Mendoza, Betina Maxine E.

181039
26YP5
February 26, 2020
Mr. John Aikle Cuevas

PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST: SHORT SUMMARY

The movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” takes place during Paul’s second imprisonment in
Rome. In the film, Nero’s persecution against Christians had just broken out. Christians were
covered in oil and lit on fire along the streets of Rome. Due to false accusations, Paul was
imprisoned for burning half of Rome down and was awaiting execution. Paul is soon visited by
Luke, another apostle, who wants to write an account of Paul’s life and ministry, hoping to gain
wisdom from him that will give hope to local church members such as those who have been
forced to hide out in the home of a married couple, Aquila and Priscilla. In the midst of the
persecution, church members are fearful for their lives, and a small movement to fight back
against the Roman oppressors is thriving. As Luke begins to make regular visits with Paul in the
Mamertine Prison, Paul has flashbacks of the past — offering glimpses of the rage and
vengeance of his youth, when he was known as Saul and hunted down Christians; of his visions
and conversion on the road to Damascus; of his struggles to live a life of forgiveness and peace.
Meanwhile, Mauritius, the prefect of the prison where Paul is being kept, has a daughter who is
dying of a mysterious ailment. Mauritius has tried all the physicians in the city, and none of his
efforts, including regular sacrifices to the Roman gods, is helping the situation. In addition, the
trial is putting extra stress on his already strained marriage to his wife Irenica. However, upon
realizing that his daughter’s situation is hopeless, he entrusted his daughter’s life with Luke.
Afterwards, Paul and Luke had their final walk together wherein Paul said that to live is Christ
and to die is gain. Paul is escorted outside the prison to be executed by decapitation with Luke
watching. Mauritius shakes Paul's hand in a final gesture of goodwill and respect. The final scene
depicts Paul arriving in Heaven as a crowd of people greet him joyfully, including all those he
once persecuted and killed. He is last seen walking towards Jesus filled with peace.
 The film “Paul, Apostle of Christ” not only incorporates the last moments he had prior
his execution, rather, it also included his journey on the way to becoming a true apostle of Christ
regardless of his dark past. Similar to what we have learned in class, the film featured the
concept of martyrdom which, according to what we have studied, was partly responsible for the
propagation of Early Christianity. Because of a martyr like Paul, people get to understand that
Christianity is not merely a belief nor a religion, but instead a pathway to the truth and eternal
life which makes it worth fighting for.