Episode 3 of the 12-week mini-series: A.D: The Bible Continues envelopes viewers with intrigue, political drama, and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
The episode begins with apostles Peter and John gazing, from a distance, at Peter’s daughter. Peter prays before he walks away from her, “Father, take care of my child.” He knows that he might never again see his family.
Sacrifice and danger are the themes of this episode.
Antipas – son of Herod the Great, and his beautifully bejeweled wife, Herodias enters the city of Judea by carriage to find Roman soldiers swarming about. So much tension exists that Antipas forebodingly wonders aloud” Why does this city feel like it’s about to erupt?”
Peter (Adam Levy) prepares for the sacrifice ahead; Photo Courtesy of Lightworkers Media.
The eruption, of course, is over the recent assassination of Jesus and the plot by the political and religious leaders to cover-up his resurrection.
Little does the Pilate know, but a plot for his assassination is also in the works by a zealot.
Pilate does realize though, that the province of Judea is in grave danger of coming under civil unrest. He asserts his authority by proclaiming he will attend the festival of the Pentecost. He wants his physical presence to be known to all even if the visit to the festival comes at risk to his personal safety.
Also at risk are the lives of the apostles. These followers of Jesus Christ are uncertain as to their next move now that their leader has ascended to heaven. How will they spread the word? What is the Holy Spirit of which Jesus spoke?
It’s not long before they find out. One night Peter bursts into the Upper Room and awakens all within. Prayer is the answer! They link arms and begin repeating the “Our Father who art in heaven…”
Viewers go back and forth back and forth between reels of the apostles praying, the zealot plotting, and the Roman soldiers combating. The editing is sublime.
Overlaid between these three viewpoints are the heavens opening. Tension is building, and building, and building. While this is all occurring, the Holy Spirit – in the form of fire discharges from heaven, encircles the apostles, and enters each man.
John (Babou Ceesay) is thrown into jail; Photo Courtesy of Lightworkers Media.
Roma Downey and Mark Burnett directed this scriptural reference from Acts 2:2-4 with breathtaking reverence to the life changing event of inviting the Holy Spirit into you life. Cinematically the scene is awe-inspiring and truly captures, with artistic imagery- what it is like for Christians to receive the Holy Spirit.
Now the apostles no longer are afraid. They have direction. Peter commands them to go spread the message.
Peter, portrayed by Adam Levy, is particularly remarkable in this episode. One of his most poignant scenes is him healing- using power of the Holy Sprit, a man- lame since birth – who sat outside the temple. This is the exact same man who Caiaphas had earlier refused to have physical contact and instead just passed along money. Acts 3:8 says of the lame man, “And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
I would posit that all Christians were praising God after witnessing – on network television – the healing power of the Holy Spirit!
The screenwriting and directing of A.D: The Bible Continues are solid. They work in perfect harmony with the mood-enhancing score, the massive set, and the eye-catching costuming. This series is a stunner and provides such a rich context of social history. The script is fast paced, and requires viewers to concentrate on the well-written narrative.
I’m still particularly enthralled with the acting of Vincent Regan. Regan, who portrays Pilate, solidly personifies absolute authority in every scene. He does not waver or second-guess his actions.
Pilate (Vincent Regan) avoids an attack on his life; Photo Courtesy of Lightworkers Media
As we move toward the end of the episode, the disciples begin to preach the Gospel and then Caiaphas arrests Peter and John. These two apostles exude calmness even as they are locked behind the gates.
The Holy Spirit is within their souls and they no longer possess fear or uncertainty. As I watched this scene I was reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.” Once Peter and John have the Holy Spirit leading their lives they have cast out fear. These two men are Christian role models on living a life filled with faith and not fear- for we have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
By the end of the hour it appears that the ones in positions of leadership are the ones whose confidence is most shaken and who feel as if they have the most to lose. “Execute them!” are the fierce orders Pilate directs towards the prisoners.
Now it seems that Peter and John, two “unschooled common men” (Acts 4:13), are in grave danger of being killed by a political powerhouse. But they don’t fret or become panicked, because they are faithfully following the message of their heavenly leader.
Herod Antipas (James Callis) & Herodia (Claire Cooper) arrive in Jerusalem; Photo Courtesy of Lightworkers Media.
I love watching the Word come to life. I sit with the Bible by my side as I watch the episodes. In commercial breaks my husband and I scramble through the gospel checking the script for accuracy. We have not been disappointed: other than a few necessary additions in order to propel the story forward and create a cultural backdrop, the main portions of the drama are true to the Word. At the conclusion of the episodes we sit and research further historical information about the major players, such as Antipas.
My motivation to learn more about the Bible is in overdrive and I am highly anticipating the next episode of A.D: The Bible Continues.
For more on this series, check out Epic “AD The Bible Continues” Interview with Vincent Regan as Pilate.
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