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About the MovieApostle Paul and the Earliest Churchesis a brilliant and illuminating video production. Beginning with his conversion, it reenacts the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys on Anatolian soil (modern Turkey). This brief, 48-minute film contains an archaeological treasury: mosaics, frescoes, statues, amphitheaters, agoras, temples, and more. YetApostle Paul and the Earliest Churchesis more than a historical survey; this production's reenactment of the miracles Paul performed, the difficulties Paul encountered, and the persecution Paul faced beckons the viewer to experience with the Apostle himself the birth of the Christian Church. The film's archaeological emphasis is enhanced by 3D animated maps and footage of Antioch on the Orontes, Pisidian Antioch, Ephesus, Tarsus and other cities important to the Apostle Paul's ministry. Significant artifacts from a variety of Turkish museums are also discussed. Video Clips Click on these links for short clips from the movie: Introduction Antioch Ephesus Miletus Apostle Paul  | | The Apocryphal book, "The Acts of Paul and Thecla," describes the mighty apostle as "A man rather small in size, bald-headed, bow-legged, with meeting eyebrows, a large, red and somewhat hooked nose." Yet the power of the man was unmistakable. "Strongly-built," the account goes on, "he was full of grace, for at times he looked like a man, at times like an angel." By the time he was martyred in Rome, Paul helped to form an almost globe-spanning distribution of the gospel. It is almost unbelievable when you consider that, to begin with, Paul was a Roman citizen, and his original encounter with the cause of Christ was to persecute it. Paul did not have the chance, as many of the apostles did, to know Christ first-hand. He became a Christian only after an experience with the living Christ on the road to Damascus. It changed his life. | | In the book of Acts, Paul is called by his Hebrew name, Saul, until his clash with the wizard Bar-Jesus on the island of Cyprus. As a Roman citizen, he was probably called by both names, which was common for Jews during this time. The change from the Hebrew, "Saul," to the Greco-Roman, "Paul," was appropriate for his mission to the Gentiles. Paul's upbringing as a Jewish Pharisee made him respected among the Jews and his Roman citizenship, likewise, gave him esteem among the Gentiles. Grace is the key word for Paul. He writes in Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." There is nothing you have to do and nothing you can do to earn it. He continues in Ephesians 2:9, "not by works, so that no one can boast." With his background, a Pharisee and Roman citizen, Paul certainly could have boasted, but it was only through the grace of God that he received salvation. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Paul encounters pain and hardships, floggings and imprisonments, ridicule, persecution and eventually death, yet he knows it is all within God's plan. To Paul, "To live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Reference: The Unbound Bible - Used with permission. |
Apostle Paul's JourneysClick on the pictures below for animated, interactive maps with a description for each of the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys. When the animation has finished click on a city or district name for information on the history of that region and Paul's ministry there. Information about the modern-day cities is sometime also provided.  First Missionary Journey |  Second Missionary Journey |  Third Missionary Journey |  Voyage to Rome |
All Resources on this page are by courtesy of Lukas Productions, LLP |
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