Movie Review - Paul, Apostle of Christ

Paul, Apostle of Christ was released in movie theaters across the U.S. on March 23, 2018 and was available on video June 19, 2018. This story of the early church and the creation of the book of Acts stars Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley, and John Lynch.

National film critics’ reviews are mixed, but most Christian critics agree that this is the example for Christian movie-makers to follow.

The overall theme of the movie is somewhat dark, as it chronicles the history of the persecution of Christians. Paul is imprisoned in a dungeon-like cell by Nero and faces beatings and torture daily as he awaits his punishment to be carried out. Throughout the movie, scenes depict the treatment of Christians in this time period, including executions, sending Christians to be torn apart by wild animals, and the lighting of Roman candles – the burning of Christians in the streets of Rome as a sinister source of light.

Luke is a friend of Paul’s and a fellow apostle, and risks his life each time he sneaks into the prison to visit with Paul. Luke’s initial occupation was a physician, but as a Christian, he joined Paul and other apostles in helping to spread the message of Jesus. In Paul, Apostle of Christ, Luke pens perhaps one of the greatest books of the Bible, the book of Acts, with Paul’s help.

A central theme of the movie is the internal struggle that Paul faces – and that struggle is more real to him than the fresh wounds of regular beatings. Before Paul came to know Jesus, his name was Saul, and he was an infamous persecutor of Christians. But on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered Jesus Himself, and was struck blind. Saul committed his life to Jesus and from then on, was named Paul. But it is clear in the movie that he still struggles with the things he had done before he came to know Jesus.

The movie also focuses on two lesser-known, but vital, characters: Aquila and Priscilla. This Roman couple helps fellow Christians hide in their home, which was an extremely dangerous act in that time period in Rome. A pivotal point in the movie occurs when the lead jailer of Paul’s prison decides to take Paul up on his offer to have his friend Luke, the physician, look at the jailer’s critically ill daughter. The jailer is led to Aquila and Priscilla’s home, where Christians are in hiding. The jailer looks the other way, although he could have turned in all of the hiding Christians, along with Aquila and Priscilla.

Parental Guide: Violence is the main topic of concern for parents. The movie depicts the brutality that Christians were treated with under Roman rule. Blood is shown in various scenes throughout the movie. The word “hell” is used once.