Paul, Apostle of Christ

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1

Is there nothing more?

A man was appointed

to my garrison two weeks ago.

He's very strong with a sword.

Yes, good to know.

Do you have other men?

Of course.

Nero, protector of Rome.

Let him be the center of your home.

Our blessed emperor,

Nero, protector of Rome.

Yes, it's good. For you.

Strong, healthy, good teeth.

He will serve you well.

Care for company?

Look, it's Luke.

Who are you speaking of?

Is that Luke?

Praise God.

It is Luke.

Luke?

Priscilla.

Thank you, Eubulus.

Of course.

Luke.

Praise God.

We were beginning to be worried.

I had to wait at the gates

longer than expected,

but here we are.

This place, so many people.

There were so many who

lost their homes in the fires,

others threatened by neighbors,

persecuted in the streets.

Come. Aquila's inside.

Aquila.

Aquila.

Luke. What a sight for these weary eyes.

I'm glad to see you, brother.

The arrangements you made

were in perfect order.

These are terrible times.

We could take no chances.

I know. Your letters that reached us

have torn the community's heart out,

so we took up a collection.

It's not as much as I had hoped.

Food and supplies are running low.

We are most grateful for every coin.

Tarquin, speak with Heroditon and Rufus

about what is

most urgently needed. Go on.

Tarquin? But he's so young for orders.

He's loyal. He's a Roman boy.

He lost both his parents in the fires.

We took him in.

This is Cassius, his cousin.

He followed when he heard

what the community was doing.

He was baptized soon after.

Aquila, can everyone here be trusted?

We trust in God.

Come, let's eat. You must be starving.

Your cooking?

I don't know if I'm that hungry.

There is a darkness

over this city now that

was not present

when Paul and I were here last.

Nero's cruelties have worsened.

He holds his circus games

with more regularity.

Men, women, children

torn apart by wild beasts

to the laughter of the crowd.

Oh, my God.

Nero says the reason is

to show the Roman people

that these followers of Christ

were responsible

for burning half the city to the ground.

What of all our brothers and

sisters that you shelter here?

How much longer can you hide them?

We don't know, Luke.

We're at a crossroads.

We're not sure whether

to continue here in faith

or to move the whole community

out of Rome.

Priscilla...

With such great persecution, why stay?

People are desperate.

We're the only light left in this city.

But in staying,

we put a great deal of lives in danger.

There are many families here.

Perhaps when you speak to Paul...

Yes.

Yes, he will shed light on this.

He will know what to do.

We would be grateful.

Luke.

I know you need rest,

but there are a great many people

here in need of a physician.

Show me to them.

Take this limestone, come on!

Come on, move!

Enough.

Get him up.

Come on, you. Get up.

Paul of Tarsus.

The man responsible for half

of Rome laying in ashes.

I expected more.

At least a man who could stand straight.

I am Mauritius Gallas,

Commander of the Third Legion of Rome.

And now the new Prefect

of the Mamertine Prison.

His greatness Emperor Nero

has hereby proclaimed you

a corrupter and deceiver,

and a capital charge has been

brought upon you for treason.

For this crime, the punishment is death

by beheading

upon Emperor Nero's decree.

In the meantime,

you'll be left alone in the darkness.

Another 20 lashes for the old man.

Forged Roman documents.

Use these if you get stopped

by guards in the city.

A quick glance and they'll pass,

but a longer look will get you killed.

Understood.

That's the signal.

The peace of our Lord

be with you, my brother.

I'll need it.

Just remember,

you only get back out

if I decide you do.

You are most certainly a powerful man.

I will come back

before the night watch ends.

Hello, brother.

Brother.

Luke.

Am I dreaming?

No.

I'm here.

Praise God.

Praise God.

You have fresh wounds.

Get up.

Can you sit?

Come sit.

Yes.

I did not expect to see

your face in this life again.

Nor I yours.

Getting in here must have come

at a great price.

Surely the money could

have been put to better use

for our brothers and sisters.

Perhaps.

But there wasn't a single vote of

disagreement amongst the communities,

even the Corinthians gave generously,

if you can believe it.

Sorry.

I am grateful.

I've become an old man

inside these walls.

Every bone is wracked with pain.

My eyesight has become even weaker.

Quit your complaining.

I have new robes

and fresh water to bathe.

So you shall be a clean old man.

I'm glad to see you kept

yourself busy while I was gone.

Getting yourself arrested again,

challenging Nero again...

Hmm.

...and apparently finding the time

to burn down half of Rome?

Well done, old man.

I received the news

about your trial at the Forum.

I know you stood alone.

You know I would have

never left your side.

You are here now.

And so I am.

Tell me some good news

that I might hold onto.

There is good news

in Crete and Ephesus.

Titus and Timothy have silenced

the false teachers

and straightened out the good doctrine.

And what is the news of this city?

Rome is stained with the blood

of our brothers and sisters.

Aquila and Priscilla are faced

with the difficult decision

whether to stay or to flee.

Paul, there is much for us to discuss,

but the Roman communities need...

They need wisdom at this very moment.

What wisdom can I give?

I have gone right,

Christ has sent me left.

I've gone left,

and Christ has pushed me right.

I have many regrets,

made many mistakes,

but everything I have done,

I have done for Christ.

Go.

I'll be back soon.

He's physically shattered,

but the cantankerous old soul

remains full of hope and conviction.

It's welcome news.

I've been praying that this

solitude wouldn't crush him.

He is not crushed,

but he does struggle

that his work for Christ

has come to an end.

Paul is grateful that you have

risked your lives for this community.

Did he have any wisdom on the matter?

He is urging you

to discern for yourselves

where Christ is calling you.

No specific instructions?

No.

Only to offer an example

of his own life.

He's much better today.

He looks...

Here, drink this.

It will help with the pain.

Priscilla?

Priscilla!

Priscilla!

I'm here. I'm here.

Octavia? What's happened?

I found her wandering

the streets like this.

Sit.

Sit, sit, sit.

Where are you hurt?

Where?

Octavia, where are you hurt?

Where are you...

They've killed my husband.

And my little baby boy.

They broke down the doors!

We should have come here sooner.

You're bleeding. Where are you hurt?

It's not my blood.

It's my...

It's my baby's blood.

It's my baby's blood.

Take her inside, out of sight

of the others, please.

Come on. You're safe.

No, no.

Come. Come.

They were all

watching this poor woman

covered in the blood of her family

that had just been slaughtered.

Their faces were filled

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