kjvbiblebelievers
What would the reaction have been if Peter Jackson used the names of characters found in, "The Lord of The Ring," books but then just made up the plot, events, etc.? Those who have read and loved Tolkien's writings would have been pretty upset, right?That's how any serious Christian who is a student of the Bible has to feel about this movie. At least that's how I feel. This should have been about someone else (since there isn't a shred of historical support for hardly any of this happening to Paul or Luke) and maybe titled, "Ancient Believers" or something like that. Billed as "historical fiction" about fictional Christian characters, Bible believers would not have been disgusted by the total disregard for the Biblical text.One thing is an absolute fact: this movie is NOT about Paul, the Apostle of Christ.
kenstallings-65346
The story of the Apostle Paul is told in unflinching realism. The story of Luke's time in Rome with Paul is told in very realistic terms, even as the lack of documentation requires a degree of artistic license.The movie does a good job in following the historical narratives laid down by several noteworthy Roman historians including Tacitus, Suetonius, and Josephus. The narrative also closely aligns with the Greek historian Cassius Dio's narrative. Those who would doubt the authenticity would do well to read these classic and period narratives first.The major theme is quite obviously the role of compassion and love, even amid great tyranny, in vanquishing evil on human and personal levels. No one can doubt the tyranny of Emperor Nero, who not only is widely blamed for the infamous burning of Rome, that not only destroyed a quarter of Rome, but severely damaged about 80% of the city, but for the outrageous use of Christians as scapegoats for the act. Nero ordered all of the horribly evil events shown in this film.Artistic license was taken with regard to Luke's healing of the Prefect's (modern day prison warden's) daughter, but the context of the act itself is entirely in keeping with documented medical acts performed by Luke. By what is known of the second generation apostle, Luke was a very well trained physician, likely in Greece, but perhaps in other areas as well. He may have been among the best trained physicians of the Mediterranean area at the time he lived.Regardless of the reasons why, we know that Paul was afforded a level of good treatment not widely provided to those condemned by Nero to die. So, we know that something caused this positive consideration even by those ordered to flog and ultimately behead Paul.While we cannot prove by historical narrative that Luke's healing of the Prefect's daughter took place, the action is entirely consistent with Luke's life as well as Paul's. Frankly, regardless, it was just beautiful storytelling!It was nice to see the writers treat the healing in a classical medical manner:
diagnosis, immediate treatment, and recovery treatment. The purpose of the telling in this film is to bring forward the concept of compassion and love as methods of turning enemies into friends. In that purpose, the event is realistically portrayed, and strikes a profound message. Today, doctors are expected to treat anyone who is affirmed, including an enemy.Most scholars agree that what is presented in the film's epilogue is accurate, that Luke authored the Biblical Acts of the Apostles. In that regard, the telling of the interaction between the two is a powerful and gripping narrative at the heart of the film's success. This film is primarily about the teachings of Paul even as it explores the life and actions of Luke. In that regard, it serves as a valuable addition.The lamentable truth is that the person who writes the narrative, in this case Luke and his Acts of the Apostles, is often relatively unknown compared to the lives he chronicles. We know that Luke was very well educated in the Greek system, and the author who wrote the Acts of the Apostles wrote in a manner of a well educated man.So, while we cannot verify that the precise events carried out by Luke happened as portrayed in this film, the facts that Luke met with Paul during this time, and chronicled the life of the Apostles, including Paul, is without serious doubt. To that end, this movie tells a beautiful story in a most realistic manner.In that way, it serves as a most valuable chapter of storytelling in a modern era with great evil, such as ISIS, trying to regain a presence in the world. The film noticeably portrays a powerful redemption with the Prefect, but not with Nero. In that regard, it does not attempt to say that all men are reachable through salvation, but that those who seek it shall find it!
cjsobin
This is an important film. It is the Bible come to life, accurately, and brutally. It speaks of hope, love, redemption, grace, and godliness
