It's a little bit more than interesting to me that this film comes out at this moment in history when the chief source of governmental stability in the world over the past century....and the only source today.....the United States of America......is rapidly collapsing under the weight of its own moral turpitude. It may be an unintended message for the church to prepare:
The fact that the film was not based solely on the Biblical text from the Book of Acts was a positive because the Christian is then not constantly grading it as to its accuracy.....or lack of. Oh it did include a number of episodes from Paul's experiences....but not many. We saw Paul at the stoning of Stephen....his Damascus Road experience....persecuting the church....in a Roman prison....which may have been the Mamertine Prison in Rome that still exists today....as well house arrest also in Rome......but the rest of the film concentrated on what we ourselves have probably done many times.....that being imagining what Priscilla and Aquila were like.....what Luke might have been like.....and trying to put ourselves in the mind of the Christian community as Nero viciously and savagely martyred them.
Critics aren't going to like this movie because it hits a little too close to home for those who are allergic to anything that might induce a need for salvation. The gospel itself was not doctrinally presented....which is also good....because they probably would have messed it up. What was developed was the cost of discipleship. The film was dedicated to those around the world suffering persecution right now. It's my hope that along with keeping these persecuted saints in our minds and prayers that it also causes us to look inward....at the small cost of discipleship that is required of us at the present time....and more importantly at the real persecution that may be just ahead.
I definitely recommend Paul, Apostle of Christ. I can't really comment on the acting as I was too into the lives of the characters on the screen. I had to redirect my attention in the last 30 seconds or so of the film to the design on the theater carpet. My eyes were welling up big time and my wife doesn't think that I know how to shed tears. What she doesn't know is that I've made quick trips to another room in our house many times....using one excuse or another....for the same reason.
Just a few last comments....for they were integral to the film. Paul's remembrance of his....when he was Saul....having followers of Jesus persecuted and killed is never far from him We see him stare off in the distance.....or directly to us in the lens of the camera.....as Stephen's face returns to him time and again.....just as I stare off in space....or you might have those still moments of recall....when we were lost......enemies of God.....and without hope! Another aspect of the film that was powerful was also caught in faces.....faith in the midst of severe trial....when the whole world is against them......when their family will suffer because of their faith. Those faces hit home.....with me anyway.
The fact that the film was not based solely on the Biblical text from the Book of Acts was a positive because the Christian is then not constantly grading it as to its accuracy.....or lack of. Oh it did include a number of episodes from Paul's experiences....but not many. We saw Paul at the stoning of Stephen....his Damascus Road experience....persecuting the church....in a Roman prison....which may have been the Mamertine Prison in Rome that still exists today....as well house arrest also in Rome......but the rest of the film concentrated on what we ourselves have probably done many times.....that being imagining what Priscilla and Aquila were like.....what Luke might have been like.....and trying to put ourselves in the mind of the Christian community as Nero viciously and savagely martyred them.
Critics aren't going to like this movie because it hits a little too close to home for those who are allergic to anything that might induce a need for salvation. The gospel itself was not doctrinally presented....which is also good....because they probably would have messed it up. What was developed was the cost of discipleship. The film was dedicated to those around the world suffering persecution right now. It's my hope that along with keeping these persecuted saints in our minds and prayers that it also causes us to look inward....at the small cost of discipleship that is required of us at the present time....and more importantly at the real persecution that may be just ahead.
I definitely recommend Paul, Apostle of Christ. I can't really comment on the acting as I was too into the lives of the characters on the screen. I had to redirect my attention in the last 30 seconds or so of the film to the design on the theater carpet. My eyes were welling up big time and my wife doesn't think that I know how to shed tears. What she doesn't know is that I've made quick trips to another room in our house many times....using one excuse or another....for the same reason.
Just a few last comments....for they were integral to the film. Paul's remembrance of his....when he was Saul....having followers of Jesus persecuted and killed is never far from him We see him stare off in the distance.....or directly to us in the lens of the camera.....as Stephen's face returns to him time and again.....just as I stare off in space....or you might have those still moments of recall....when we were lost......enemies of God.....and without hope! Another aspect of the film that was powerful was also caught in faces.....faith in the midst of severe trial....when the whole world is against them......when their family will suffer because of their faith. Those faces hit home.....with me anyway.
