Polycarp

No, no!

No!

- Get out!

- Take him!

Don't mark her.

We want a good price

for the girl.

Dog.

He will give you wisdom.

20 denarii. 20 denarii.

Final bid.

And sold for 20 denarii!

For your consideration,

this beautiful young maiden.

Play along,

or you'll get the whip!

Perfect for a house slave,

or work at the temple.

Who will give me 15?

15!

18!

Her looks are

worth more than 18.

20!

25 for the girl!

25 denarii from the lady.

She's probably not worth it,

but 30!

Do I hear any other bids?

35 denarii!

40!

40 denarii!

You'll not get a

higher bid than that!

Excellent. Final bid and...

I will give you 50 denarii!

Thank you.

Take her then!

My cows are worth

more than she is.

Sold.

- Your name, sir.

- Polycarp!

Thank you.

Bring out the next girl.

Ah, you must buy.

- You must.

- No, no.

- Oh, yes.

- Pretty, but no.

Melina, my dear.

So, it was enough?

The Lord provided.

Well, I must be about my work.

This is my husband Elias.

So what do they call you, child?

We mean you no harm.

My name is Germanicus.

I can pick a name for you.

Anna.

Welcome to our home, Anna.

We won't keep you

from your work.

And this...

This will be your room.

- I don't-

- You can take it anytime.

Okay.

It won't be like last time.

You're not going...

Friends!

It is by the grace of God

that we are all here tonight.

We are gathered for a

very special occasion.

Anna, welcome to our home.

We would have you share our

work and our provisions,

but not as a slave.

As a member of our family.

Anna, tonight you have received

your freedom from slavery.

Likewise, we have been delivered

from the bondage of sin...

and through the

perfect love of God

have been welcomed

into his family.

Yes.

Welcome, child.

Welcome.

I, Gaius Asianius Quadratus,

am pleased to offer

the citizens of Smyrna

the opportunity to show

your devotion to Rome

and our Emperor.

I set forth a new

proclamation that all

will be devoted

to our beloved Caesar

by offering incense

and proclaiming

him as your Lord and your God.

May the gods go with you,

and may Caesar be exalted.

Justin.

Greetings, Maximus.

Your presence has been

missed among our garrison.

Now that is hard to believe.

So now Caesar's a god.

The Proconsul should be

more concerned about

pleasing the people than Rome.

He's only seeking fame and

good fortune for our city.

Hmm... and what if the people

don't comply?

Quadratus has a way of

getting what he desires.

He may find it's more

difficult than he believes.

Be careful, Justin.

Times are changing.

Quadratus will just make

the worship of Ceasar law.

He can't mandate worship.

The priests call it

allegiance to Rome.

We must leave Smyrna.

You think it will come to that?

We can continue our work

better if we are not in prison.

But what of our work here?

We can't just abandon it.

Let us give this matter

some time and prayer.

God will show us what to

do when the time comes.

Well, what have we here?

Nourishment that

God has provided.

Thank you, dear.

Demetrius, time to eat.

Germanicus, back so soon?

I ran the whole way.

There are some things

worth giving your life for,

but you don't have to kill

yourself for a simple message.

For Quadratus,

when you have recovered.

I'll take it right away.

Eat some food before you go.

Alright.

Boys.

He'll learn.

Perhaps when he has

attained my years,

he will acquire some of

my sensible pace.

Chores are less burdensome

when done in company.

Greetings, Melina.

Sarah. I have your order ready.

Fresh-picked this morning.

Thank you.

That necklace

has a story behind it.

You should ask

Polycarp about it.

Why will you not

share it with me?

It is his story to tell.

How are you, Sabina?

Why, who do you have with you?

This is my new daughter, Anna.

Well, what can I get

for you today?

The usual, two loaves.

And how about a piece of

sweet bread, for a sweet girl?

Many thanks.

We love God,

because he first loved us.

And the love that we

share with one another

is the love that we have

received from God himself.

The perfect example of

that love is Jesus Christ,

who laid down his life for us,

so that we also ought to lay

down our lives for one another.

Does that mean we have to die?

Well, at the very least

we must die to ourselves

in order to serve

one another in love.

Not neglecting the widow,

the orphan,

the poor and the fatherless.

We ought to speak of our faith

boldly and without wavering.

The blessed Paul taught us that

we are to pray without ceasing.

So let us make intercessions

and supplications

and thanksgiving, especially

for those in authority.

Even Caesar.

Even the Pronconsul.

That we may live peaceful

and quiet lives

in all godliness and holiness,

as is pleasing to God,

who would have all men

come to the knowledge

of the truth that we now hold:

That there is one God

and there is one mediator

between God and men,

Jesus Christ,

who gave his life

for ransom for all.

And now may the grace and

peace and love and joy

of our God be with you,

richly now and forever.

Amen.

- Amen.

- Amen.

I don't believe in the gods.

I don't believe

in the gods, either.

I have prayed many times.

My words hang empty in the air.

There is a God

who answers prayer.

He's never answered mine.

It's merely water.

I suppose I'll live.

Why were the soldiers here?

Oh, it seems the Proconsul

desires my company.

Will you go?

Yes, I believe I will.

He's causing more trouble

for himself.

The Proconsul seeks the favor

of Rome, however misguided.

The heart of a king is like

a river in the hand of God...

and he turns it as he will.

I shall be a moment.

I was about his age

when Polycarp took me in.

Just as rambunctious.

Germanicus?

Hm?

Were you a slave?

No.

My parents died

of illness that winter.

If the Christians

hadn't taken me in...

I might not have

survived that year.

Polycarp was a slave once.

He was?

Back when he was but a boy.

I can't imagine anyone

ordering him around.

Someone is trying.

I would have your

final answer soon.

If it's a different answer

you seek,

I fear you will be disappointed.

One can always hope.

One can always pray.

It seems all you do is

copy scrolls one from another.

Don't you write

anything of your own?

Well, sometimes I do.

Mostly I copy writings of the

apostles and my mentor John.

What does he need

so many copies for?

For those who have none.

Polycarp used to travel, but

now he writes, and we run.

I wish I could be a runner.

You must be swift and strong,

like me.

Perhaps one day you will be.

Cicero, why the long face?

Is it your parents?

They don't understand.

And every time I try to explain,

it doesn't come out right.

I'm scared.

Scared to even talk about God

in their presence anymore.

You can't let what others

think keep you silent.

Has Irenaeus arrived yet?

Indeed. Not moments ago.

Irenaeus.

How good it is to see you,

my brother.

Likewise. Likewise.

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