A.D. The Bible Continues (2015): Season 1, Episode 5 - The First Martyr - full transcript

The assassin came for me.

10 Jews will be crucified

every day until I have

the man who tried to kill me.

Papa.

His name and where to find him.

If I've found you,
they will find you.

His name is Boaz.

Nowhere is safe.
There is somewhere.

There are people who
can forgive my sins.

I'm Stephen.



Move aside, boy.
No.

What's in
your heart, Ananias,

to make you lie to
the Holy Spirit?

When you and your husband
sold your house,

did you keep anything back
for yourselves?

There might have been something,
but what does that matter?

You've lied, not just to us,

but to God.

Run!

They're afraid of me.

What happened to Ananias
and Sapphira was not your doing.

It was the will of God.

Then why does God want
the people of this camp

to look on me with fear
in their eyes?



Do you see fear in mine?

They have faith.

In time, they will understand.

This is supposed to be
a place of happiness.

How can it be a joyful place
when, every day,

more of our people are
being crucified in Jerusalem?

There's so much pain
and despair.

That's why my son came.

To free us from it.

Any news of Boaz?

Nothing, governor.

There is a wedding today
in the Western quarter.

I'm sure that between
both families,

you will find the people
justice demands.

Take 10 women...

And crucify them.

Yes, governor.

You have something to say?

Have you no mind for compassion?

I have not.

I do no more than I would
to insubordinate soldiers.

Ananias and Sapphira
were punished by God

for lying to the Holy Spirit.

And this camp
is focusing on that.

And this... Fear
is paralyzing all of us.

But our message is one
of love and hope.

So, what are we to do?

There are people
suffering in Jerusalem,

and we can offer them
safety here.

Share what we have.

If not, we're no different
to those God has punished.

Then we must go to Jerusalem,
no matter how dangerous it is.

Out of the way!

Maya.
This is Tamar.

She's lost everyone.

She really needs a friend.

Shall we go find a place
for you to stay?

There's hope.

They've given us
a name... Boaz.

They're closing in.

They've already found
his fiancée.

She could lead us right to him.

Eva.

We know it was Boaz who murdered
the Roman soldier.

And so do you.

I can't help you.

It's Jerusalem
that's asking for help

because every day its people
are being put to death

in his absence.

If he truly loves his people,

then he will be ready to
give up his life for theirs.

You're wasting your time.

Then I beg you, Eva.

If you know something...
A name or a place, anything...

You must tell me.

I'm sorry, there's nothing.

It isn't a betrayal
to save the lives

of hundreds of innocent Jews.

Forgive our intrusion,
but these people are desperate.

Can you help them?

Even those who do not
share the belief?

What is your name?

Philip.

How did they know to come here?

I brought them.

I heard you speak.

And I was baptized by James.

And somehow, I knew you'd come.

We need to get
these people out of the city

as quickly as possible.

How?

Romans are out there looking
for people to crucify.

Take them to the camp.
Go in small groups.

Use different routes.

There.
Yes, sir.

Philip.

Can I trust you to
organize these people?

You can.

Now!

It was you, wasn't it?

The Jewish wedding...
You tipped them off.

Be careful how you speak
to your governor's wife.

I wonder how he'd react
if he knew she'd attempted

to sabotage his order.

You and I were
the only ones who heard it.

I saw your distaste for it.

No, I'm a soldier.
I don't have opinions.

And Rome only thrives
because men like me obey orders.

Yes, of course.

And how convenient that
such an attitude absolves you

of any responsibility.

What did you think would happen?

We took them from
the market instead,

and that's on your head.

Were they any more
or less deserving of death?

She was holding something back.

I know she was.

And she'll come.

Trust me, she'll come.

I understand things didn't
go entirely to plan today.

Do you suppose it's possible
that they knew you were coming,

that someone had alerted them?

I don't...
I don't think so.

There... there was no sign that
anyone had fled our arrival.

But, um...

There were no women
at the market today?

The men seemed to have decided
to keep women out of sight.

I trust you, Stephen,

which is why I want you and
Philip to look after the camp.

Really?

It's growing so fast, and
we have so many new converts.

Peter, I've been reading
and studying scripture

since I was 13.

I know entire pages by heart,

and I can speak, read, and write
in four different languages.

Now, God has a purpose
for each of us.

You've got yours,
and I have mine.

And that is not it.
I'm meant to preach.

Stephen.

Maybe I can put
your knowledge to good use.

Eva?

Believe me,
I don't know where he is.

But he...

He said he was going to a place

where people would
forgive his sins.

Come with me.

Why have you brought me here?

I-I've told you
what I know.

Yes, but...

If my husband
returns empty-handed,

I will be forced
to consider whether

you deliberately misled us

and then what truth
you might conceal.

I've told you the truth.

Let's hope he's there, then.

Go.

God said, "let there
be light," and there was light.

This is the word for "God"?

Mm-hmm.

Very good.

We believe the man
Pilate wants is here.

His name is Boaz.

You know him...

don't you?

He once sought an alliance.

If he's here, you must
allow him to face justice.

Yes.

If he's here.

Need I remind you that
if you fail to hand him over,

Rome will come for him

and wipe this camp from
the earth in less than an hour.

If the Romans thought he was
here, we'd be dead already.

You are welcome to
look for him yourself.

Do not test me!

There are hundreds
of innocent people here.

I pray to God for their sake
you're truthful.

You... you've taken
a man's life.

You're a killer.

As are you. I hear a husband
and wife were murdered.

Do you really think that was me,
that I have that power?

Only God decides
who lives and dies.

God and Romans.

How many Jewish lives have
fallen to the man I killed?

That's not good enough.
You cannot justify murder!

Then why didn't you
give me up to Caiaphas?

Because only God decides
who lives and dies!

I will not be compelled
to decide a man's fate!

I will harbor you.

But I cannot and will not

force you to surrender.

The foundation of what
we believe in here

is love...

For all people.

All I can do...

Is forgive you.

Even though you know Rome
will surely come for me

and destroy this place?

My faith is in God.

If that's his will,
then so be it.

High priest.

Who are you?
What do you want?

I'm the man you're looking for.

Why is it that some men

are determined to pull
the serpent's tail?

Is it a death wish?

Or is it some vague notion
of heroism?

"I'm the man who..."
This, that, or the other.

Heroism...

It's for children's stories.

But monsters...

Monsters are real.

And they cannot be slayed.

Try, and they grow another head
that bites back twice as hard.

So, what to do...
Placate them,

flatter them, feed them
until they're fat and indolent,

and forget that
they're monsters.

And in time,

they move on.

You despise Pilate
more than I do.

And I know that deep down,

you wish with all your heart

that I'd succeeded
in killing him.

He's here,
if you want to see him.

So that he'll die knowing
that I betrayed him?

For what it's worth, he didn't.

He wasn't found through you.

He surrendered.

You seem taken with her.

I remember how it feels.

I was about her age
when my mother died,

and I didn't ever want
to be left alone again.

You've been wonderful
with her today.

But you mustn't think
she's your responsibility.

But I know how it feels.

I know what she needs.

And do you think you
can give that to her?

Somebody should.
Why not me?

Because you're still
a child yourself, Maya.

Maybe that's why
she wants me around.

Because I'm like her.

I'm not an adult.

I'm a friend.

We have Boaz, finally.

Oh.

Thank you for coming to me.

It was a risk.

No. Anything to at last
get back to normality.

Normality?

What is that?

The murderer will be
punished for his crime,

and the reprisals ended.

And the natural balance
of things will be restored.

Is that it?

I'm sorry?

You seem to think
that before Boaz,

everything was as it should be.

Well, there was stability.

I know our nations have
their differences, but...

We live under the heel
of Roman tyranny...

An occupying army
that drains us of resources

and doles out murder
on a mass scale.

We are enslaved.

But you stand here freely
with me now, don't you?

Only because you allow me to.

And in return,

you expect me to play the role
of the grateful subject

because you are
one of them... a Roman.

Yo are the problem.

Bite your tongue, little snake!

Don't presume to know me.

That might prove a costly error.

There.

You see?

At least we know where we stand.

How did you find him?

Knowledge can be
as effective as force.

You are the murderer.
Prove it.

Show me where you struck.

No.

Here. On me.

That's it. Closer.

Now show me.

At least he died quickly.

Whereas you will die...

Very slowly over many, many days

as an example for all to see.

How does it feel
to get this close?

Tempting.

There will be no end to
your pain for what you did.

Not only is Boaz dead one week
sooner than I'd like him to be,

you somehow have contrived
to allow his killer to escape.

Explain yourself!

It was my failing.

I should have anticipated
an attempt to stop him talking.

I should have placed men on
the rooftops where he struck.

Failure to do so
gave him an easy escape.

Is this cloying city finally
getting under your skin?

A single mistake
could be forgiven,

but this isn't
a single mistake, is it?

I accept whatever punishment
pleases you.

Get out of my sight.

Who was he?

A man of great conviction,

but tragically misguided.

Leave us.

♪ Save me, o God ♪

♪ for the waters are
come into my soul ♪

♪ I sink in deep mire
where there is no standing ♪

♪ I am come into
deep waters ♪

♪ where the floods
overflow me ♪

♪ I am weary of my crying ♪

♪ my throat is dried ♪

♪ my eyes fail while
I wait for my God ♪

♪ they that hate me
without a cause ♪

♪ are more than
the hairs on my head ♪

Do not judge this man
displayed here.

That's for God to do.

All we can do is forgive him,

as we must forgive all people,

and show love to all men.

Only then will we find salvation
when our Lord, Jesus Christ,

returns to establish
a new kingdom of God

in Jerusalem.

Take him.

Shall I stop him?

No.

Let him tell the others.

They'll come for their friend.

And we will be waiting.

All right.
All right.

What is this?
We haven't done anything.

No. But you will.

Arrest them!

Peter.
Are you all right?

Get out of here!

You too!

Peter.

This isn't good.

They were waiting for us.

Something awful
is going to befall us.

But it will mark the beginning
of something wonderful.

Thank you for making it swift.

It was not done out of kindness.

It was to save lives.
Boaz knew that.

He was expendable.

You'll need to replace him.

I'm in this now, too.

Teach me, like you taught Boaz.

Show me how to kill.

My friends...
It's time.

Where is he taking us?

To the temple.

Our nation is poisoned.
Turn away from hate.

Turn away from violence.

Jesus is the light of the world.

Amen!
Open your hearts.

Hear our message of hope
and love for all people.

Come.

Jesus is the good Shepherd.

People would not act this way

if they knew the kingdom
of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

is coming to Jerusalem.

He is the resurrection...

Him. Him. Take them!
...And the life!

I suppose it's thankless to ask,

but I'd very much like to know
how you escaped your cell.

Then I can only assume

that you have some experience
of lock-picking,

a skill
which most reasonable people

would associate
with criminality.

Very well.

You are accused of continuing

to teach the name
of a false prophet.

You defy the temple
and conspire to lead

the lost souls
of this city astray.

What have you to say to this?

Answer me!

Out of respect for the learned
elders of the Sanhedrin,

we will not seek
to defend our beliefs.

We only know them to be true.

There can be no defense
or clarification

or mitigation of the truth...
It simply is.

And what is the truth?

That God raised Jesus
from the dead

to sit at his right hand
as prince and savior.

And it was his spirit that
freed us from your chains.

You are aware
that saying such things

condemns you as false prophets,
according to the law.

There is only one outcome.

You are to be put to death
by stones.

So few words spoken...

For so many lives to be clipped.

Rabbi Gamaliel,

do you find fault in
our application of the law?

No, no, no, probably not.

But as president
of the Sanhedrin,

I'm obligated to poke
a finger into matters

that pique my interest.

Of course,
but what more is there to say?

They've been found guilty of...

Yes, yes, yes, yes.
It's all very upsetting.

But I wonder, do you not recall

the enthusiasms
of your own youth

and being carried away by them?

Your wisdom is highly valued
and recognized by all, but...

But I should sit down now,
should I?

No, no, I cannot.

My conscience pricks
at me for us both.

Let these men alone.

They are not dangerous.

If what they claim is false,
then nothing will come of it.

And in time,
they will simply fade away.

But if it is true
and you destroy them,

you will find yourselves

in opposition to God.

Having considered
the wisdom of Gamaliel,

it is agreed that the sentence
shall be commuted.

But you're to be taken to
a public place and flogged

so that everyone may know
your guilt!

If you do not obey the Lord,
your God,

and do not carefully follow
all his commands and decrees,

you will be cursed in the city
and cursed in the country.

The fruit of your womb
will be cursed.

The crops of your land,
the calves of your herds,

the lambs of your flocks.

You will be cursed when you come
in and cursed when you go out.

The Lord will send on you

curses, confusion, and rebuke in
everything you put your hand to

until you are destroyed and come
to sudden ruin

because of the evil you have
done in forsaking him.

We all knew we'd have
to make sacrifices.

That's what Jesus told us,
Stephen.

Not like this.

Shall we go home...

To Galilee?

You mean to live?

Why not?

The camp's set up.
It's growing.

You don't need to
be here anymore.

Is that what you want?

Yes.

But you can't do it, can you?

When you're at home...

You catch fish, you sell them.

You clean a boat.

I can do that.
Anyone can.

But it's different here.

You're different.

Even your name's different.

You're Peter.
No one else can be.

And that's why
I'm going home.

When?

Tomorrow.

Tamar's decided
that I'm the only one

that can keep her safe, and...

And I can't do that here.

I'm going to miss you

more than you will ever know.

We must govern ourselves
according to our law

so that this city and its people

are never again subjected
to Roman justice.

That's all well and good.

But as far as I understand it,

this Boaz surrendered
of his own accord.

Are these the men that
claim to keep the law of Moses?

You... you who have received
the law through angels

but have not obeyed it!

You're all just like
our ancestors.

Was there ever a prophet
they didn't persecute?!

Enough!

What is the cause of this?

The unjust punishment
of righteous men.

Hush your tongue.

The sentence was levied under
the eyes of God in his house.

Oh, you mean this temple?

Do you really believe
that God would confine himself

to a house built by men,
when he made all of creation?!

Oh, you be careful.
You're alone in here.

And didn't Jesus say,

"I will tear down this temple
and rebuild it in three days"

before he rose from the death
you condemned him to?!

Silence him.
Shut him up.

Look. Look here with me!

I see the heavens open and Christ
standing at the right hand of God!

Aah! Aah!

Kill the blasphemer!
Kill him!

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Do not hold
this sin against them.

Aah!