In fulfillment of ancient
Old Testament prophecies God sent His Son Jesus
to redeem mankind and to remind them of His love.
"This is my beloved Son" Talk of his teaching and the
racles performed in his presence spreads throughout Israel
and multitudes follow him. While Jesus' popularity among
the people is on the increase, he established religious leaders
own as the Pharisees oppose him. Jesus of Nazareth will bring
nothing but harm to our nation. He must be put out of the way. Knowing there is a greater task
ahead, Jesus chooses 12 men to help him in his mission
and prepares them. We will go to Jerusalem and
there I must be killed. No, Lord! NO! While the Pharisees gloat
over their victory, three days later Jesus
riumphantly rises from the dead. The Lord! I saw him! He's alive!
What? At 90 years of age, John,
risoned and exiled for his faith is the only apostle of the
original 12 still alive. I alone of the 12, remain. A
tness to all Jesus did and said. Out of our way! MOVE! MOVE! Out of the way I say! Make way! MOVE ALONG! Move! Come on!
- Auuggghhh! Move! No, NO! I must tell the others... Please let me through! LET ME THROUGH!... Please! People are being arrested all over the city. I'm telling you,
it's only a matter of time before the authorities show up here! I told you, you can't just barge in here- Peter!
PETER! I tried to stop him.
What is it? What's wrong? It's James! James? What about him? He's been arrested! Arrested? James? What? What did I tell you? WHAT DID I TELL YOU? Herod Agrippa will stop at
nothing! NOTHING at all! Auuuggghhh! Can you not keep the peace? HAVE I ASKED FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE? Get him on his feet! I have done nothing wrong. Oh, but you have.... In fact, you have not ceased to do wrong... since the death of your carpenter-leader! How? By your teaching... by your continual lies about Jesus of Nazareth. Lies? We speak of what we have seen and heard. Jesus is the Son of God! The Messiah- Once and for all... THE MAN IS DEAD! Crucified! BURIED! But, He rose and lives again. Sigh... No ...NO... Jesus is the Messiah, the One foretold
by the prophets... NO. NO. NO! He IS the Messiah... and I am one of His witnesses. Then He will have one less! You know what to do! You cannot stop us! YOU CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD IS DOING... YOU MIGHT AS WELL TRY AND STOP THE RAIN! You cannot stop us! You cannot stop us... James... He was the first to be martyred. Yes. The first of the twelve. He and I were together when Jesus called
us to follow Him. We never looked back. After his arrest, I never saw him again. He was a good man. A man of conviction! Seems to me all of you were. ...as brave as any soldier. Don't you think so, Pulo? Either that or... just plain stubborn. I doubt stubbornness would've held up against the threat of death. Well.... He has you convinced,
doesn't he? In any case, I can appreciate a show of
bravery, even in mad men. Let's say I agree. Let's call you all brave. It wasn't always so. What? What do you mean? See? Even he admits it. You each faced prison, most of you ...death. Yes. After. After? ...After what? After Christ sent
us the promise. The Baptist had said, er me comes one who will baptise
you... with the Holy Spirit... And with fire! You will recall my story, That Christ had died
and risen again. Having been with us for a short time, He asked us to remain in Jerusalem... "you will be clothed with power from on high..." he said. We did as He bid us. The city is overflowing! Every year the Feast
of Unleavened Bread draws more and more people. We'd better hurry. The others are waiting. No, no! It's twice as much! Two. TWO!!! These Medes! They
don't understand a word I'm saying! It's the same every
year, isn't it? Listen! The man is asking for two dinari! TWO! Understand?
No... of course you don't! We had remained in Jerusalem Just as Jesus had asked. Praying and waiting for the day
of His promise, when the Spirit would be poured out upon us! The day it came... ...our lives changed... forever! You want to pay what?... No I - What? I can't make out what you're saying! I CAN'T... WHAT IS THAT NOISE?? I can't hear what you're saying! What is it? I don't know but-it seems to
be coming from there! Well someone needs to tell
them to tone it down! The promise! I can't hear myself think! Ahhhh!- What? What is going on- Really? At this hour
of the morning? But... these all Galileans? Sadly, yes! But we're not all like that! Some of us
actually work for a living! What... what you mean? Well just look at them!
It's obvious-they're drunk! Drunk? What mean ...? You know... Ahhhhh& (persian) Yes. Now you understand! But... they speak
in my language! And in mine - they speak of God!
What? Of... salvation... ...a Messiah...? Messiah!? Partheans, Medes, Elamites, Cretans, Arabs-we hear them declare the works of God... in our languages! What is this? Listen to me. LISTEN TO ME! Listen! We are not drunk as you suppose!
No! Oh right.... right! What you see here... what you hear...
is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days,
God said, I will pour out my Spirit
on all people! And your sons and daughters shall prophecy! What is he talking about? You wonder what
this is all about? How this can be? I will tell you... You will recall
Jesus of Nazareth, who walked among us... A man approved of
God by miracles and wonders that God
did through Him! He was handed over
to you by God's plan and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the
cross only days ago. Crucified. Just outside the city walls. Yet this same Jesus... This same Jesus, God has raised from the dead... What? Raised from the dead? ...and made to be both Lord and Messiah! And we... we are His witnesses! We have been with
Jesus before... and AFTER His death! He has poured out
His spirit upon us! Impossible! You expect us to believe that- But... look! You know some of these men... there is no way they could know these other languages! And speak them fluently! It's a sign. It must be. IF... if what you say is true, please tell us... what should we do? Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins... And you'll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...
And you too... will be saved! About three thousand people were added to our number that day! Three thousand? In one day? And it was only the beginning... The numbers didn't stop there. It was like a flood! As we grew in number, we grew in the love God poured out upon us. It was like nothing anyone Had ever witnessed before. What is this- We sold our cart. We've seen families with
needs greater than our own. No one called
anything their own! Even those that
were opposed to us could not help but marvel at our unity and our joy! Please...
don't hurt me! Now, now, brother. We're here to help you! What? Let's tend to those wounds. Have you eaten today? A leper! No one's ever treated me kindly before... thank you. Auuughhhh! That smell! Get going! God continued to add to our number daily... Alms for a poor man. Alms for the poor! ...and he blessed us
with powerful miracles! Can you spare anything? Anything at all? Look on us. Oh, yes! Thank you, sir! Silver and gold I do not have... -but what I do have
I give to you. In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth... -rise up and walk. B-but I- What? What is that.... In my legs? I can... feel..... What's happening? But this- this isn't poss-My legs... I can feel my legs... I- I can walk! LOOK! I'm healed! Praise
God, I can walk! Isn't that the man that begs here every day? It can't be! He's been lame since birth! Thank You God! O
praised be the Lord! But look at him!
Just look at him! What is this commotion? What is happening? A miracle! A miracle
has happened! I can walk! No!... A miracle! NOT AGAIN!!! NO! These men... These holy men,
that healed the lame man! They-
Did not- Friends! Friends, listen to us! Be assured that we did not heal this man. It's true! We did not heal This poor man ...but by faith... In Jesus Christ of Nazareth
is he healed! By faith in Jesus Christ! No, no, no, no, no. We've got to do something! What are you waiting for? Go! And what will you
have us do with them? JUST LOCK THEM UP TILL TOMORROW! I can walk! Look! I'm healed. What are you waiting for? DO IT NOW! Go! Come with us! But why?
What are you doing? It's a miracle! A miracle! These men... they healed me! Look! I can walk! I can walk! Move along now.... Keep going. Nothing's happened here but some trickery... and believe me, we will get to the bottom of this.
Move along now! It's much too late to call an assembly now
...and we'll want the high priest present. We shall meet tomorrow... At least this arrest should
discourage anyone else from... ...trying to join
these deceivers. James, come. You
need to see this. Right now? Now. What is it? We have some visitors. Well, surely you can attend to- We have heard about Jesus of
areth and have seen the miracles done in His name. And we have come to know more... and to join you. All of us have. We must get Peter and- They have been taken away. The temple guards... they took them away. They are here, Caiaphas. By what authority
did you do this? You mean... this? By what authority? You have brought us here... before all of you to give you an account for an act of
kindness shown to a lame man. Uh... formerly lame man. Then know this: -that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
whom you crucified but God raised from the dead that this man stands before you... WHOLE! Entirely! Totally! Comple- STOP! And there is no other name under
eaven by which we must be saved! THAT'S ENOUGH! What are we to do now? Well... uh... Can't we lock them up...
punish them- LOOK-AT-HIM! It was no miracle! Everyone knows who he is! He's been out there for years and now... well, now
he's walking... What else can we call it? -it was no miracle! Then what WAS IT? That's enough! The man stands there whole... You-I... WE-cannot deny that so let's not waste our time TRYING TO! Perhaps... YES? Well... these "followers" of Jesus... their numbers are growing... And? AND... we don't want them to stir up trouble against us! I suggest... a warning. A warning? You want to let them go with just a- What else can we do? Ughhhh. You are released! Wonderful! BUT- Be warned! You will not speak OR teach in the name of this- this Jesus of Nazareth. AM I UNDERSTOOD? I am warning you...
do not test us. If we have reason to apprehend you again... we will not be lenient. You will not find
favor in my eyes. Do you understand me...
fisherman? I do. ...but answer me this. Which is right...
in God's eyes... to obey you... or Him? You be the judges... because we cannot help but speak about what we have
seen and heard. We must bide our time. They would be fools to pursue Their message further, don't you think? Get out! OUT! Lord, You've heard
their threats... their warning that we must stop teaching in or proclaiming Your name or suffer
consequences. Lord, help us to speak Your word boldly! Stretch out Your hand... to heal... to show
signs and wonders and greater miracles through
the name of Your Son... Jesus! Now they have the
gall to meet here- within our own temple under our very noses at Solomon's
Porch! They and their growing multitude of followers. People bring the sick into the
streets and lay them on mats- On mats.... in the streets? Why-to hear them teach? Worse! They do it in hopes that the fisherman... Peter? That as he passes by... his shadow, MIGHT HEAL THEM! Please! Have they gone that far? Fanatics! Longing for his shadow to fall on them? And, uh... well... what happens when he walks by? People get healed. I know, I know... it's absurd but the talk is the sick are cured, the possessed are healed... the list goes on- ENOUGH! I have heard enough and I have had enough! He's right. It's time we bring a stop to this mess. One way or the other! And God loved us so much that
He gave us His son, Jesus of Nazareth that as we
believe in Him, He may save us! These supplies will be a real
blessing to those in need. Isn't it wonderful that we can bring it? Come with us!
But we haven't done anything! We're just bringing
supplies to the poor! You're under arrest! What is it? What's happening? We haven't done anything! Auggghhh! Umph! Let's keep them locked away... ...and away from the people- Until we can decide what to do. Get me out of here! Get me out! Quiet down! QUIET! It's just as He
told us, isn't it? Jesus said that those of us That had left houses and friends and families to follow Him would receive- One hundred times as much- With persecutions. It's just like He said! Look at how our
little group has grown! How many people
follow Jesus now! And how often we end up here! You should write
your names over the door! Peter and John's cell! ...at least keep blankets in the corner. I'm serious, it's getting cold in here. Touch these walls! How could they even think this
could stop what God is doing? The guard... checking the lock. Two doors. We must be very dangerous. Let's pray. Lord... thank You for preparing
us ahead of time. We see Your Word fulfilled as
we find ourselves in prison. We trust you knowing that with You nothing shall
be impossible... You look refreshed. I slept well. Knowing the Jesus followers were locked away? Exactly. Perhaps we can return to some
semblance of normality now. We got rid of the
false shepherd, now it's time to
deal with His sheep. Ah... the High Priest! Good day to you, Caiaphas! Dare I ask what the
first order of the day is? Yes, well. Top of the list- I have already ordered
the fanatics to be brought in. And I hope, my brothers... that we can come up with some...
tive way to keep this problem... shall we say-tucked away? Perfect! Perhaps we can keep
them tucked away indefinitely. Ahhh the thought. Here they are now... The prisoners,
they have escaped their cells... No....
THEY'VE WHAT? As I said, we found the prison
shut securely and the guards- We never moved from our post! Not once! The entire night- ...the guards were
at their post, right outside the door. But when we opened the cell... Empty?
This is impossible! My lord, what can I say? We - we did not move from
our post the entire night! You're lying!
YOU ALLOWED THEM TO ESCAPE! What did you do? Get drunk? No, not at all. We were on duty! We were doing our job! So what are you saying? That the prisoners
just ...disappeared? My lord...
- What is it? The men you put in
prison yesterday ...we have found them!
- Where? Apprehended, trying to
leave the city, no doubt! No, sir. Come and see. God shows us how much He loves each and every one of us. God knows we cannot
be perfect... so through Jesus
Christ, His son... We can't help but want to share this joy with you- no matter what happens to us! What God is doing
is just too great for us to keep to ourselves! You've seen the miracles done in the name of Jesus. Shall I take them... again. Of course, you fool! Of course you
should take them... they are escaped prisoners. Peacefully. Do not harm them. This mob would stone us in a second. They're just talking to us,
why are you disrupting us? It's alright. Let them come through. I don't care how you got out! You were warned! And yet you continue to do contrary to our commands. You have filled Jerusalem
with your lies- Teaching that Jesus of
Nazareth is... IS THE MESSIAH! And if that weren't enough- YOU BLAME US FOR HIS DEATH! Were we not clear enough when we strictly commanded you... NOT TO TEACH IN THIS MAN'S NAME? What is it about our orders that you do not understand? Nothing. Then what is the problem? Who should we obey? What? What are you
talking about? You tell us... no,
you command us... not to teach in the name of Jesus and yet...
God compels us to do so. And so I ask you... who should we obey?
You... or God? How dare he speak to the
high priest in that tone! These men should be
locked up for good! You blaspheme against the God of
our fathers and His high priest! The God of our Fathers... God of our fathers is precisely
the one who raised up Jesus from the dead. Jesus... whom you murdered... Murdered? You blame
us for his death? by asking for His crucifixion...
and thus nailing Him to a cross! But God has exalted Him to His right Hand... Really, Caiaphas? How long are
we supposed to allow this? ...to be King and Lord. To give repentance to Israel
and the forgiveness of sins! Forgiveness of sins? Blasphemy! And we are His witnesses
and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given
to those that obey Him! They know the law! They know what they're doing!-
Stone him! Get them out! Get
them out of here! You heard the High Priest! They must be silenced! 'Made an example of! I say stone them! Stone them for their blasphemy! If we don't do something drastic there will be no end
to this madness! None! I am aware of our problem! But sit down... All of
you-CALM DOWN. We must think! If I may, Caiaphas! CAIAPHAS! If I may... Calm, please! Let us hear what
Gamalial has to say! Let him speak! CAIAPHAS! IF I MAY SPEAK! CALM! Let us reason this out...
calmly. Gamalial... My brothers! Let us be careful in what we intend to
do with these men. Careful? These men- I said... LET GAMALIAL SPEAK. You recall that some time ago a certain Theudas rose up claiming to be... what... somebody special. nd soon... to our consternation,
our hundred plus men joined him. What happened? The man was slain and all those that had followed him were
scattered. They came to nothing! After this man came
Judas of Galilee. You will recall that he too, convinced many people
to follow him. And what happened to that man? Hmmm? He perished... as did all his followers. Get to the point! w I say to you, my brothers... .
..my very zealous brothers. Leave these men alone... LEAVE THEM?! ...alone. For if their work is of man, it will come to
nothing by itself. But... And listen to me carefully... but if it be of God. I tell you, we will not be able to stand against it ...lest we should
be found to be... ...fighting against God. Against God? I believe... I believe our brother
speaks wisely. This is preposterous! Is it?
Is it?... You've seen to the growing number of people, crowds that have been influenced
y these men - by their teaching! Better to allow these
fanatics to show themselves up for the fakes they are
than to raise the anger of the mobs,
their followers- against us! I say, our brother
speaks wisely. Let them expose themselves... ...let the mobs be the ones To condemn them. We just need patience. Fine. But let's first warn them to speak in the name of Jesus...
and let us warn them... sternly! Sternly enough that they know We mean business! They must be letting us out. It's about time. Let's go! A gift from the pharisees. What?? Auuughh! Let this serve as a warning! Auughhh! 'hope you enjoyed your stay! I have a feeling we'll be seeing them again. Augghhhh... Peter! Peter... My head... Let me help you... Aughhh... I'm fine. Are you alright, James? Augh... I think
I'm good for another round! Here. Lean on me. Lord Jesus... You stood firm in the face of persecution and even death! Give us the strength to do the same. The light shone in darkness... and the darkness could not understand it. We walked away... rejoicing. Rejoicing?... Really? Indeed... It may be hard to understand but... the more we obeyed what God told us to do, the greater the joy and grace God poured upon us. Oh... physically it was painful. Very! But God was with us. We knew it... and our faith in Jesus and His message didn't diminish, it grew... as did our boldness! Day after day, in the temple... ...and house to house, we didn't stop
teaching the message: ...the good news of salvation through Jesus-The Messiah! People's lives were changed! We, the twelve, were no longer The only ones preaching... God poured out His spirit Upon others in mighty ways... ...and multiplied miracles! Praise God! Do you see how
much God loves us? Jesus said, whatever you ask in My Name, that will I do! Thank you, Stephen! Thank you! Now... let's give this
little one something to eat! You need your nourishment too,
Stephen. You haven't stopped
all day- Stephen!
Miriam. My husband...
he's not doing well... What is it? We've been out of food
for a few days... I- I don't know what to do. Well, I do. Look! God provided just in time. But Stephen. I'll be back... Oh thank you, Stephen...
thank you! As the number of believers grew, So did the need to tend to them. Teaching, praying,
taking care of our poor, the sick, the elderly, the widows... it
was a tremendous and ever-growing task... ...much too big for us.
We needed a solution... help from others. We discussed and
we prayed together and God soon showed
us what to do. We chose seven men...
men that had proven themselves as caring, sacrificial and capable. These seven... proved to be just the help we needed. Philip, Prochurus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas... ...and Stephen. It was such an exciting, Amazing time. We were a mixture of the most unlikely people you
could imagine: young and old, wealthy and poor, educated and
unlearned, even some of the priests
became believers... But no Roman soldiers... What? Oh but of course... Why, soldiers were among some of the ones that Jesus Himself first spoke to... Jesus? Yes, yes! Well, I'm glad I'm
not the only one. I do believe, Pulo... it all seems to
make sense to me. You should consider it, too. Now you're doing the
same thing he is! So then... Well... it was a time
of great growth. But... "The servant is not above his
master," Jesus had told us. "If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." Yet... that was not
something new. ot for us... the twelve that is.
But for the new believers... for many of them.
It was something new... the time of testing. "He was pierced for
our transgressions." The prophet Isaiah stated clearly and this is one of many
ophecies that speak about Jesus. So, you're saying the Messiah-
the long awaited one- was meant to be crucified...
like a common criminal. How could you even think that? Most of us conceived the coming
f the Messiah, as a strong ruler at would come to enforce the Law
yet... the scriptures prophecy: "He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" And you insist this,
this prophecy refers to Jesus of Nazareth? A carpenter who
was sentenced to death? Hung upon a cross!
That's not quite the picture of a savior, is it? It depends... a savior from
what? From Rome? Or a Savior from our sins? Jesus of Nazareth
died as the Lamb of God. The ultimate Passover sacrifice. And He does come to reign...
in our hearts! I've heard enough!
But, listen- He's just wrong!
He has to be! But- But what? Well... there's
nothing we can say that he doesn't refute. With Scripture no less...
and it seems, as you can see,
that people listen to him. Even some of our own. Regardless... He's wrong! But unless we do
something, he'll continue to persuade more. We have to find a
way to stop him. Hmmmm.... Come with me. I believe I have a solution. You heard him say that?
You have no doubt? Would I lie to you? This Stephen! We have heard
him say blasphemous things! You were there? eard it with my own ears! He has
en blasphemy-...against Moses... ...and against the law! You are certain? I tell you. That man, Stephen- ...is a blasphemer! Then I will speak to
Caiaphas - immediately. ...and anyone that
receives Jesus... There he is! Take him. It's all right... don't worry. Step away.
We have our orders. Move! This man speaks blasphemy!
Against Moses and against the law. We have heard
him-we have been present! Are these things true? IS WHAT THEY SAY, TRUE? My brothers... and fathers...
listen, and think about our history:
how often in our past God sent deliverance in
ways which were contrary to our expectations.
Think of... of Joseph. Joseph? He was a great ruler... a deliverer of our people!
A- ...slave! Sold by his own
brothers to traders. And if that wasn't humiliation enough, he languished
in prison for years, placed there
unjustly by his master and forgotten of all men. But when the time
came God raised him up to be as you say... a ruler and deliverer
of our people. And what about Moses? What about him? When he announced to our forefathers that God intended to free them from Egypt... how did they respond? You don't know?
Don't be impertinent! "Who made you a ruler over us?" That's what they said. And yet, God delivered
them through great signs and wonders! Pestilence, hail, darkness...
the Red Sea parting! And yet... what happened? They rejected Moses as they traveled in the wilderness! rothers... we look back on these
s and shake our heads and wonder how our fathers could have been so stubborn...
so resistant of the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a
prophet in our history that our father's
didn't persecute? What are you getting at? Our fathers even killed
the prophets that predicted the coming of our Messiah!
Are we any different? Is he lecturing us?
Do you dare teach us? You have killed... crucified... the Very One whom God has sent. I can see where this is going! Jesus of Nazareth...
the Messiah! you see... look at the miracles
ne in His name... The liberation om sins, that comes in believing
Him... for Jesus of Nazareth... Stop right there! ...He is...
Enough! ...the Son of God! Blasphemy! BLASPHEMY! He has written his
own death sentence! Death! DEATH! LOOK! What is it? What
is he looking at? I can't see anything! I see the Heavens
open and Jesus- the son of God, standing at the right hand of God. Jesus stands at the
right hand of God! Out! Take him out!
You know what to do with him. Auugghhh! Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit! Do not...
please do not charge these people with this sin! ne by one, the accusers... those
that had taken Stephen's life... picked up the robes they had
laid ...at the feet of one man. k you Lord, for the way in which
continue to guide us even in the midst of so much
conflict-thank you for the courage you give to
those that guide us! Take them to the prison...
ALL OF THEM! Please! Let us go! My child-Who will
look after my child. You should have
thought about that before getting involved
with these people. Take her! Mama! Mama! Joshua! Joshua! We're ready. Take them away! I'll take 12 of the soldiers
to the next location. But sir... we've already been to four places.
I don't think that- Sir! I will not rest until we rid
ourselves of these deceivers. ..until we rid ourselves of
anything contrary to God's law! Saul made havoc of the church,
entering every house and dragging off men and women,
placing them in prison! Take them away!
Find out where the others are... and if they won't talk...
make them! time of great persecution arose
against us... all of us... and we... we were all scattered. It was a time of
great suffering. So Saul... he put an end to the spreading of your message. Not at all. What? You just
said that everyone was scattered. Your
work disrupted. Indeed. Our work was disrupted...
and the believers were scattered... ...EVERYWHERE... ...spreading the message! all like sheep have gone astray,
we have turned to our own way. And the Lord has laid
on Him the iniquity of us all- I wonder-
Step back! I- I mean no harm. I'm afraid we cannot
say the same. What is it? I- I meant no harm, sir. It's just- Let him speak. Obviously
you're no match for him. Well? The text you were reading
...do you understand it? Ah that... Perhaps I could if
someone would explain it to me. Perhaps I - Perhaps I can help. I am under authority of
Candance the Queen of Ethiopia. I'm afraid my guards are very
zealous for my well being. As is God. Tell me what you were reading? He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its
shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His
justice was taken away, And who will declare His
generation? For His life is
taken from the earth. Who is the prophet referring to? Himself or some other man? I will tell you... o Jesus of Nazareth... He is the
One the prophet speaks of here. Yes. The lamb of God who takes
away the sins of the world. What would stop me from
being baptized right now? Do you believe...
with all your heart? I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Well... what are
you waiting for? Wo! What happened? STOP! Stop this caravan right... Auughhh. Sir! Sir, are you alright? alright? Of course I am alright!
For I have found the One who was pierced for my transgressions... who took my punishments
and by His wounds... Sir, I- I am healed! I BELIEVE!
WITH ALL MY HEART! And so, I baptize
you in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the... ...Holy Spirit. Jesus is the lamb of God! JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD! We... didn't mean to
disturb your prayers. I was finished. We've been kept informed
...you've done a good job, Saul. Jesus... the lamb of God. They teach that Jesus died
for the people's sins. That through Him...
we have forgiveness with God. They teach our
people to turn their backs to Holy
Law ...God's law. From as far as I can remember... this has been my consolation
- my everything! We have been entrusted
with such a treasure. Such a
holy treasure... And I for one will
do anything within my power to preserve it!
Anything! Uh... Oh yes! I... well
I nearly forgot. The High Priest; he has granted your request. I gather you are pleased? Sirs! I beg you to pardon me... Off again? To do God's will! What a dedicated man
...Saul of Tarsus! I tell you... history will remember that name. He is indeed a driven man... a righteous and driven man! We ride on immediately... Where to? Damascus. Now? At this hour- NOW! I will not stop until every blasphemer is imprisoned. Until this deception stops. I will fulfill my duty to God... ...and nothing... absolutely nothing shall stop me- Auughhh. Master Saul! Wha-... What is this? Saul... Saul... Why do you persecute me? Master Saul... are you alright? Persecute...? Wh-who are you? I... am Jesus... ...what??? Jesus? Wh-who is he talking to? I-I don't see anyone. J-Jesus? Get up! Go into the city... And
ere you will be told what to do. Master Saul.
Master Saul, are you- His-His eyes! I...cannnot see. I CANNOT SEE! It's been three days. Not one bite of food or sip of water. I don't
know what happened to him but- Ananias! I have come to see Saul. What? You realize he
has come to arrest the likes of you.
I don't think this is a good- Is that him? Saul... You are...
Saul of Tarsus? I am... my name is Ananias. I have been led here by...
a vision. I know who you are.
What you have done. You have arrested... and imprisoned many believers. But something has happened
to you now, hasn't it? Saul. Jesus has spoken to me.
I... Jesus has told me that He has
chosen you to proclaim His name. ...to the Gentiles and
their kings, and... ...and to the people
of Israel. "I will show him how much he
must suffer for My Name," He said to me.
It will cost you Saul. It will cost you everything.
Do you understand that? Brother Saul... the
Lord Jesus Who appeared to you has
also sent me... ...that you may see again! ...and be filled
with the Holy Spirit. Auuuhhhhgg.... Jesus!...Jesus. Members of the Jesus
sect have been arrested and put away in several cities. Reports are
that the number of gatherings have diminished or that current followers
been driven into hiding where
we hope they will simply... die out. The threat of imprisonment or stoning has proven to be a major deterrent to any... conversions. Good... very good. I must say, we have one to thank
for this progress. Saul of Tarsus. His zeal is unmatched. A staunch defender of our faith
and traditions. And where is he now? Off do Damascus,
to continue his mission. I expect word from him any day. By your permission, my lord. I- I have word from Damascus. Ah! News of Saul no doubt And now, for the good news. No. NO. NO!!!! I tell you with
certainty, there is no other name given among men whereby we must be
saved except that of Jesus of Nazareth!
The Son of God! Saul? A Christian? He was a new man. Jesus tends to do that...
change people. Let me help you. A walk would do you good. So... That's it?
That was the end? No, no, no...
that was only the beginning... for Saul and for
many other people. So what happened... what happened after that? That... is another story...
and if you come down... I may just have the strength
to tell you all about it.
