Paul, Apostle of Christ [Blu-ray + DVD]

I hope more Biblical movies like THIS are made.

"Paul: Apostle Of Christ" I give 20 STARS!

Enjoyed the acting....

Watch it. You won’t be wasting your time. God inspired!

Paul is truly one of the most remarkable biblical characters. We really appreciated this film and the approach they took to his letters and teachings while in prison. It really clears up any way of seeing Paul as super religious / legalistic and showcased the countenance of someone truly born again very well.

A very moving movie about the last days of the apostle, St. Paul. I think you'll have a hard time imagining St. Paul any other way than as he is portrayed by the very talented Shakespearian actor James Faulkner.Early on, one sees Christians used as human torches as they were in the madman Nero's Rome. Immediately you start thinking about the price that was paid, the ultimate price, to pass on the Faith. Don't worry, these scenes are done in such a way as to keep the film's PG-13 rating. As St. Luke (the always excellent Jim Caviezel) tells Paul in prison:"Rome is stained with the blood of our brothers and sisters."But in the face of such evil Luke also says:"I feel no love for these Romans. This evil makes no sense to me."After a Christian boy is beaten to death, Cassius, wanting to take up arms and fight back, exclaims, "This is what trust in God gets you?!"The movie is powerful precisely because the sufferings the early Christians were going through are not sugarcoated. But in the face of such evil, Paul says: "I am certain of the joy of where I go." And he also recites his great hymn of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 in which he basically says that Christians without love are useless.Later, in prison, Luke, expecting his death in the circus the next day, responds to the imprisoned Christians seeking information about what will happen to them, says: "There will be games tomorrow." After the Christians cry out in fear, Luke gathers them around and gives a short, emotional speech, saying: "It will be a moment of pain. But only a moment. And then we shall be home in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ forever." After this, Luke leads the group in the Lord's Prayer.I also enjoyed the moments near the end when Paul is speaking with his prison's prefect, Mauritius (Oliver Martinez). In asking Mauritius if he's ever scooped water out of the sea and watched it slip quickly through his fingers quickly, Mauritius nods that he has. And then St. Paul says to him:"Man lives for that cup of water that slips through his fingers. Those that follow Jesus Christ live for that endless expanse of sea."The movie has a few lighthearted moments to ease the drama a bit. Like when Paul and Luke discuss Luke's high-pitched singing at night when they were journeying together. "Peter's snoring" is also mentioned.The last moments of the movie are the most moving, as Paul recites his famous words about having kept the faith and successfully run the race as he is shown moving towards his execution. And then we catch a bit of Paul in Heaven, which I won't spoil for you.

First saw this movie on Pure Flix. It was there for a limited time. I knew I wanted a copy for myself. It shows the what the first Christians had to endure just to service. Wonderful movie.

One of the best movies I’ve seen about Paul . I learned so much what they did to christens and they kept there Faith forever. This man was and still is one of the most important people . He did everything in his power to get the word out. For 30 years.One day I’ll meet him and thank him. Praise the lord .

Paul, Apostle of ChristThis could have been a wonderful opportunity to deliver some real understanding and weighty delivery of St Paul’s unique and amazing contribution to the spreading of Christianity around the world via his part in the founding and encouraging of the early Church, especially in the great conflict between those early Christians who wished it to retain its Jewish roots and those who worked in Asia Minor and into Europe and saw this dependent relationship with Judaism as an obstacle to growth, even as a negation of what Jesus had taught – especially teaching Talmudic law and the insistence on circumcision and full Jewish observances. Should Christianity be solely a sect within Judaism, or did it have a life independent of Jerusalem?The main source material must be the Acts of the Apostles, and the New Testament letters, many attributed to Paul, or at least inspired by his teaching and ideas. As with any adaptation of textual sources for visual media, the problem is always the huge quantity of material – what do you leave out, and what do you consider essential to include. There is always far more material than can possibly be included. And this brings me to my main criticism of this film: with so much material left unused, why does the production team invent a non-Biblical, totally fictional, fanciful involvement of a centurion, with the illness and healing of the centurion’s wife by Luke and Paul dominating a considerable portion of, and indeed becoming the climax of, the latter part of the film?Why invent a spurious story with no Biblical support, when so much other material is simply left out? This is Hollywood at its usual abysmal level of no authenticity, no respect for historical truth nor evidence based presentation – and it is so unnecessary. There is so much else that was left out.There is a lot to enjoy and be pleased about in the film – costumes, historic sites, recreations of period locations and attempts to portray everyday life and show everyday conditions and tensions – then the decision to leave the Biblical story and enter the realms of fantasy: so disappointing.So will this film help people learn about Saul of Tarsus who became St Paul – or will it confuse them by inventing events which simply are untrue, which deliberately leave the Biblical narrative? The arrogance of this is appalling – typical, but appalling – what were they thinking?Alan Bartlam (Rev’d, GME Lincoln Theological College 1990)

This is truly a beautiful film; well writen, directed and acted, and takes you into a period and specific time in history, that is both fascinating and true. I love dramas that are based on truth - it always makes a thing much more interesting for me when it is based on fact. There are some fictional people and situations mixed in with the story here, but nothing that detracts from the essential truth. Paul was in prison in Rome at that time, and was beheaded after this, his second imprisonment; Luke was his friend and companion on many of his missionary journeys, and did visit him in prison; and Paul was indeed "Saul" the Pharisee who persecuted the "Jewish sect" who followed Christ, until his vision of Christ on the road to Damascus changed him utterly.At this time in Rome, Nero was at his worst, feeding "Christians" - as they were later called - to the lions and other savage beasts in the circus, and using them as human torches to light up his gardens, - they soaked them in oil, tied them up to long stakes, and set them alight, as they show in the film. (How could any human being do that to another? Its beyond my comprehension.)There is a fine supporting cast, including Joanne Whalley and John Lynch as Christians in hiding, feeding, caring for, and giving spiritual comfort to others in the same danger, and Olivier Martinez as the Roman Prefect who cannot understand why such a broken old man is such a threat to Nero; but he is not factoring in Paul's spiritual power which is what Nero is threatened by. I particularly liked Martinez. His is not the usual standard, cardboard figure of a Roman officer, but brings a measure of compassion to his portrayal.But James Faulkner as Paul, and Jim Caviezel as Luke are truly memorable in their roles, conveying a deep and touching care for each other, without in the least being sappily sentimental or gooey with it. There was great chemistry beween them, which made their scenes together truly believable. I can't really convey how deeply they touched my heart, particulary Faulkner, who so beautifully portrays a Paul who suffered so very much all through his life for the sake of Christ and and the "Good News" of the Gospel, and lost all of his former status of "a Pharisee of the Pharisees" but who says himself in Philippians 3:8 "(I) do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." One feels no such thing as self pity, or "woe is me" in the least. In fact, here is a single minded man, of such great courage, endurance, and self-sacrifice that he puts the rest of us to shame. And Faulkner manages to convey all this, without ever saying a word about it. His portrayal is really inspired.I loved this film, and have already watched it several times, and am still moved to tears. Highly recommended.

I love Jim Caviezels work as an actor

Considering its limited budget and production costs (it was shot on location in Malta), this is a good effort at telling a Biblical story. At least the director and producers have made a concerted effort to stick to (some of) the historical facts. Yes, there are a few flaws in it (like modern idioms and expressions which did not come into use until the early or late 20th. Century, but this is the fault of the script writers and dialogue coaches not paying attention to historical detail). But if you can get past these discrepancies, then it won't distract you from enjoying this movie, or from the message this film conveys, or from the effectiveness of the plot. Sets, costumes and lighting techniques are all convincing and add to the authentic 'feel' of the film. The horror of Nero's persecution of the Christians is effectively conveyed without it being graphic, gory or bloodthirsty and the fear and terror Christians were living under during this time is equally convincing as well. James Faulkner's experience as a Shakespearian actor is a bonus and is evident in his portrayal of Paul, and Olivier Martinez as the head jailer in charge of the Roman prison where Paul is kept is also suitably cold, uncaring and ruthless. The fear and persecution experienced by the early Christians portrayed in this film is quite emotional and realistically portrayed and could be a bit upsetting for Christians, especially the scene where Christians are being herded out into the arena amid a brass fanfare, the sound of roaring lions and a jeering, cheering bloodthirsty mob. The fear factor experienced by the Christians in this movie reminded me of the fear and terror the Jews must have had for the Nazis.There are some very interesting monologues outlined in the EXTRAS menu regarding how they made and put the film together, many people may find interesting. All in all, I really liked this film despite its obvious discrepancies. I've only had the DVD four days and already I've watched it a few times. This film is bound to end up in every Christian's DVD library. Enjoy!

too many people have a Christian bible on the bookshelf and know little and think little about how it got there. Too many people in libraries and colleges and comfortable arm chairs and dissect the writings of a certain Paul of Tarsus , a Hellenised jew of the First Century AD and sadly make up lots of teachings and rules that their own church or denomination teach to their local congregations. Many can rehearse minute sections or sentences or even words to create teachings or doctrines that are generally about excluding others, and creating barriers. Their congregations often become places of rule keeping and conformity, crushing the healing and freedom of communities that show people that they are valued and precious to others .If you have ever felt Paul and his recorded collated writings have been hijacked, and distorted and would like to find more of the real Paul, you can can do a lot worse than watch this film.Yes It is conjecture, guesswork , the screenplay writers interpretations. Luke, the traditionally accepted author of the ' Acts of the Apostles finishes his account in chapter 28. Paul is under a form of house arrest . Clement of Rome's epistle to the Corinthians (late 1st/early 2nd century);Ignatius of Antioch's letter To the Romans (early 2nd century);Polycarp's letter to the Philippians (early 2nd century); have traditions of Paul being executed in Rome. Set aside the analysis for a while and Let the film help you imagine and enter the dangerous atmosphere of being around Paul, an incredible inspiring leader amongst the early followers of THE WAY, followers of Jesus the Christ from Nazareth, the risks, the pressures, the tensions, the brutal challenges, the negotiations, the compromises, the pain and the inspiration of a spiritual path that continues to turn the World upside down.