden to speak of Jesus! It is forbidden to preach in Jesus' name! - Saul, are you with me? - Saul, if these teachings are not of God, they will die without violence! - Saul! You saved my life! - Go away or you'll be hurt! - No! Don't do this! In the name of God, don't do this! Don't do this! (dramatic music) (crowd shouting) - No! - Saul, remember our oath! Till Israel is safe! (ominous music) - No! No, Saul! This is wrong! (ominous music) - Here! You can hold my coat! - Lord, do not hold this sin against them! Receive my spirit, Lord! - Let this be a warning to you! You preach the words of this Jesus and you will die! - Stephen! Oh, God! Stephen! - Arrest this man! Your oath is worthless! - No! No! No! Hagar!
  • No! Barnabas! - Hagar!
  • Barnabas! (dramatic music) (softly praying) - If you help me, I'll help you. - I can tell you where their leader is. - Where? - Risen. - You believe in the resurrection, don't you? - The true resurrection. - And what will you say to Stephen on judgment day? "I only held their coats?" - You are corrupting Jerusalem! - How? - By preaching against the law of the Torah! I listened to Stephen, I listened to Peter. The law holds this country together! - You didn't listen to Stephen or Peter. Your heart was closed. Doesn't matter, you're too late anyway. - Meaning what? - It's not just Jerusalem now, Saul. Peter and John have left. They're going to all the cities of Israel spreading the words of Jesus to every Jew in the land. I thought you were a hero. But you're a fool. Just a fool doing Ruben's bidding. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek. (men praying quietly) (men shouting) - Take them away. Quiet! Quiet! Arrest them! No! No! No! No! No! No! - Peter!
  • John! Come in, quickly! Come in, come in. Peter and John have returned! - They're back! - Praise God! - John! - What news?
  • Good news! There are believers all through Judea and Samaria. - Speaking out, unafraid! - Glory to God! - Congregations everywhere we went! - John! - From what I've been told these Jesus followers are terrified of you, Saul of Tarsus. - Thank you, my king. But the threat is still alive. - It has sprung up in other towns. - Yes, Damsacus in particular. - Oh, what a pity! What do you suggest? - Give me letters of introduction and designation of power to the synagogues of Damascus, and I will go there and finding any members of the sect, bring them back, bound, to Jerusalem. - Agreed! Give him an escort, our finest men. (dramatic music) - Peter and I have to warn the believers in Damascus. - It's my fault, Peter! I'm the one who told Saul the word was spreading. The two of you can't go! - They must be warned!
  • Then I'll warn them! - No! You cannot go, it's too dangerous. - Peter and John are the two men Saul would most like to arrest or even kill! Finding the two of you will make him very powerful! You cannot go! - The head of the synagogue in Damascus is Ananias. - A new believer. - He knows us. He will trust our warning. - No! No, you cannot go! That's all there is to it! I will go. I'll will find Ananias and I will warn him. - Barnabas! Barnabas! (dramatic music) (men shouting) - You don't demand much respect from your future wife, do you? - You know nothing of my future wife except that you desire her. - If I wanted her I would have her. - You're a disgusting excuse of a man! - Actually I know more about her than you do. For instance, I know where she is right now. - What are you talking about? - She's right there. - I ordered you not to follow us. - Yes, you say many things, Ruben. You also said you were going to marry me. - Go home at once. - Alone? Across the wasteland? - She got here alone. - So now you want her to risk it again? So, I want to know. Are you going to marry her? (triumphant music) - The Synagogue! I'm looking for Ananias! - This way! This way! - Damascus! (dramatic music) - [Jesus] Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me, Saul? - Who are you? - [Jesus] I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Get up, enter the city of Damascus. You will be told what you are to do. - Saul!
  • Ah! - Saul! - Ah! Ah! - Saul, Saul, Saul! Saul, let me help you! Saul! - He blinded me! - Who blinded you? - Jesus blinded me! - Jesus? - He's gone mad! Come, Saul! We must go on to Damascus! Stand up! - Jesus blinded me! - Bring some ropes! We'll tie him on behind me! - It's been three days. He won't eat or drink. I'm afraid he's going to die. - He's a weak man. He couldn't take the pressure. (Barnabas snores) - Barnabas, wake up! Barnabas, wake up! - What is it? What is it, Ananias? - I had a vision. - Vision? - In my sleep, God spoke to me. - God? - He said I must find Saul and cure him of his blindness. - Ananias, Ananias, in the first place, if you find Saul he'll arrest you or kill you. Second, he isn't blind. Wish that he were. And third, you don't know where he is. - On the street called Straight at the house of Judah of Damascus. That's the house! Across the street! - Ananias! Ananias! One last time, I'm pleading with you! - Barnabas, I have to do this! God told me to do this! - Ananias, Ananias! - Saul, a man is here to see you. - My name is-
  • Ananias! - Yes! - You know this man? - Yes, I had a vision. A man named Ananias came into this room. He laid his hands on me, and I could see again. Jesus sent him. - Jesus? - You have been chosen. - Chosen? - Saul! Saul! - God told me that you are the instrument He has chosen to bring His name before the Gentiles. - Can you let me see again? - The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. - I can see. I can see. I can see! - Saul! Saul! - Thank you. - One more message. - Tell me. - God said: "I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." - Suffer? - For the sake of his name. - God himself has called me. Ananias, the believers they get sanctified with water? - Baptized. - Baptize me! - I'm not qualified! I'm so new to this belief! - You just spoke directly to God! Who could be more qualified? - Who? - I baptize you, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. - Come along! Come along! And Saul, I don't think you'll need that inside. - This is a perfect time. - What shall I say? - Just tell them your story. - Will that be enough? - I think it will be plenty. - These people are all believers. Come! Brothers! I wish to introduce a friend of mine who has something he wants to say. - My name is Saul of Tarsus. - How dare you bring him here! - The devil himself! - The High Priest of the temple in Jerusalem gave me the power to arrest all the followers of Jesus who are in Damascus! Here are the orders! That was before Jesus appeared to me on the road coming here! Before I understood that he is the Son of God! Before I believed that he is the Messiah! Before I knew that he was raised from the dead and ascended into Heaven! Before I was baptized. Before I became a follower of Jesus! I have no use for this now! (bright music) The word of Jesus is my sword! The word of Jesus is my fire! - Welcome, brother! - This is the one! Saul! Come out and die! - If he were here, Ruben, I don't think he would come out with that invitation! - Where is he? - I don't know. - You tell me or you will die tonight! - I don't want to die, but I don't know where he is. - Then it won't matter if I kill you or not! - It will matter to me. - Ruben! Ruben, he's in the synagogue! He's in the synagogue! He's in the- - How do you know where Saul is? - He trusts me, I just left him there. - Quiet, girl! Traitor! - I love you, Ruben. - Come with me! - Why did you lie? - How do you know I lied? - You don't know where Saul is and you don't love Ruben. - No, I loved him once. - There's no going back now. - I know. - Jesus is a hard taskmaster. I know the sacrifices his followers have to make. But Jesus is also so full of love. - I think that is why. - Why? - Because I can feel Jesus' love, even in these times. - We call that faith. Come, come, come, they'll be back. We have to find Saul. - Get your hands off of me! - Shh! - His hands smell like a donkey! - Be quiet! - We must hide! - No! We must get Saul out of Damascus! - There are soldiers everywhere! You can't go out of the gate! - Come. - Do you think you can hold me? - With God's help. With God's help. - Get in! Get in! Get in! - Lower! Lower! Lower! Lower! - Saul! Where is he? - Where? Where?
  • There! There! (dramatic music) - Barnabas! - Saul! We thought you were dead! - I walked for days, no water. Only God saved me. - Come in. Mary will feed you, Saul. - Paul. - What? - I'm not the man called "Saul" anymore. I don't want his name to scare believers again. I'm a new man with a new name, "Paul." - Good. - It's the Roman name my father gave me along with my Jewish name, Saul. - Paul of Tarsus. - It means "small." Hopefully it will frighten no one. - A new name will not make the difference. - I know. I must meet Peter, I must convince him I'm sincere. - If he will. They're afraid of you. Is he here? - No, no, much too dangerous. Everyone knows this house. - Ruben has returned to Jerusalem. - I know. If he finds you, he will kill you. I'll take you to Peter. Come, I must warn him first, but I'll take you to him. Come in, rest, eat. I'll come for you soon. - We wait here. They're watching to see if we're alone or followed. - The arena? - Easy place for them to make sure it's not a trap. Come on, come on. - Barnabas.
  • Peter! Peter, this is our most feared persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, but he wants to bury that man and give birth to a new man, called Paul. - He helped murder Stephen! - James, is very close to our Lord. - He arrested dozens and stabbed Amos to death. - That is all true. - Ah, you admit it? - I ask God to forgive me. - Why should we believe you? - Peter, Jesus blinded me! For three days! Then I had a vision that a man named Ananias would come and bring my sight back! That very day it happened! - I know that to be true! - How? - Because that very night, I baptized him. - Jesus told Ananias that I was chosen to be His instrument, to bring the name before Gentiles and before the people of Israel. - I give you my blessing, Paul of Tarsus. And I give you my permission to speak of the Master. But I warn you: If there are lies in your heart, your soul will perish. You are speaking of God Himself, the Messiah, the Christ, who will come again soon and establish His kingdom. The Romans will not save you for they will be defeated. The priests will not save you, for they will be condemned if they have evil in their hearts. - God's will be done. - Yes, Barnabas, God's will be done. And it will be done, my friend. It will be done. (light music) - And so, my friends, I bring before you a man you never wanted to meet, a man who has persecuted the followers of Jesus, arrested us, even killed us. His name was "Saul of Tarsus." But now, now he is called Paul! No, no! Listen! Listen to him! Do not fear! - I believe in Jesus as the Messiah! Jesus spoke to me on the road to Damascus, He blinded me, He told me to stop persecuting Him. When this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled. Death has been swallowed up in victory! Where, oh, death, is your victory? Where, oh, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ! My brothers, you descendants of Abraham's family and others who fear God. To us, the message of this salvation has been sent because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Him or understand the words of the prophet. - Soldiers!
  • Is coming to fulfill by condemning-
  • Soldiers! Paul will speak to you again! - You must leave Jerusalem at once, Paul. - Tonight. - You are in danger from all sides. - I didn't trust you, Paul, and I was wrong. You've shown your dedication to Jesus. But there is no need to tempt God. It is not cowardly to prevent your own unjust death. - I am leaving Jerusalem, Paul. It is time to spread the word. I'm going to Lydda, I'm sending Barnabas to Antioch. Only James will stay here to see to the believers in Jerusalem. - So, where do you want me to go? - Tarsus. - You want me to go home? - The most difficult assignment of all. - A prophet is seldom appreciated by his own people. Even Jesus was not accepted by the people He grew up around. - You must continue to teach the good news. - In Tarsus without Barnabas at my side. - Don't worry, Paul. Jesus told us the Romans will be defeated and that He would return soon. The end of the world is near. We must be found at His work when He returns. - Peter, please don't misunderstand me. I will do as you wish. - But? - When I heard Jesus' voice, He said you will be told what you are to do. - Yes. - He told Annanias I was to bring His name to Gentiles. - Saul, sorry, Paul. Jesus was born a Jew. He was sent to the Jews, that is God's plan. Jews first, then Gentiles. But it will be hard for them. We have many laws that they must learn. - Yes, what to eat, when to work, circumcision. These will be hard lessons. - In time, Paul. The end of the world is near. Jews first, then Gentiles. - In Jesus' name. - [All] In Jesus' name. (romantic music) - I love you, Ruben. - And I love you. (crowd cheering) - Dina? - Lord, Jesus, you have called Paul to be your friend and disciple. Please, I pray to you with all my heart, Jesus, protect him, and be with him in his mission. I beg you, Jesus, forgive Ruben, because he does not know you. Open his heart, Jesus, so that he may accept your words and your love. Shine your light upon him, Lord Jesus, and show him the way he must follow. I also pray to you for Peter and the apostles. - What story about Jesus are you going to tell us today? Jesus walks on the water? - I told you that story too many times. Ah, let me tell you about His crucifixion. Sit down. - Dina, I heard that Saul is teaching crowds about Jesus. Is that true?
  • Why? - Don't worry, I'm not going to arrest him. I don't care anymore. Well, the Sanhedrin doesn't care, the High Priest doesn't care, and the Jesus followers they threaten no revolution, so they may live as they want. I only ask because, if he is teaching, it must mean that the Jesus followers accepted him into their sect. - Apparently. - This amazes me. See, if they can accept a man who arrested and killed them, then they will accept most men. - I've been told they only care if you believe in the teachings of Jesus, nothing else. - So, they would accept even a priest who arrested and persecuted them? - Ruben, are you telling me-
  • Perhaps, perhaps. - Do you believe? - I need instruction to know what I believe. - I can tell you many things. - No, my love, I don't mean to offend you. But I'm a priest, schooled in these things for many years. You're not qualified to answer my questions. I need the council of someone who is my equal, a leader in the movement, someone who walked with Jesus. - Yes, yes! (light music) (dramatic music) - Take him! (crowd shouting) - You expressed your agreement with the execution of James, son of Zebedee. And now, I bring you the leader of Jesus' followers, may he be the last. I give you Simon called Peter! - No! - No! Ruben! Ruben! - My king.
  • Ruben, my High Priest. - Will you execute him now, my king? - No, no, no, no, no. He's too valuable. I'll keep this Peter in prison and bring him out any time I need the crowd behind me. March him through the crowd, and then throw him into a cell. - My king. - Under heavy guard, Ruben, heavy! Lose this one and you won't be priest of anything. - Satan, Satan, Satan, Satan, Satan, Satan, Satan, Satan! No! No! No! (screaming) (crying) - Paul! Paul! - Barnabas! - Look at you, working like a slave! - I pay my own way, Barnabas. - This is important work, Paul, but God needs you! Paul, I believe God needs you. - So do I. - So? - God told Ananias, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." - I'm frightened. - God has called you, Paul. Perhaps the road will be hard, but it's God's road. - We will spread the word together? (chuckles) (man screams) - Ruben! Peter has escaped from prison. - I'm not responsible for his escape! - Of course not. - I had men sleeping on either side of him! - Of course. - They must have been bribed! - Of course. - There were men at the doors! - Of course. - So, you have told our king that you will be a better High Priest and calling me a fool? - What is his name, anyway? Simon or Peter? - His name is Simon, my lord. But this Jesus called him Peter. - Why? - That makes no sense. Simon, Peter, they're two completely different names. - But Jesus, he was a man.
  • Obviously. Get out. - Cyprus, Paul! Cyprus! Salamis is on the northeast shore! You love the sea too much for a tent-maker! - It's my road to God's will. - God's will? - God wants me to tell the Gentiles, Barnabas. - Yes, Paul, but we must be careful. They have their own gods. - No, we must never be careful, Barnabas. We must rush in like bulls, we must crash through their pagan gods like this boat through the sea. - Paul?
  • We will tell the world about Jesus all the way to Rome. - Rome? - Let it be known to you, therefore my brothers, that through this man, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through this Jesus, everybody who believes is set free. Do you believe what I'm saying, friend? - I want to. - What stops you from believing? - We have many gods here. I've prayed to them since I could speak for healing, but none can. - How long have your legs been like this? - Always. - Do you believe Jesus can heal you? He can. - I can see you believe he can. - Stand up on your feet. (crowd gasping) (crowd murmurs) - The gods have come down to us in human form. (audience applauding) - We are not gods, we're not gods! We are not gods! (upbeat music) (crowd clapping) We are not gods. Barnabas stop this. - Can't I be Zeus for just a moment longer? (laughs) - We are fools for the sake of Christ, we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten, we are homeless and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless, when persecuted, we endure. But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is the Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. As you all know, I try and tell the truth at all times, even when I know it is not a truth that everyone wants to hear. Tonight we are all happy that Peter has been here with us in Antioch for the past month, and we are glad that Benjamin and others have brought good tidings from James in Jerusalem. But some of us are engaging in a hypocrisy since Benjamin arrived, some of us used to eat with the Gentiles in this group, and as soon as Benjamin arrived they shunned the Gentiles. This is hypocrisy. - Who are you speaking of, Paul? - You, and Peter. I'm sorry, Peter, but it's true. As soon as James' people arrived from Jerusalem, you pulled back from the Gentiles! You are afraid of criticism because of the controversy over those who are circumcised and those who are not! - It's a very serious question! - To some perhaps. To me it is a mockery of Jesus' teaching! - It is the law that believers must be circumcised. - The end of the law, so there may be righteousness for everyone who believes! - This is too serious a question to decide here tonight. - There should be a meeting of all the elders to decide this question. - Barnabas is right. We will meet in Jerusalem in one month's time. (crowd mumbling) - Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. - Barnabas and I have found many wonderful things in our travels. Jesus, who's called "Christ" in the lands to the West, - And the believers are called "Christians!" - Christians? - Oh, we like this word! - I think Jesus would like this. - You are all Christians. (chuckles) - The law as Moses gave it to us, is not known among Gentiles. When we tell them about the law, we are always careful to explain it as a way of living which is good for all, not as rules which must be followed. Gentiles have their own rules and Barnabas and I have found that many are the same as ours. - Different words meaning the same thing. - Yes, God's commandment to do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, is the law by which all men must live. It does not matter if they are Jew or Gentile. But specific laws like circumcision are very difficult for Gentiles to accept. Demanding Gentiles eat certain foods or wear certain clothes is not important in my opinion! It is only important that they understand and accept Jesus and the teaching of Jesus! - But didn't Jesus teach the law? - He did, but you have told me that He said loving one another was the heart of the law, and that we are to be more concerned about what comes out of our mouth than what goes in! - My brothers, Paul's argument has changed my mind. - No, Peter! Peter! - God knows the human heart, and in cleansing the hearts of Gentiles He has made no distinction. Therefore, putting God to the test by placing on the neck of disbelievers a yoke, which is not theirs, but ours, is not right. They will be saved through the grace of the Lord, Jesus, just as we will. Will you join with me in this, James? It is important we be united in this decision. - We should make a solemn proclamation, which says that we have decided unanimously to no longer impose on Gentiles any burden of law, except, except to obey the commandments of God. - If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away, everything has become new. - [All] Amen. (people chattering) - I love Jerusalem. - Yes, but we have to go back, Barnabas. - Back? - To the Gentiles. - You like being beaten with stones? Personally, I don't enjoy it. - (laughs) It is our mission. - Yes. Hagar will be very sad. - We're just at the beginning, Barnabas. We have a long way to go. - Where do you want to go? - Rome. - Rome? - Yes, but we will start in Greece. - We won't be welcome in Greece, Paul. They have their own gods.
  • I know. - The you can put the whole matter out of your mind. Rome (laughs), we will go to Antioch. - No. Rome. We will go to Rome. - Paul. - It is my mission. - Paul. Rome? This cannot be God's will. - I'm going. If you choose, without you. But I am going. (dramatic music) - Suicide is not God's will. You would try to teach about Jesus to the very people who killed him. (somber music) No. I love you. - So He was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Savior. Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way, for as I walk through the city and look carefully at the objects of worship, I find among them an altar with the inscription: "To an unknown god." But, noble men, the God who made this world does not live in shrines made by human hands as though He needed anything from us. He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath! We ought not to think of God as an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. God overlooks the times of human ignorance, but now, as man gains knowledge, God commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will have the world judged by a man whom He has appointed, and whom raised Himself from the dead. - Raised himself from the dead? - And ascended into heaven, where He waits for the day to come when we will all be judged for our belief in him: Jesus of Nazareth. (crowd murmuring) - My father has told me about Jesus. - You say He raised Himself from the dead? - Yes. Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious or boastful, or arrogant, or rude. It does not insist in its own way, it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing. It rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. - That is beautiful, Paul. - Paul, you must stay in Corinth. We're new believers from Rome. We need a leader. - Rome is where I'm going. I must go back to Jerusalem first and then to Rome. - You can't go to Rome! - No Jews allowed! - What? - Claudius drove us out. All Jews from Rome! That's why we're here! - No Jews, you can't go to Rome, Paul. - I'm on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecution are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace. Remember. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. - She had tried to put a curse on us and she had put the whole town in a spell, so we were imprisoned. We were there for two days and two nights. Law! Law is the sin. You understand? The law will make you do something that is forbidden. I tried to. So I tried again, nothing. - Yes, sit down. Do you mind putting this on the table? - Over there? - Yes.
  • Thank you. - There are rumors saying that you teach against Moses' law. - Rumors? I don't deny the importance of the law, James. We had to live by it until Christ came. But we are no longer subject to it. The only thing that counts now is faith, working through love. - This is very difficult for Jews. They grew up under the law, Paul. - Yes, I know. - Tomorrow. Today. Today we have men who are under a vow of purification for seven days. I think you should join these men. Go through the rites with them, pray, cut your hair, then everyone will know it was true what they've been told about you: That you, too, observe and guard the law. - Cut my hair? - A small sacrifice for a man who has been beaten for his God. - James, I only came home to rest. Soon I will begin my longest journey. But I agree with you, it is important for the people to know that I follow the law. - Where will you go? - Rome, to the end of the earth. - Reuben! Stop! - Alive? - You're not his judge, Reuben. - I'm a priest in the service of God. - You do not serve God by killing. - I serve God as He demands, Gamaliel. - Not here, not in the temple. I will not allow it. It is not God you serve, but your anger, your jealousy. (crowd murmurs) - Fellow Israelites! This is the man who is turning the world against our people, our laws, this place! He has defiled this holy place! Ugh! - No! - Stop! Stop it! Stop it! Why are you punishing this man? - He breaks God's law! - He breaks no law! - If he breaks the law, he shall be dealt with under the law. You have no right to murder him as you wish. - This is a matter for Jews. - Jews are Roman subjects, and in this land I am Rome. - He leads a religious sect that follows Jesus of Nazareth. - He was crucified. - They teach that He rose from the dead. - I don't care if they teach that He turned into a swan! - They teach revolution against Rome. - Is that true, Jew? You want a revolution against Rome? (Paul coughs) He's harmless! - Kill him! - I decide what is done here, Gaius, not you! This man will not be killed! There is no reason! - He must be flogged for inciting a riot! - Yes, fine, flog him. - I am a Roman citizen. (Paul coughs) - What did you say? - Born a Roman citizen. - A Roman citizen! Do you still want him killed, you fool? Bring him inside! - [Jesus] Paul, Paul. Keep up your courage. For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome. - Rome. - I did not have to make a meal for my stupid master this morning! - Why not? - He has taken the oath, he says he won't eat or drink again until that fool Paul is dead! I hope he lives forever! - And that will be done immediately by my orders. Here. Well? What do you want, girl? - Paul is to be killed. - Jews! Ah! It is a secret pact. When you bring him to the council tomorrow they will ambush you and kill Paul! - How do you know this? - Women learn things. - Hmm, good. I will send Paul to Caesarea tonight. Go on your way and tell no one of this. And, uh, thank you. - Romans! - Hmm. - When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways, for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part, then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. But the greatest of them is love. - Paul, some news, the king is dead. - That isn't news. - And the new king comes to visit. - Agrippa? - In one week. - I must get him to hear my case. (audience applauding) - Those who are to be heard, come forward. Your names? - Paul of Tarsus. - I am Ananias, High Priest of Jerusalem. - And the charge, High Priest? - This man, Saul, is an agitator amongst the Jews throughout the world. Not just Israel, but the whole Empire! He's also a ringleader of the indecent sect based around the fraudulent "messiah," Jesus of Nazareth! He has defiled the temple, refused the Law of Moses, incited riots against Rome, and defamed the name of Agrippa himself, and- - Love never ends, and Jesus lives, my king. Why is it so difficult to believe that the Messiah has come? He spoke to me, He told me to take His truth into all the world. I have followed His orders, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and the Gentiles. - You're out of your mind, Paul of Tarsus. Too much learning has driven you insane. - I have in no way committed any offense against the temple, against the law of the Jews, against the king, or against the Emperor. - High Priest, this man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. - I appeal to the Emperor's tribunal to seek my release! - My king. - You've made a mistake, prophet. I would have set you free today, had you not appealed to the Emperor. But you did not trust my judgment. So now you will be required to go before the Emperor in Rome. Very long journey for a man who should be free. May your God be with you. - You will never return from Rome to preach your false message! - Rome. - Ruben, you have destroyed a man because of your ambition. - You know nothing of my mind, Gamaliel. Your love for Saul has blinded you. - My love for God tells me that He has many ways of showing us His mind. I believe in life after death, Ruben. I believe God knows our hearts. And I believe we will stand before Him on that day and answer for our life. - So, I chose to serve Him now, not in some fantasy of life after death! Jesus was not the Messiah! - I don't believe Jesus is the Messiah! But what I know for sure is that you are wrong. You don't have the true faith of Israel. - Paul, Paul? - Please, I love this man. I'm sorry, friend. - I'm sorry, too. - Pride is such a stupid sin. - Oh, what are intelligent sins? (both laughing) - Paul. - You saved my life. - You saved my soul. - Only God can do that. - You showed me to God. Thank you. - Remember, God wants us to forgive those who sin against us. Reuben loved you, I'm sure. God has called me to Rome. - I'll wait for you. - I'm not coming back, He has told me. - Please God, no. - You do please God, Barnabas. You are a strong and good man. He needs you here, and me there. - The heart (indistinct). - I'll see you in Heaven. - I'll be there. I shall welcome you at the gate. (both crying) (dramatic music) (men shouting) (storm pounding) - Help me! Help! - [Jesus] Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before the Emperor. All those who are sailing with you will be safe. - Please, help me! Help me! (people shouting) My Lord! My God! You are with me, even unto the end of the earth! (triumphant music) Rome. For it is written: "Those who have never been told of Him shall see, and those who have never heard of Him shall understand." (bright triumphant music)