NBC’s “AD” review and reaction to Episode 6–The Persecution

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul was ravaging the Church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. ⁴ Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word. Acts 8:1–4 (ESV)

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1–2 (ESV)

Relatively speaking, this week’s episode of A.D. – the Bible Continues was un-“remarkable”. It covered these two sections from Acts, skipping most of the material found between.

• Saul is portrayed as one deeply offended by the “Nazarene heresy” and is willing to be Caiaphas’ henchman in order to remove the offense.
• Caiaphas is under pressure (is it an election year?) to resolve this problem and is happy to have the ensuing blood on Saul’s hands rather than his own.
• And for a change, Pilate didn’t kill anybody. (First episode, if memory serves.)

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OK… Let me do a little housekeeping…

• There is no record of Saul debating Peter. Yet, a careful reading of Acts would suggest that if such a debate had happened, Peter would have kept the focus on one event: Jesus’ resurrection. “You killed Him—God raised Him.” Peter was a fisherman by training and trade, not a philosopher. Lacking any other testimony, A.D. should base its Biblical characters on the information in the Bible instead of creating entirely new personas for them. Also, I wish A.D. wouldn’t so readily forget the resurrection. The book of Acts sure doesn’t.
• The book of Acts does record many debates with Jews and Greeks. To suggest that one of the apostles had to be physically restrained from violence when the opposing side insulted Jesus is ludicrous. This was not a barroom discussion about whose sports team is best, or a debate between a sailor and a soldier about whose branch of service is better. These men were witnesses of the resurrection; if you rejected their testimony or insulted their dead-now-alive Savior, they did not punch you in the face.
• One of the opening scenes had someone asking: Why doesn’t he (Peter) raise him (Stephen) up? That line scares me. Nowhere in the entire Bible, Old or New Testament, is there record of anyone expecting any human being to be able to raise the dead. The mourners at Lazarus’ funeral do ask if Jesus who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying? John 11:37 (ESV) Death is just too permanent, its undoing was beyond expectation. Even the night of Easter we read in Luke 24:40-41 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” (ESV) Having the crowd expect Peter to have had this “ability” conferred upon himself scares me! Will A.D. set him up as somehow better/more able/holier than any other believer? (SPOILER: Peter and Paul are both used to raise people from the dead: Acts 9 and Acts 20)

Still, this scene does a nice job of showing the Christian struggle with “if God/Jesus is all powerful, why do His people suffer?” I think it’s entirely reasonable to have the cast of A.D. wrestling with this; Job did, John the Baptizer may well have, I know I certainly do. It is their appeal to Peter—rather than God—that I have so much trouble with.

Now, since Mom always said “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t saying anything at all”, let me close this Mother’s Day episode with something nice: The Burial of Stephen.

Did you catch what John was saying as they were washing and burying Stephen? John was reciting from the prophet Isaiah. They were beautiful words! Words of comfort! Words of promise!

What a great example to us as we lay loved ones to rest. Would that we were so ready with God’s own words of comfort that we could be calling them to mind as we drive to-and-from the funeral home, sift through old photos, compose an obituary, even as the casket is lowered into the ground. Well, what better time to start making those words our own words than this week? John was reciting Isaiah 60 and Isaiah 35. Why don’t you join me in committing these verses to memory this week…

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. ¹⁹ The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:18–19 (ESV)

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; ² it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Isaiah 35:1–2 (ESV)