"Paul, Apostle of Christ" begins where the book of "Acts" in the Bible leaves off. The evangelist Luke wrote the fourth Gospel in the Bible that bears his name, and also wrote the book, "Acts of the Apostles." A scene toward the film's end shows Luke talking with Paul and coming up with the concluding words for his story about Paul's life. "And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered." (Acts 28:30-31)
It's from that point that this story and film begin. The prologue on the screen sets the stage. It's Rome in AD 67. "A devastating fire has swept over the city. Emperor Nero pins the blame on those that follow Jesus Christ and one of their leaders, Saul of Tarsus - known as Paul to the Roman world. Christians are thrown into Nero's bloody Circus or set on fire as Roman candles to light the streets. Learning of Paul's arrest, Luke enters Rome in secret to capture the last of Paul's wisdom." So, this setting is well after the execution of the Apostle Peter in Rome, and the burning of Rome in 64 AD.
With the title given this film, one might expect a considerable portrait of the Apostle Paul's life as a Christian. It would include his dramatic conversion near Damascus on the road from Jerusalem. And his preaching, teaching, and travails in at least some of the cities and places where he journeyed and established churches. But, that's not what this film is about. Instead it provides a deep look into the person and faith that fills Paul and guides his very being and all that he does. And, it's a look at the evangelist, Luke -the Syrian-born Greek physician and early gentile Christian.
Luke met Paul in Antioch, some time after Paul's conversion. And he become one of several frequent travelers with Paul. Indeed, Luke and some others had traveled with Paul to Rome on his last journey. The others included Aquila and Priscilla, who joined Paul in Corinth. They had lived in Rome but left when Claudius Caesar deported the Jews several years earlier.
The main plot of this film involves Paul, Luke, Paul's fictional second jailer, Mauritius Galias, and the latter's wife and seriously ill daughter. A couple of major subplots fill out this story and film. One is a hidden enclave that Aquila and Priscilla run that harbors persecuted Christians in the city. Another is the persecution of the Christians, and Luke's encouragement of them to hold fast to their faith in the Circus games. Another is Luke's medical treatment and healing of the centurion's daughter. And lastly, Luke's writing letters that Paul dictates in prison, and Luke's writing the Acts to be carried out of Rome by Aquila and Priscilla and their group who are secretly led out of the city at the end.
This film has some grim scenes about the persecution of early Christians. While the story itself is fictional, the principal Christian characters were real, as were the events. The portrayals by Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner of Luke and Paul, respectively, are superb. And all others of the cast are excellent in their roles.
The film has a nice epilogue on the screen. It is "dedicated to all who have been persecuted for their faith." Perhaps it should be updated to include "those who are being and will be" persecuted for their faith. The destruction of churches, violence against Christians, anti-Semitism, and oppression of religious freedom are as prevalent in the 21st century "civilized" world as at any time in the past.
It's from that point that this story and film begin. The prologue on the screen sets the stage. It's Rome in AD 67. "A devastating fire has swept over the city. Emperor Nero pins the blame on those that follow Jesus Christ and one of their leaders, Saul of Tarsus - known as Paul to the Roman world. Christians are thrown into Nero's bloody Circus or set on fire as Roman candles to light the streets. Learning of Paul's arrest, Luke enters Rome in secret to capture the last of Paul's wisdom." So, this setting is well after the execution of the Apostle Peter in Rome, and the burning of Rome in 64 AD.
With the title given this film, one might expect a considerable portrait of the Apostle Paul's life as a Christian. It would include his dramatic conversion near Damascus on the road from Jerusalem. And his preaching, teaching, and travails in at least some of the cities and places where he journeyed and established churches. But, that's not what this film is about. Instead it provides a deep look into the person and faith that fills Paul and guides his very being and all that he does. And, it's a look at the evangelist, Luke -the Syrian-born Greek physician and early gentile Christian.
Luke met Paul in Antioch, some time after Paul's conversion. And he become one of several frequent travelers with Paul. Indeed, Luke and some others had traveled with Paul to Rome on his last journey. The others included Aquila and Priscilla, who joined Paul in Corinth. They had lived in Rome but left when Claudius Caesar deported the Jews several years earlier.
The main plot of this film involves Paul, Luke, Paul's fictional second jailer, Mauritius Galias, and the latter's wife and seriously ill daughter. A couple of major subplots fill out this story and film. One is a hidden enclave that Aquila and Priscilla run that harbors persecuted Christians in the city. Another is the persecution of the Christians, and Luke's encouragement of them to hold fast to their faith in the Circus games. Another is Luke's medical treatment and healing of the centurion's daughter. And lastly, Luke's writing letters that Paul dictates in prison, and Luke's writing the Acts to be carried out of Rome by Aquila and Priscilla and their group who are secretly led out of the city at the end.
This film has some grim scenes about the persecution of early Christians. While the story itself is fictional, the principal Christian characters were real, as were the events. The portrayals by Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner of Luke and Paul, respectively, are superb. And all others of the cast are excellent in their roles.
The film has a nice epilogue on the screen. It is "dedicated to all who have been persecuted for their faith." Perhaps it should be updated to include "those who are being and will be" persecuted for their faith. The destruction of churches, violence against Christians, anti-Semitism, and oppression of religious freedom are as prevalent in the 21st century "civilized" world as at any time in the past.