A.D. The Bible Continues (2015): Season 1, Episode 10 - Brothers in Arms - full transcript

Find him, kill him.

How much better
if we were to win him back?

He dragged men across the desert
to kill me.

Our emperor has departed,

but he has left
a present for Jerusalem.

A statue of his likeness.

Which he commands to be placed
in the temple itself.

This is about
the destruction of the temple!

We welcome Saul
as our brother in Christ.

You've all lost your minds.

Simon.



This is my fault.
No, Saul.

- I have to make it right.
- I've heard that

if you want
to meet certain people,

then this is the place to come.

Enemies of Rome?

So, talk.

- He's here.
- Find him.

Oh!

Jesus.

Jesus.

As for God,
his way is perfect.

The word of the Lord
is flawless.

Jesus.
What are you doing?

We've been looking everywhere.



Didn't you know I would be
in my father's house?

You will always
know where to find me, James.

That's how he is.
That's Saul.

You can't tell him anything.

No, we should have stopped him.

I should have.

They'll stone him, won't they?

Maybe the high priest
will be lenient.

Not a chance.
Not Caiaphas.

Do you think
they've got Simon, too?

Where else would he be?

They won't kill them both,
will they?

No.

Because I won't let them.

What do you mean?

I will go to the temple,

and I will beg
for their release.

Move!

Welcome back, Saul.

Look at all these people
united in their faith.

And then there's you.

I understand your anger.

You came to me.

You begged me to let you

attack these blasphemers
and defend the temple.

I wanted to impress you.

But now I understand the truth.

What would your teacher...
Gamaliel...

Make of your new understanding?

What do you want from me?

You have a chance right now

to confess to your sins
before God and turn back.

Come back, Saul.

Come back to the temple.

Do not betray
those who love you.

You're here
in the center of universe.

How can you leave?
Cut yourself off from God?

This is your faith here,
right here.

I want to forgive you.

They all look so content.

Of course they do.
They're home.

It does feel like home.

But it isn't.

And you cannot forgive me.

Only Jesus can do that.

Yes.

Very good, Tabitha.

Excellent.

What have I missed?

Tell me.

We've been talking
about washing and sewing and...

And nothing else whatsoever.

No, you haven't.

Tell me about the needle.

Jesus said,
"it is easier for..."

"it's easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle"

than it is for a rich man

"to enter
the kingdom of heaven."

And what about a rich woman?

Now.
Say that again.

Isaiah's prophecy
has been completed.

Jesus is our Messiah.

He rose from the dead,

and I have been born again
in his name.

I have repented.

And he has forgiven me.

And my sins are
forever washed away.

So, it seems to me
that there is... No need

for your endless search
for ritual purity,

nor your mikvahs,
nor any of your temple customs.

No need?

No need for the temple.

No need for you.

What happened to you?

What happened to you?!

Would 39 lashes
cure your madness?

How about a month in a cell?

Till you see sense.

I could leave you there
to waste away,

until you're
completely forgotten.

I'm sure
there must be another plan

that doesn't involve you dying.
Enough hiding.

Yeah, but what if
he throws you in jail, too?

Then you'll preach and spread
the word as Jesus taught us.

Well, yeah, all right.
We'll try.

But if you're gone,
who's gonna lead us?

'Cause I don't think
Thomas can cope.

James.

It's James!

By this time, he'd
been missing for three days.

His mother was
beside herself with worry.

But there he was, in the temple,

debating and arguing
with the priests

as though it was the most
natural thing in the world.

I had that dream.

And I knew then
that I had to be here with you.

I've missed you.

What was he like?
As a boy.

We all used
to play together as children.

He was just like the rest of us.

But then you... you'd start
to notice things.

Like his... his calmness,
his wisdom,

even when he was young,
his kindness.

He had something... something
in his eyes.

I loved him.

I loved him very much.

But that was then.

Now I want to hear about you.

I understand
you've all been imprisoned.

Some of us twice.

And yet, still, you continue...

Making great strides, I'm sure.

Well, what is it?

We lost two brothers yesterday.

A new believer, Saul,
was seized by the temple guards,

and Simon...
He didn't come back last night.

I have to go to the temple.

To see the high priest?

Who has imprisoned you twice.

We've been trying to tell him.

What if I went?

Thank you, but it is my burden.

Well, let me plead for them.

You do not know him.

He will see
the fear in your eyes.

And, forgive my pride,
but I'm also a rabbi.

That should count in our favor.

I have left you here
to suffer alone for too long.

Let me help you.

What is your business here?

Your business!

He does not
understand you.

And you are?

Chief treasurer
to the queen of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia? It's all
right, centurion.

We left our weapons
at the city gates.

Really?

Search it.
Every inch.

Blessed Lord,
I have shut my ears

to your teachings

and ignored your commandments.

I have closed my eyes
to the suffering of others.

Though I am unworthy,

I ask your forgiveness,
merciful God, and pledge...

No.

I have just seen Saul.

I let him go.

He's a madman.

His words will get him killed.

He's nothing.

You can't do this.
It's done.

And now you look weak.

Let the people know
it was an act of... Forgiveness

on the Eve of Yom Kippur.

But at any other time...

I have spoken!

It's coming... in a day,
in a week, I don't know,

but soon the abomination
will be here...

A statue that heralds
eternal war.

Do you not see that we need
to unite every Jew,

every tiny sect and cult

and bring them all together
to fight this monstrosity?

Oh, I see.

This is politics, is it?

There is the will of Rome,
the fear it inspires.

And there is us.

We must make them
love more than fear,

or we will all die.

Every word that Saul speaks...

...is a stain
upon your reputation.

Did you not hear
what I just said?

Did you not just hear me?

You are the high priest
of the temple of Jerusalem.

When will you act like it?

I do.

Every day.

You're simply too blind
to see it.

I'm sorry.
I lost my head.

We were worried.
Where did you go?

There's an inn.
I had a few drinks.

Then a few more.

And then?

And then I woke up
in a horse trough.

We're so glad to see you.

It's good to be back.

There's nothing to worry about.
Not with me.

Nothing at all.

And you found no weapons on him?

None.

And you checked the sacrifices,
all the baskets?

There was nothing.

Maybe he really has come
to visit the temple.

It's one of their
holy days tomorrow, isn't it?

The man's an Ethiopian, Claudia.

People come from all over
the world to visit Jerusalem.

Do you know what
he'd have done to himself

to become the queen's treasurer

and to assure
everlasting devotion?

He's half the man he used to be.

Does he know about the statue?

I didn't...

You didn't ask.
Of course, you couldn't.

I want to see him.

Face to face.

A dinner invitation.

And get Herod and his wife along
so it seems less...

Obvious?

Hm. Yes.

You tell this Ethiopian eunuch

that we would be honored
to entertain

such an important visitor
in our city.

What do you want?

I need something.

You have contacts.

I just make jewelry.

Oh, I doubt that.

You should go.
I can't help you.

I will not be dismissed.

Get out.

It doesn't matter
what you think of me.

I need to see your people.

And they will not be happy
when they discover

you've denied them
the chance to see me

and all that I can offer.

What is this "something"?

I'll tell them when I see them.

You'll tell me,
or you'll get no further.

I want a man killed.

Saul!
How on earth?

Did they beat you?

No.

No.

So James got you released?

Who's James?
He...

You were just freed?

I don't know.

I talked to the high priest,
and... He just released me.

Well, isn't that
unbelievably lucky.

Simon.

We were all beaten, arrested,
imprisoned... or stoned.

And this man just walks free?

What are you
accusing me of, exactly?

Well, it's over.

I'm free.

My name is James...
From Nazareth.

I follow Jesus.

What brings you to the temple?

We must all forgive as we
approach the day of atonement,

isn't that right?

Should I forgive you?

I met with my brothers today.

I had to pretend I was immune
to their worries and grief,

that I was so much stronger
than I really am

because of you.

What kind of a high priest
are you to instill such fear?

I must defend the faith.

Well, you do it too well.

I am here to ask for the release
of two of my brothers...

Saul of Tarsus
and Simon of Capernaum.

I cannot help you.

Simon was never here.
And Saul walked free earlier.

What stories
have they been telling you?

We aren't enemies, James.

We both kneel before God
and pray for his blessing.

If this is true,
stop persecuting us.

Yes, I see why they sent you.

Come.

What if
I promised you sanctuary?

Sanctuary?

A safe place to pray.
An end to persecution.

A chance to make peace
with the temple.

Why?

Well, as you say,
it's nearly Yom Kippur.

Why else?

Go talk to your friends.

Let them consider my offer.

If they respect the temple,
then they may pray here.

But not Saul.

Saul?

You are welcome here.

I'm keen to unite our nation,
but not him.

What has he done?

You clearly don't know him.

You'll see.

Thank you for your kindness
in meeting me here.

From the queen of Ethiopia.

And... From
a humble believer.

Thank you
for your wonderful generosity.

Please accept in return

these writings
by our prophet Isaiah.

I will treasure these words.

Shall we pray?

Prayer would be wonderful.

You will dine today at the
palace of the governor of Judea.

It is not your place

to give orders to
an honored guest in my temple.

It is fine.

We are used
to the Roman etiquette.

As you wish.

I apologize for that.

Especially when it involves
the wife of the high priest.

But we must be careful.

You have been
asking about murder.

A blasphemer
and an enemy of the state.

So remove him.

Your husband has the power.

The high priest is willing

to let this heretic live,
I take it.

But not you.

He's a danger to us all.

To me?

I doubt that.

Who is this man?

Saul of Tarsus.

He recently joined
the cult of the Nazarenes.

We have no quarrel
with the Nazarenes.

Oh, well, let those who mock God
walk in peace.

I had no idea how lax
your convictions had become.

I would not advise you
to question my faith.

Not here.

Not alone.

And not when you so willfully
share your sheets with Rome.

And what will you do for me?

What do you want?

What are your husband's plans
for the emperor's statue?

Yes, I know all about it.

What will he do?

I'm not sure.

We all assumed
he did whatever you told him.

I'm just his wife.

I like your answer.

I like the way you swerve
to avoid responsibility,

but you fool no one.

What I want from you,
dear Leah, is blood.

I want the blood
of a thousand Romans,

and you will influence
your husband and the temple

to give it to me.

How?

When I need you, you'll know.

No. No. No.

I had a new gown.

A silk one.

Tabitha should have
finished it by now.

He's not here yet, is he?

No, you have time.
Is everything all right?

My seamstress
has not completed her work.

We have seamstresses.
Follow me.

I'm so happy for you.

I'll take you to the apostles
and have you baptized.

It's wonderful.

You will feel alive...
So alive,

like you've never felt before.

Thank you.

Thank you, Joanna,
for leading me to Jesus.

You tried to lure
my other servants to Jesus

after everything
that has happened?

This is my fault.

And I will deal with you later.

Right now we have an
important guest to prepare for.

How could you?

Herodias, she's a child.

This is clearly the fault
of my own servant,

and I will deal with her.

You may punish your servant
as you wish,

but these girls,
they belong to me.

You are both banished
from my household

and will be gone by morning.

Now get out!

Look, I know what
he has done to you all.

But it felt genuine.

What do we have to do?

Just respect the temple.

And that's all?
Yes.

We can negotiate the rest.

We could go outside
without fear.

We could celebrate
festivals and holy days.

Why do we need the temple?

Of course we want to feel safe.

I don't dispute that, but...

Now that Jesus has risen,
why bother to go there?

He is here...
In us, with us.

So why?

So, the temple is...?

Part of the old law,
which is now been completed.

We are still Jews, Saul.

The temple is an important part
of our lives.

We have message
to preach, James.

But it has nothing to do
with that pile of stones.

You would just abandon it?

I just want to go out
and spread the word of Christ.

The temple is
no longer relevant.

It's not that difficult
to understand.

I must be stupid, then.

Simon.

We have this man, this stranger,

who one minute
wants us all dead.

All this again, Peter?

And then somehow gets released
by the high priest

without a scratch on him.

Now I don't know
what he's doing.

No, you don't,

so you should be quiet
until you do.

I can't believe
any of you trust him.

Simon.

No.

Simon!

Some wine, while you can?

Your fast begins at sunset,
I believe.

I'm surprised you
pay attention to such matters.

Well, the governor makes a point

of getting involved
in Jewish affairs.

I certainly won't be following
your obscure customs.

You'll have to forgive me.

On Yom Kippur, we try to forgive

and make peace
with all our enemies.

Are we enemies?

I thought
we were all friends here.

Isn't that right, Herod?

It's true. We do manage
a certain civility.

Although,
you Romans have a habit

of making enemies
wherever you go.

All nations are
happily united and at peace

under Roman governance.

One might doubt that,

considering the troubles
you are having here.

Unable to quell
the zealots and Nazarenes?

I have crushed them all.

Oh.

I can only apologize.

But I was waiting
on this new gown.

Very nice.

Sadly, I just had to dismiss
one of my seamstresses.

You dismissed a servant today?

Yes.

You could not forgive her?

Dismissing her was
an act of forgiveness.

Why?
What had she done?

Well, she...

What crime has she committed
under my roof?

No crime in Roman law.
It's nothing.

She was attempting to join
the Nazarene cult.

But I thought
you had crushed them all.

- Bring her here.
- Yes, governor.

God be with you.

And with you.

I wanted to ask you
about one of your brethren.

A man called Saul of Tarsus.

What of him?

He has made some enemies.

It's a special skill of his.

He has been brought
to our attention.

I need a favor from you.

To do with Saul?

I want you to bring him to us.

And then?

That is not your concern.

But he's my brother in Christ.

All you need to think of
are your loyalties

and the promises you have made

to me.

I can't.
There is no...

Think of the temple.

For pity's sake.
They're women... servants.

They have committed treason
under my roof.

It's hardly treason.

They have humiliated me.

They will be flogged in public

so the whole world from Rome
to Ethiopia shall know.

Do you really think
the emperor will care

about something
as tawdry as this?

Let's hope he does.

Cornelius.

Escort them to our dear guests.

Which one should I flog first?

don't be afraid.

Jesus will give you strength.

Her. Just her.

I have something else
planned for you.

You have brought
insurgents into my palace, Herod.

I had no idea.

You will show approval
for these actions.

You will admire
the power of Rome.

And then when this is over,

you will take your wife
and get out of my palace.

Do you understand?

As you wish.

I'm sorry
you have to witness this.

All enemies of Rome are
punished and crushed.

None are spared.

For the glory of our emperor.

I think it's a mistake
to trust her.

She's no more
than a Roman whore.

She has influence.

She will betray us
at the first opportunity.

I know she will.

Possibly, but that's
a risk we have to take.

We have this one chance, Eva.

One glorious opportunity to free
our city from Roman rule.

That statue...
I know.

I'm sorry,
but we are murdering a man

who has not sinned
or caused offense.

He is no Roman.

Just a loudmouth,
as far as I can tell.

I have to go.

Why don't you go and listen
to this man preach?

See if he really is as bad
as Leah makes him out to be.

Shalom.

You can't do that.

They were housemaids.

You can't argue with me
like that,

and you can't show
your disapproval in public.

I didn't say word.

Your face.

Well, I'm sorry
if my performance

wasn't as polished
as you might have liked.

Don't do it again.

What will happen
to the other one?

I don't know.

I haven't worked out
how to make it count.

Make what count?

Her death.

Joanna!

My love.

My love.

don't cry.

I am at peace.

Nothing can hurt me now.

You were the best husband.

So be happy for what we had.

You can all be born again...

Reconciled with God,
freed from the temple's tyranny.

There is a new life,
a new freedom,

and it comes
from the love of Jesus Christ.

You must not be afraid
of his message.

Jesus came not to abolish
the law, but to fulfill it.

All that
we have been taught before

has led us to this very moment.

What did you think?

Now, now, now is the time...

Is this what your cult believes?

Some of it.

He will destroy your new church
with those words.

I told Levi
we should leave him alone,

concentrate on our own affairs.

But not now.

He can't threaten the temple
like that.

It would help us all
if he were gone.

Deliver Saul alone
to the inn at sunset.

Once Yom Kippur has finished,
we'll do the rest.

You are with us now.

You are with me.

Yes?

I'm sorry.

I'm so, so sorry.

It should have been me.

Yes, it should.

You knew what would happen.

The fault is mine alone.

Here is some money and herbs
and medicine for her.

Do you have somewhere
you can go?

Yes.

The governor is busy
with affairs of state.

If you go now,
he will not see you.

And he will not know
of my involvement in this.

Thank you.

What else could I do?

And what of Joanna?

Go now.

I wish you well.

What's happened?

Please don't cry.

Because if God is with us,
who can be against us?

And God is with you, Tabitha.

Nothing can separate you

from the love of Christ...
Nothing.

Not life, not death,
nor angels or demons.

No one, no power.

No authority can separate us
from the love of God.

And that love is Jesus Christ.

She was beaten
on Pilate's orders.

I need to tell you something.

I lay all of
nation's sins upon this goat.

Let him escape
into the wilderness

and take all our sins away!

Away!

I'm so sorry.
I don't hate Saul.

It's not like that.

I just wanted
to protect the temple.

You slipped, but not that far.

So, what do we do?

Do the zealots know
where he's staying?

Then he's safe here for now.

No.
We don't know that.

He is
a... a danger to himself,

and therefore
he is a danger to us.

Our belief in Jesus
is the danger.

No. Not now that Caiaphas has
offered us peace.

I think
that Saul is the problem.

His views are too radical.
They will pull us apart.

Simon's actions are
proof of this.

You misunderstand his passion.

We know how
the high priest feels about him.

He told me so.
And the zealots.

He was chased out of Damascus.

He risks all of our lives.

So what do you suggest?

What did they tell you to do?

I have to take him to an inn
in the lower city

as soon as Yom Kippur ends.

Right, so we have
till the end of the day.

To do what?
He's one of us.

So what on earth
are you planning?

Simon's back,
which obviously means

you're all talking about me.

We wish you every success.

Ah.
I hear Philip has made

some great progress in Samaria.

I could do better
right here in Jerusalem.

I think
there's a bigger role for you

beyond Jerusalem, Saul.

Men want you dead.

Oh, I'm not afraid
of death, James.

I'm trying
to drag you all forward,

and no one...
No one will listen.

It's not safe.

And we're scared for you
if you stay here.

That is all.

I see.

So... We are all
still brothers, then?

Of course.
Ah.

And we will meet again?

I promise.

Well, then.

I shall risk your lives
no longer.

I will leave now,
teach his message as I go.

Yes, by the time
I get to Tarsus,

I will have a hundred followers.

You will do more than any of us.

God be with you all.

If Jerusalem gets too much,
you're always welcome.

Even you, Simon.