A.D. The Bible Continues (TV / NBC) – “Saul’s Return” (9/12)

Observations

Has anyone else finding Saul to be annoying? Because ever since he showed up in the series, he's been a rather unlikable person. (If that's the intent, the producers have succeeded overwhelmingly.) He also speaks and acts like he's on some kind of substance - oh, say marijuana... It just occurred to me tonight that his scruffy appearance, his almost slurred speech, and his "I don't care what the world thinks" attitude seems like a stereotype of a pot addict... But that's just my observation.

This episode's link to the Bible is found in Acts 9:23-28. 

Historically, there was a threat of a statue of Caligula being placed in the Temple at Jerusalem. It didn't quite happen the way it is described in this program.

This episode portrays the suspicion and dilemma of the apostles as they are confronted with Saul's conversion and his desire to be accepted into the work of gospel ministry. Although Acts 9:26 gives a brief acknowledgment of the apostles' fear, I think this episode did a pretty good job of working through what that fear might have looked like. The text of Acts makes it seem like it was just a simple matter of Barnabas vouching for Saul and all was well, but that seems rather unrealistic.

This exchange highlights one of the problems I've had throughout this series. The problem is with the meaning of forgiveness as understood by it. I've noticed how forgiveness is consistently portrayed as having all the past washed away, all is lovey-dovey, everyone is accepted, and there are no consequences for past actions. When Saul asks Peter for forgiveness, this is what Saul expects. Peter struggles with forgiveness, because to forgive Saul means (at least according to the definition of forgiveness in the series) that means that there is no accountability or responsibility for Saul's past actions. In fact it is with only great reluctance that Saul eve mentions to Peter his acknowledgment of the past. Saul thinks that forgiveness should just be given.

And here I think this series parrots some of the troublesome teachings found in some segments of Christianity: namely that if a person claims genuine conversion and has accepted the forgiveness from God/Jesus, then the church's responsibility is to accept that, without question. (Certain recent events come to mind where a person acknowledges their "sin" before God and claims to be forgiven. Therefore, the past should be forgotten and they should be accepted fully into community, no questions asked.)

After several episodes in which women were rarely seen in prominent roles, this episode returns with a bang the strong women of the series: Claudia, Leah, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Eva. This episode introduces the character of Tabitha, who may be the one so named in Acts 9:36. In the series, she is a servant in the household of Chuza and Joanna. These women are not content to sit by and wait for events to come upon them. They are involved in making things happen, for good and for evil.

I felt like there was more character development in this episode. The political intrigues continue, but it didn't feel like that was the main plotline. No one seems to be in control of their destinies. Pilate is at the whim of Caligula. Caiaphas seems powerless to do anything constructive. Leah is behind the scenes trying to kill Saul, but how successful will that be? The apostles have been given a huge unknown to deal with: Saul. Agrippa now fears his "friend" Caligula, the emperor.

This was, in my opinion, one of the better episodes in the series. I wasn't banging my head against the table nor grinding my teeth while watching it, as sometimes has been the case during watching of the "terrible" episodes. I give it a 7 out of 10 (which in my history of TV program ratings, means quite decent).

Synopsis

Damascus. Mob with torches seeking Saul after he preaches Jesus in the synagogue. Barnabas finds him and has him lowered down in a basket over the wall to safety. 

Caiaphas, Reuben, and Leah discuss Saul’s conversion. Leah wants Saul shamed and killed. 

Caligula in Jerusalem. As new emperor, he seeks assurances of his subjects’ loyalty. He orders one to kill himself to prove it. Caligula wants his statue all over the empire, including in the Temple. He wants Pilate to make sure it happens. 

End of Segment One.

Saul and Barnabas return to Jerusalem and to the Temple. 

Pilate wants Agrippa to speak with Caligula to stop the statue from going up in the Temple. Agrippa doesn’t think it will work, but he gives a half-hearted word to try. Pilate and Claudia wonder how to stop a madman. 

Reuben and Leah come to Caiaphas to inform him that Saul has been sighted in Jerusalem. 

Barnabas goes to a house with a small fish symbol on the door. He tries to convince the apostles that Saul has changed and wants to speak with them. They are skeptical. Peter and Saul speak away from the others. Saul thinks that claiming to have been converted and to have been baptized should be sufficient for the others to accept him. The others do not accept. Peter wants to hear everything from Saul’s mouth.

End of Segment Two.

Peter remains skeptical. Peter wishes things were clear. Saul believes everything is quite clear. Saul wants to know how someone who has been with Jesus ought to be forgiving and accepting.

Caligula prepares to leave Jerusalem. 

Mary Magdalene comforts Tabitha. Tabitha had been assaulted by Caligula? 

Pilate informs Caiaphas of Caligula’s “gift” of a statue of himself for the Temple. Caiaphas is incensed. This problem isn’t Pilate’s. It is between Caligula and Caiaphas. The wives discuss separately among themselves. Leah suggests using Saul as a scapegoat for resistance against Caligula. Leah uses claims of Jesus as king and Messiah as a threat against Rome’s claims. Claudia is not convinced. 

End of Segment Three.

Saul and Peter continue their dialogue. Saul wants to know why they can’t practice what they preach, and simply accept him. Why can’t they forgive and accept? Saul asks, has Peter ever been forgiven of something awful? Peter realizes, but isn't ready to accept Saul. After all Peter has been Saul's personal vendetta, and has even threatened his daughter.

Temple guards search for Saul. 

Herod Antipas and Herodias are under house-arrest in Jerusalem. Mary Magdalene overhears their talk of a statue in the Temple. They discuss how they can retake power from Pilate and then get rid of Jesus followers. Mary is shocked and runs. She goes to Joanna. Joanna gives her some money to go to the apostles and offer help. Chuza walks in. He is not pleased. Tabitha, overhearing, wonders where Joanna learned to stand up to her husband. Joanna tells her that Jesus gives her the power.

The apostles discuss Mary’s news. They think this has to do with the abomination written in the prophecies of Daniel. When this happens, they think it will fulfill what is necessary for Jesus to return.

End of Segment Four.

Leah tries to convince Caiaphas to use Saul as a scapegoat. Leah wants Saul dead. Caiaphas isn’t certain. Caiaphas believes in the power of the Temple to make Saul return. Caiaphas will speak with Saul before pursuing any other action. Caiaphas thinks they have for too long used force to try to keep people in line. He thinks other measures may be more effective. Caiaphas recites the "love your neighbor" passage from Leviticus. Leah is annoyed. Rome has been using force and taking lives to maintain order. Jews have been among the casualties. She tells him to send Rome the scroll of Leviticus and see how well that goes. 

Peter discusses Saul with Barnabas. Peter still isn’t convinced. He thinks Saul is arrogant and conceited, and wonders why Jesus chose him. Peter wonders why Jesus chose Saul, and why Saul seems to be acting as a leader.

Cornelius discusses the statue with Pilate and Claudia. Cornelius offers dire estimates of casualties on all sides if the statue goes up. Cornelius and Pilate believes the Jews must be made to accept the statue. Claudia thinks the arrival of the statue should altogether be prevented. 

Peter comes to the other apostles with Saul, that they should accept him. Simon the Zealot leaves. Saul runs after him to try to convince him of his good will. Temple guards roam the streets looking for Saul. They find Saul and take him in. Barnabas observes.

End of Segment Five.

Saul is led into a dungeon cell. 

Simon enters a building where other conspirators and revolutionaries are known to frequent. He has information.

Claudia offers prayers to various deities for peace and security. Cornelius comes upon Claudia. She asks how he prepares to handle crisis and destruction. Claudia accuses men of easily destroying things. 

Simon is given a drugged drink. He is taken upstairs. He meets with Eva.. If he is willing to do what needs to be done, they will protect him. Levi enters to further discuss matters with Simon.

Saul is in a cell, reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Caiaphas, disguised, watches.

End Episode Nine.

A.D. The Bible Continues (TV / NBC) – “The Road to Damascus” (8/12)

Observations

Three separate plotlines in Acts were dramatized in this episode. And this time the episode title does justice to what is actually in it. The plotline with the most development in this episode is Saul and his experience coming toward and in Damascus (Acts 9:3-20). The second plotline is the political machinations going on in Jerusalem amongst Pilate, Herod, Tiberius and Caligula. The third plotline, and the one that takes a backseat, except for some dramatic sensationalism is Peter, John, and Philip in Samaria with Simon and Magician (Acts 8:14-24).

The bad: the political intrigue storyline has little basis in history. The only part of the plot that remotely comes close to history is that Tiberius might have been murdered by Caligula, or someone under Caligula’s orders. Agrippa was a friend of Caligula, but was most likely in prison during the time the events described here occurred. (For a more authoritative account of Tiberius – see “Tiberius” at Ancient History Encyclopedia.) The rest is pure “fanciful imagination” (echoing Pilate’s character’s words in response to Claudia’s visions). I guess the producers somehow think that Christianity’s threat to Rome has to be developed in this way, by bringing the most important actors into close proximity with one another and with Jerusalem.

The so-so: Peter and John in Samaria as they handle Simon the Magician does follow the biblical text, more than less. The “less” part of following the biblical text is where the episode dramatizes the result of Peter’s condemnation of Simon attempting to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit. What transpires is very similar to what was depicted happening to Ananias and Sapphira when they came under judgment: bleeding from the eyes as they fell to their deaths. In this case though, apparently Peter’s pleading (which is also not in the biblical text, though Simon does request that the apostles plead for his case before the Lord) is heard by God and Simon gets to live. (Again, not in the biblical text – it doesn’t say that Simon suffered anything at all, nor any result if he did.)

The better: Saul’s conversion storyline stays fairly close to the text in Acts. There are extra scenes that attempt to “fill in” what might have been going on with Saul’s disciples that accompanied him, and with Reuben, the temple guard assigned by Caiaphas. I never could find very believable the premises given by this series for Saul’s hatred against the followers of Jesus, and especially Peter. It seemed like a very personal thing, which this episode seems to imply and brings out nearly explicitly: that Saul believed he should have been the specially chosen by God, rather than Jesus. Now the series can stop trying to sell Saul, the persecutor. It has to now sell Saul, the converted and messenger of the gospel.

Sorry, as has been often the case there is nothing in this episode that I would place into the “good” or “very good” categories.

Caiaphas was nearly absent in this episode. Cornelius was completely absent. As was Leah.

Tiberius is right: Pilate really needs to listen more often to and heed his wife’s advice.

Joanna and Chuza are introduced with this episode. Joanna (looking at IMDB) is slated to appear for the remainder of the series. Chuza for the next two. The series assumes viewers know about the mentions of Joanna in Luke 8:3 and 24:10.

For actually going back to the text of Acts and for keeping the main plotline true to the episode title, I give this episode a six of ten (6/10). The historical inventions are quite distracting, however, dragging down my opinions of the series and the episode.

Synopsis

Jerusalem. Temple. Caiaphas orders one of the temple guards to accompany Saul to Damascus to make sure he doesn’t return to Jerusalem before Tiberius leaves.

At Pilate’s residence. Caligula is sleeping after a drunken orgy. Tiberius and Pilate discuss how this is not appropriate behavior for a future emperor. Tiberius does not approve of Caligula’s fraternization with Agrippa. Agrippa is a poor influence on Caligula. Tiberius orders Pilate to wake Caligula and take all involved away before Claudia sees what has gone on. Just then Claudia walks in and is very displeased.

Saul begins his journey to Damascus and discusses taking an accelerated pace. The temple guard wants nothing to do with this; he turns back. A boy overhearing near the gate runs.

The apostles hear from Philip that he needs assistance in Samaria. The apostles are still hiding. Peter comes in with the boy to inform the rest that Saul has left Jerusalem. They are free to come out of hiding and go to Samaria.

Mary Magdalene is serving. Joanna, servant to Herodias, sees Mary. Joanna hasn’t heard yet about Jesus’ resurrection. Mary tells her.

The temple guard catches up to Saul. The guard has secured a horse for himself.

Tiberius asks Claudia what to do with Agrippa. She tells him that Pilate will deal with Agrippa. Tiberius notes how much Claudia works to promote her husband. Tiberius informs Claudia that he is thinking about giving Pilate a position in Rome. Claudia seems pleased, but then sees vultures circling outside the window.

Saul makes camp and spews hatred of Peter amongst his companions. He believes Peter is a snake-oil peddler, who tells people that they have a problem, that they killed a man sent by God, and he has a solution: to repent and to throw themselves into the river. Saul believes in his mission: to stamp out heresy and to prevent the fake cure from spreading. (The apostles leave Jerusalem under cover of night.)

End of segment one.

Pilate comes to where Caligula and Agrippa are resting. But he seems powerless to do anything. He accuses them of meeting the Jewish idea that Romans are degenerate.

Saul continues his travel. The horse balks and throws off its rider. The temple guard must lead the horse on foot.

Pilate is annoyed for not following through on taking Caligula’s life. Claudia asks how long he would survive if he had done that. All he needs to do is keep Caligula and Agrippa separate and their future in Rome will be secure.

Peter and John arrive to see Philip baptizing.

Return to Mary and Joanna. Chuza, Joanna’s husband, enters unexpectedly. He is suspicious of Mary. As they walk, they encounter Agrippa and Caligula. Agrippa tries to take Joanna. Herodias walks by, just in time.

Saul continues to walk on, The guard follows. He wants to know why Saul is so obsessed. Saul can’t accept that God would choose a man from a fishing village to be a Messiah. He can’t understand why God wont’ choose someone articulate, knowledgeable, cosmopolitan, like… Saul doesn’t say, but he clearly thinks it should be someone like him.

A darkness comes over Saul, and a light shines upon him. Jesus appears to Saul in a vision. Saul can’t accept that this is happening. He asks, demands, what Jesus wants. Jesus only tells Saul that he is to continue to Damascus and he will be told what to do once he gets there. Saul is blind.

End of segment two.

Damascus. Saul remains blind. Saul’s disciples discuss how they must continue the mission of rounding up Peter and other followers of Jesus. Barnabas overhears and quickly walks away.

Samaria. Simon the Magician tells his story, of how he was a trickster who started to believe in his own tricks, and then Philip came along. He’s been baptized and wants to work together to spread the gospel and the power of Jesus. A large crowd has gathered because they’ve heard about the miracles in Jerusalem and they want to experience it also.

Barnabas goes to Ananias’ home, where his wife is in labor. Barnabas says he must leave Damascus now, because Saul is here. Ananias challenges Barnabas. If Jesus is so powerful, why does he cower at the first sign of danger? Ananias talks Barnabas into staying, to trust in Jesus.

Samaria. Peter performs miraculous works in Jesus’ name.

Tiberius gives a letter to Pilate that will secure him a job in Rome. Tiberius tells Pilate that Claudia has much wisdom, that he should listen more to her words. Caligula and Agrippa enter and accuse Pilate of machinations that seek to separate the two. Caligula threatens Pilate of making a grave mistake, and insinuates that Tiberius will not always be around to protect him.

Damascus. Saul is wandering about in his blindness.

Tiberius leaves Jerusalem. Caligula hurls accusations and threats against Pilate.

End of segment three.

Samaria. Peter, John, and Philip. Simon gives them a bag of coins. All he wants in return is a bit of the Holy Spirit, to be able to do the miracles that they are able to do. Peter accuses Simon of trying to buy God’s power. Dark clouds form. Peter gets angry and throws the coins at Simon. Simon begins to bleed from his eyes (a lot like what happened to Ananias and Sapphira). Simon claims he repents. Peter begs God for mercy to be shown Simon. The clouds break, but Simon is spared.

Joanna is praying to Jesus. Agrippa overhears, begins to enter, listens and then leaves.

Joanna is having nightmares of vultures. She has a vision of Caligula appearing to be in a position to assassinate Tiberius.

A light shines onto Ananias (in Damascus). He sees a vision of Jesus, directing him to Saul. Ananias protests, but Jesus assures him that Saul is his chosen vessel. Saul seems to have a nightmare of sorts, unwraps the cloth around his eyes and calls out a name: Ananias.

End of segment four.

Ananias comes to the house where Saul is staying. Ananias goes to Saul. He is able to see.

Herod, Herodias, and Agrippa walking. They enter a room, then moments later Joanna and Chuza enter. Herod asks if Joanna is a follower of Jesus. Chuza claims that Joanna is mad. Herod asks Joanna if she is mad. Joanna replies that she was once cured of demons. This response satisfies Herod, who lets them go with a charge to Chuza to control his wife and that no further speaking to Jesus should occur in his house. Agrippa is angry that there were no more repercussions.

Damascus. Saul’s disciples ask what happened. Saul states that he saw Jesus, the Son of God, and that Jesus is here. Saul admits that what he has been doing has been wrong. Saul will go to the river to be baptized. He implores the others to accept Jesus and be baptized.

Caligula suffocates Tiberius in his sleep. Claudia has a nightmare where she sees this. Pilate wakes and asks. Claudia tells him, but he doesn’t believe it. He thinks it is just fanciful imaginations.

End of segment five.

The temple guard begins his return to Jerusalem, echoes of Saul’s words before and after in his mind.

Saul is at the river with Ananias and Barnabas. Barnabas wonders how Saul could hope to be saved when he has the blood of Jesus’ followers on his hands. Saul doesn’t excuse his actions. He just asks for forgiveness. Ananias calls on Barnabas to stop from leaving. How could they deny someone’s request to accept Jesus and be baptized, even if the person is Saul? Saul is baptized. Barnabas seems ready to  accept Saul.

The temple guard, Reuben, returns to Caiaphas with the nightmare that Saul is now a follower of Jesus.

Saul heads straight to the synagogue where he begins to preach Jesus.

Pilate is preparing to leave Judea. He has nominated Antipas as his successor. Claudia warns that things could change. As they enter the official room, they are startled to see Caligula. He informs those present that Tiberius is dead. Caligula is the new emperor.

A.D. The Bible Continues (TV / NBC) – “The Persecution” (6/12)

Observations

If you were the producer of this series, how would you take the following three verses (Acts 8:1-3) and expand it into a full episode?

Acts 8:1 Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder.

At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. ³ Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison. (CEB)

A bit difficult? I’d think so. But the producers of this series had no difficulty because they’ve set up plenty of political conflicts and intrigues that to advance these side plots (having nothing to do with the text of Acts) can take up a lot of time.

The episode ends with Saul receiving the letter from the high priest authorizing him to do whatever is necessary. This, I assume, is a reference to Acts 9:1-2. In the text of Acts, this letter is actually to the synagogues in Damascus. Saul had already been persecuting in the region of Judea without any need for a letter. In the program, he engages in full-blown persecution in Jerusalem and against the “camp” only after he receives the letter.

Looking at the preview for next week, it looks like the series will be returning to the remainder of Acts chapter 8 and the stories involving Philip.

The women are nearly invisible in this episode. Mary Magdalene makes a brief appearance to tell Peter to start leading. Leah is present but she has no significant words to say or actions to take. At best she seems to be relegated to a messenger status in this episode. Claudia appears only briefly and her words seem to make little difference in the actions of those around her.

The central element driving this episode is an attempted coup against Caiaphas, led by his own father-in-law. There is certainly historical basis for Annas acting as kingmaker (or high-priest maker, in this instance). The problem is that everything else in this episode acts as supporting cast to this primary plotline.

The B-plot is Saul. Saul made a brief appearance in the previous episode at the stoning of Stephen. In the current episode viewers are given much more of what he is like and what motivates him. About the only thing taken from the Bible in this episode is about Saul. But even here a huge amount of material is fabricated. Could they have happened? Perhaps. But in my opinion, unlikely. This plotline, too, exists to support the Caiaphas plotline.

Halfway through the series, what started out as potentially promising, at least to my mind has entered the gutter. The way in which it treats the text of the Bible and fills it in with imagined narratives harkens back to the original The Bible series; i.e., pretty much bad to terrible in its execution of the material. As with the original series, this series increasingly is focusing on creating drama and tension unnecessarily, and by doing so ignores what is implied by the title of the series: that it is something about what is in the Bible.

I give this episode 3 out of 10.

Synopsis

Upper Room, a few apostles with Stephen’s body, preparing it for burial. Procession through Jerusalem. Stephen’s mother accuses Peter’s politics of causing her son’s death. “Where is this Messiah now?” she asks. Other apostles wonder why Peter doesn’t ask God for Stephen to be raised back to life. Stephen is buried.

 

Saul of Tarsus comes to the Christian “camp. He warns them to stop blaspheming by their preaching of Jesus. The apostles ask Saul to explain to them what is so wrong with their proclamation. Saul claims Jesus is a false prophet. He claims the Sanhedrin has declared it and is supported by the Old Testament prophets.

 

End segment 1

 

Jerusalem. Annas walking, speaking with his son Jonathan (Leah’s brother). Annas is not happy with how Caiaphas has been handling the politics with Rome and wants Jonathan to challenge him.

 

Leah and Caiaphas discussing a dinner party for Purim in which all her relatives will be present. Herod Antipas and Herodias have invited themselves to the dinner. Herod and Herodias approach Jerusalem on horseback and see the Christian camp. They wonder why anyone would leave all they knew and had to live apart in a camp.

 

Dinner. Discussion of recent events. Annas introduces the subject. Jonathan interjects. Caiaphas defends his actions. Herod is concerned. Discontent and anger is continuing to grow. Herod mentions the Christian camp. They wonder when it will stop. Caiaphas is annoyed. He asks what they want done. Caiaphas wonders aloud if they want him to slaughter the Christians in their tents. There is no objection. Annas suggests that what the Jews need is a strong high priest who will lead. Jonathan adds that the high priest should be in command and not led by the whims of the Roman governor. The tide is turning against Caiaphas. Herod doesn’t care for either Caiaphas or Jonathan, but he will have to back one of them.

 

Back at the Christian camp. Saul tries to convince the Christians to turn away from Jesus by giving examples of false prophets who led the people to ruin. Peter arrives and confronts Saul. Peter claims that the only way to the Father is through Jesus (John 14). Saul’s language confounds the crowd. Peter asks Saul to explain himself in simple terms. The simple explanation is this: that anyone who oppose the Temple will be destroyed by it.

 

Annas, Jonathan, and Joseph discuss a change in the high priest. Joseph isn’t sure he could get the Sanhedrin behind the family of Annas after what Caiaphas (Annas’ son-in-law) has done. After much persuasion Joseph appears reluctantly convinced.

 

Saul argues from Deuteronomy that a Messiah couldn’t be crucified and cursed. Peter counters that Jesus was resurrected. Saul doesn’t believe Jesus could have been resurrected. Saul argues that Jerusalem rejected Jesus. Peter counters this was in fulfillment of Isaiah. One of the Christians gets angry to the point where he threatens Saul. Saul backs off noting that reason isn’t going to persuade the Christians. He promises that he will be back.

 

End of segment 2

 

Saul and Gamaliel at the Temple. Saul asks why the Christians want to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem. Gamaliel tells Saul to stop concerning himself with the Christians but to seek to understand better the scriptures. Saul doesn’t understand why the Christians would want to replace the old ways with a new way. He has to stop them.

 

Jonathan and Annas are seen leaving an audience with Herod. Caiaphas sees. He enters to have an audience with Herod. Herod wants to know what Caiaphas is going to do with the Christians. Caiaphas thinks the Christians will soon tire and go away. Herod suggests that the Christian movement will turn into a revolt, and then a Roman response. Herod wants Caiaphas to do something, and as long as he deals with the Christians, Herod’s support is with Caiaphas if the news of the attempt to overthrow him reaches Pilate.

 

Leah speaks with Joseph in passing. She tells him that she knows he is part of a conspiracy to remove Caiaphas, but that they won’t succeed. She threatens Joseph. He tells her that the tide is turning and if she doesn’t see it, she will drown in it.

 

Saul attempts to seek an audience with Caiaphas. He is rebuffed, but encounters Leah. Leah takes Saul to see Caiaphas. Saul wants authority to act on Caiaphas’ behalf to remove the Christians permanently from existence and memory. The Christians offend Saul. They are against everything that Judaism stands for: the Temple, the institutions, the order and way of life. The Christians, who themselves are supposed to be Jews,  are against what it means to be Jewish.

 

End of segment 3

 

Back at the Christian camp. Peter is building a brick structure. Speaks with Mary Magdalene. She tells him to stop bottling up his emotions and grief about Stephen. Be like the women who openly grieve.

 

Saul wants authority and some guards to do what it takes to destroy the Christians’ popularity. He believes this is their strength. Caiaphas tells Saul to recruit his own men and Caiaphas will pay for it.

 

Peter talks to the people about the stone on which Christ’s church will be built. Jesus is the foundation. The people are the church. He exhorts the people to set aside fear of persecution and return to Jerusalem to preach. They go to Jerusalem and preach that the true message of truth must be reclaimed from the priestly families and their Roman masters.

 

Saul marches on. Under the authority of the high priest, he confronts the apostles. He doesn’t take them, but arrests all who are listening for participating in blasphemy. Saul’s intent is to instill fear into people for associating with the apostles. Saul speaks with Gamaliel. Saul reports his actions and states that the problem has been solved by isolating the apostles and turning the supporters against them. Gamaliel observes that Saul has created a new problem. They look and see crowds heading out of Jerusalem to listen to the apostles. Peter seems pleased, but John and Mary are concerned. They think the hammer of the Temple will come down hard and soon.

 

Annas comes to Caiaphas and informs him that his attempt to solve the Christian problem has failed. Annas asks Caiaphas to step down. Caiaphas will not. He relates all the problems Annas created during his tenure as high priest. Caiaphas will have Pilate make the determination as to who should be high priest.

 

End segment 4.

 

At Pilate’s court, Caiaphas, Jonathan, and Annas wait for his decision. Pilate walks with Claudia. Claudia suggests backing Caiaphas. Pilate wonders if her reason is her “friendship” with Leah.

 

Pilate enters and takes out a small statuette from a box. It is Minerva, goddess of wisdom. He offers a prayer to Minerva asking for wisdom. But receives no response. Pilate confronts Caiaphas with a number of rumors about improprieties and possible treachery. Caiaphas denies all of it. Pilate will not waste time trying to figure out truth from fiction. He will have Tiberius – a coin – make the decision. The coin is flipped. Jonathan is condemned for his treachery. Pilate’s expectation of the office of the high priest – to follow orders and maintain order – not to be liked. Pilate flips another coin – heads mean Caiaphas stays as high priest. Pilate lets the coin fall to the floor and asks Caiaphas to get it. Caiaphas picks it up and says, “Head.” He stays. The other two are dismissed. Caiaphas observes the coin: it is heads on both sides.

 

Leah comes to Joseph. He is ordered removed from the Sanhedrin and ordered to leave Jerusalem, or face charges of treason. He observes that all this began with her scheming against Jesus, and that this will eventually come back to bite her.

 

Saul comes to Caiaphas. Reasoning has failed. Trying to turn supporters against the apostles has failed. Caiaphas seals a letter with wax. It authorizes Saul with the full backing of the high priest to rid the world of the followers of Jesus. “Do whatever is necessary… Whatever is necessary.”

 

End segment 5

 

Saul speaks to a group of men. He tells them that the Christians are trying to bring down the Temple. They disregard the Sanhedrin’s proclamations against them. The group has had enough. Saul unveils a cache of weapons. He whips them into a frenzy. They will make the Christians leave or be killed. The mob enters buildings and homes where Christians are known to reside. They are beaten and taken away. As this is going on, Cornelius appears and observes.

 

Saul and mob exit Jerusalem and approach the camp. Peter orders everyone to take what they can and flee. A few key apostles will remain and return to Jerusalem. Saul orders everything destroyed. Peter is still in camp as the flames go up all around him. Peter leads Saul toward the edge of camp where flammable oils have been poured. Peter crosses over and then lights a wall of flames blocking Saul’s pursuit.

 

End episode 6