Post by Rob W. Case on May 15, 2019 20:33:06 GMT -6
Originally released in theaters on March 23rd, 2018, “Paul, Apostle of Christ” received remarkable success as a historical drama that followed the success of the 2016 film “Risen.” In fact, even for a time, after the movie was released on Blu-ray/DVD, both films were released together in a combo pack. It was a blockbuster film, and after you see it, it is not difficult to see why.
The Story:
The film begins in 67 A.D. where the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire has reached a fever pitch. Under the tyrannical reign of Emperor Nero, Nero began a maniacal political offensive against followers of Jesus by accusing them of starting the great fire of Rome in July of A.D. 64. In this offensive, known followers of Christ are captured, oiled, burned alive, and their dead bodies are used as torches to light the streets of Rome. To make matters worse, Paul (James Faulkner), a once strident legalist named Saul, proficient in the laws and customs of Judaism (and hateful persecutor of Christians) who turned to Christ, after his life changing encounter with Him, is arrested by the Romans for allegedly “stirring up trouble” by preaching publicly of another king, an offense punishable by death in Rome, especially when the emperor declares himself as a god to be worshipped.
With all of the hell and constant misery surrounding them, the early Christians try to persevere under the soul crushing evil, danger, loss, discouragement, and doubts pertaining to their resolve. In this, Luke (Jim Caveziel), a physician and highly skilled historian, tries to get access to Paul to document his story, experiences, and wisdom in hopes to provide hope, wisdom, encouragement, and strength to Christians living in a time most critical to the spreading of the gospel, just as Jesus after his resurrection commanded. This historical record would eventually become what we know today to be “The Book of Acts”. Paul however faces deep and significant challenges along the way. For one, he is haunted by his own personal problems that are tormenting him. Two, by smuggling these documents out of the prison he is confined in, and under strict supervision of the chief Roman prison guard Mauritius Gallas (Olivier Martinez), who is chiefly responsible for everything relating to him, Luke risks being charged of political subversion which results in certain death. And so, in the midst of the most powerful forces of evil imaginable, including but not limited to the full force of the Roman military, the weaknesses and shortcomings of Christians living at this particular point in time, and solely depending on the Lord to live out and spread the gospel message to the world, we see how God uses people, circumstances, situations, and events to show how God’s sovereign intervention changes the trajectory of human events by enabling Paul and Luke to get the word out, and reenergize people’s spirits and wills within the persecuted church at that time to persevere under the power of the Holy Spirit, as a witness (in chronicle, in renewal of mind and spirit, as a defense to the personal application of its principles, and as a reference and motivator to endure regardless of the insurmountable pressure stacked against you) to the rule and reign of Christ whose name has been exalted after His resurrection, which works significantly to the benefit of those who follow him up to the day He returns.
My Take:
In seeing this movie, one beneficial thing I took from it, is that it is a powerful chronicle and motivator of what to remember when forces and matters that are beyond our control are stacked up against us. In one powerful scene Paul’s Roman prison guard summons Paul and Luke to be questioned in regards to the documents he is confronted with. Mauritius believes that Luke and Paul are plotting an escape. And then this exchange happens which pretty much dictates the narrative of this film. Paul tells his prison guard, “It is for the Lord’s sake that we face death all day…that we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” It is at that point the guard replies, “even the sheep will revolt if whipped hard enough.” And so, while the pressure continues to get darker and heavier, and the situations of many are not changed, the only thing that prevents their spirits and wills from being completely broken and pulls them through to the end is their longing of a better country (Hebrews 11:16), one that Christ promised them when he was on earth, and were even more inspired by the truth of it after he overcame all soul crushing pressures including death. In other words, this movie is very good if you are curious about the final days of the Apostle Paul, but it is even better when you see this movie as an inspiration to the persecuted church. And so, the meaning behind this movie goes well beyond just a telling of events.
The film is rated PG-13 and runs 1 hour and 48 minutes.
To view a trailer for this movie, please click on the “Play” button below.
Teaser Trailer:
Official Trailer:
For more about this movie, visit its official website at...
www.paulmovie.com/site/
Paul Apostle of Christ is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and is also available on various streaming services.
The Story:
The film begins in 67 A.D. where the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire has reached a fever pitch. Under the tyrannical reign of Emperor Nero, Nero began a maniacal political offensive against followers of Jesus by accusing them of starting the great fire of Rome in July of A.D. 64. In this offensive, known followers of Christ are captured, oiled, burned alive, and their dead bodies are used as torches to light the streets of Rome. To make matters worse, Paul (James Faulkner), a once strident legalist named Saul, proficient in the laws and customs of Judaism (and hateful persecutor of Christians) who turned to Christ, after his life changing encounter with Him, is arrested by the Romans for allegedly “stirring up trouble” by preaching publicly of another king, an offense punishable by death in Rome, especially when the emperor declares himself as a god to be worshipped.
With all of the hell and constant misery surrounding them, the early Christians try to persevere under the soul crushing evil, danger, loss, discouragement, and doubts pertaining to their resolve. In this, Luke (Jim Caveziel), a physician and highly skilled historian, tries to get access to Paul to document his story, experiences, and wisdom in hopes to provide hope, wisdom, encouragement, and strength to Christians living in a time most critical to the spreading of the gospel, just as Jesus after his resurrection commanded. This historical record would eventually become what we know today to be “The Book of Acts”. Paul however faces deep and significant challenges along the way. For one, he is haunted by his own personal problems that are tormenting him. Two, by smuggling these documents out of the prison he is confined in, and under strict supervision of the chief Roman prison guard Mauritius Gallas (Olivier Martinez), who is chiefly responsible for everything relating to him, Luke risks being charged of political subversion which results in certain death. And so, in the midst of the most powerful forces of evil imaginable, including but not limited to the full force of the Roman military, the weaknesses and shortcomings of Christians living at this particular point in time, and solely depending on the Lord to live out and spread the gospel message to the world, we see how God uses people, circumstances, situations, and events to show how God’s sovereign intervention changes the trajectory of human events by enabling Paul and Luke to get the word out, and reenergize people’s spirits and wills within the persecuted church at that time to persevere under the power of the Holy Spirit, as a witness (in chronicle, in renewal of mind and spirit, as a defense to the personal application of its principles, and as a reference and motivator to endure regardless of the insurmountable pressure stacked against you) to the rule and reign of Christ whose name has been exalted after His resurrection, which works significantly to the benefit of those who follow him up to the day He returns.
My Take:
In seeing this movie, one beneficial thing I took from it, is that it is a powerful chronicle and motivator of what to remember when forces and matters that are beyond our control are stacked up against us. In one powerful scene Paul’s Roman prison guard summons Paul and Luke to be questioned in regards to the documents he is confronted with. Mauritius believes that Luke and Paul are plotting an escape. And then this exchange happens which pretty much dictates the narrative of this film. Paul tells his prison guard, “It is for the Lord’s sake that we face death all day…that we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” It is at that point the guard replies, “even the sheep will revolt if whipped hard enough.” And so, while the pressure continues to get darker and heavier, and the situations of many are not changed, the only thing that prevents their spirits and wills from being completely broken and pulls them through to the end is their longing of a better country (Hebrews 11:16), one that Christ promised them when he was on earth, and were even more inspired by the truth of it after he overcame all soul crushing pressures including death. In other words, this movie is very good if you are curious about the final days of the Apostle Paul, but it is even better when you see this movie as an inspiration to the persecuted church. And so, the meaning behind this movie goes well beyond just a telling of events.
The film is rated PG-13 and runs 1 hour and 48 minutes.
To view a trailer for this movie, please click on the “Play” button below.
Teaser Trailer:
Official Trailer:
For more about this movie, visit its official website at...
www.paulmovie.com/site/
Paul Apostle of Christ is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and is also available on various streaming services.