U.S. THEATRICAL DEBUT – LOS ANGELES – JUNE 2011
Prologue: Stephen blasts the hypocritical Sanhedrin.
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!”
Stephen is stoned.
“Lord…do not hold this sin against them.”
Saul of Tarsus stands over the body of Stephen, approving of his violent demise.
“So it shall be for all people of the Way, who blaspheme the law of Moses!”
ACT 1 – Peter denies Christ…
“Do not look at me, Lord!”
…But is restored and preaches boldly at Pentecost.
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ.”
At Peter’s word, 3,000 repent and believe.
“Be saved!”
The church grows, but Saul of Tarsus has a mission…
“These people must be sought out and extinguished”
…he ravages the church with violent zeal, flogging and stoning believers…
“Now we will count the stones that smash your skull!”
…But on the road to Damascus he is thrown down by the light and the voice of the Lord.
“Saul, Saul. Why are you persecuting Me?”
Panic sets in as a blinded Saul realizes he has encountered the Lord directly.
“I can’t see…I am unrighteous! I am unclean!”
ACT 2 – Herod puts James to the sword, arrests Peter, and threatens the church.
“I killed one, I’ll kill a thousand if I must.”
He accepts the worship of the people before the Lord takes his life.
“This is the voice of a god, and not of a man!”
A converted Saul and Barnabas reunite in Tarsus.
“Saul…we are called Christians now.”
In Cyprus, Sergius Paulus converts when the sorcerer Elymas is defeated…
“This man Paul speaks with authority, not as a sorcerer in riddles”
…But a fearful Mark wants to abandon the mission and head back to Jerusalem.
“Paul, this road we are taking is best suited for soldiers.”
Paul preaches to Jews and Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch.
“I want you to know that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”
ACT 3 – Paul writes to the Galatians…
“God called me through His grace, revealing His son Jesus, that I might preach Him.”
…But he and Barnabas split bitterly before the second missionary journey.
“These words are like a sword…”
Paul sizes up the philosophers in Athens.
“The ‘unknown god’ you worship in ignorance, I am going to proclaim to you.”
He returns to Jerusalem and is attacked by a massive mob.
“You come back here, do you?! You spit on Moses, do you?!”
Lysius the Centurion pulls an injured Paul from the Riot.
“Soldiers, circle around us! Hem us in or the mob will kill us both!”
Still, Paul, with cracked ribs, gets to his feet to preach to the mob.
“I am a Jew! Brethren and Fathers, hear my defense, I am a Jew!”
ACT 4 – Ananias the High Priest orders an already bloody Paul to be beaten…
“Let’s see how composed he stays when you hit his scabbed and swollen face.”
…and Paul reacts violently to the hit.
“God will strike YOU, you whitewashed wall!”
Shortly after, Paul is on trial before Festus and Agrippa.
“To the Jews I have done no wrong – I appeal to Caesar.”
On the ship headed for Rome, Julius is in command…
“To Rome! Neptune guides our way.”
…but the Helmsman realizes that something is wrong…
“We’re moving away from the coast!”
…as a massive storm, called Euroclydon, bears down on the ship.
“Hold Fast!”
Wave after wave pummels the men…
“Hold onto the ropes! Hold on to anything!”
…and they have to reinforce the hull of the ship.
“All men midship to pull the cables!”
Julius and the Helmsman turn on each other…
“You would save your own men and none else!”
…but all men rally as the ship comes apart at Malta.
“The shore approaches quickly, leave the ship, go, go!”
ACT 5 – Nero awaits at Rome…
“This is Rome, and Rome is the world, and I am the god of Rome.”
…but takes a liking to Paul’s bold speaking during the first trial.
“Be free, brave Jew, be free.”
Nero’s lusts, however, drive him insane…
“This city will be called the city of Nero. NE-RO. NE-ROME!”
…and Paul is arrested again after Nero burns the city and butchers the Christians.
“Speak of your love for Christ, now, you traitor!”
Peter comes to Rome to uplift the brethren…
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial you are suffering…”
…And says goodbye to Mark, his son in the faith.
“I will greet the churches for you in my letters…go now…take care…”
Peter is arrested and crucified upside down.
“My Lord…I have fed your sheep…my Lord!”
Romulus, the chief executioner, is conflicted about killing Paul, who comforts him.
“Romulus, if you believe in His name, nothing can separate you from His love. Nothing.”
Paul’s salvation draws ever nearer as the sword is upon him.
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
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To God alone wise be glory, through Jesus Christ, forever.
Acts the 3-Man Show
