PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST CREW OVERVIEW Andrew Hyatt (Director; Writer: screenplay) T.J. Berden (Producer) David Zelon (Producer) CAST OVERVIEW Jim Caviezel (Luke) James Faulkner (Paul) Olivier Martinez (Mauritius) Joanne Whalley (Priscilla) John Lynch (Aquila) Yorgos Karamihos (Saul of Tarsus) Cassius (Alessandro Sperduti) Antonia Campbell-Hughes (Irenica) COPYRIGHT INFORMATION • THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. • Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. USING THIS DISCUSSION GUIDE Intended for use after viewing the fi lm, this study guide provides catalysts for biblically based discussion of various themes found in Risen. The guide features three themes from the movie and is structured in such a way that groups can choose to discuss the entire guide at once or can focus on one or two themes at a time. The guide is also an excellent resource for individual or personal study and refl ection. THEME ONE: LOVE weapons we fi ght with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish Guiding Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV): “Love is strongholds.” patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, • 1 John 4:9-12 (NLT): “God showed how much he loved it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always we might have eternal life through him. This is real love— protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifi ce to take away our sins. Dear friends, SCRIPTURES REFERENCED since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love • John 13:35 (NLT): “Your love for one another will prove each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full to the world that you are my disciples.” expression in us.” • Luke 6:27-31 (NIV): “But to you who are listening I say: • Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If sinners.” someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other • 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV): “This is how we know what love also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God • 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV): “For though we live in the be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with world, we do not wage war as the world does. The words or speech but with actions and in truth.” • 1 John 4:7-9 (NIV): “Dear friends, let us love one another, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love As you start this theme discussion, refl ect on the nature does not know God, because God is love. This is how of Christian love, as it’s defi ned by Paul in 1 Corinthians God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only 13, our Guiding Scripture: “Love is patient, love is kind. Son into the world that we might live through him.” It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily • Romans 8:35-37 (NIV): “Who shall separate us from the angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (NIV). written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all In PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST, Paul is awaiting his these things we are more than conquerors through him execution in the Mamertine Prison. And yet he encourages who loved us.” his brothers and sisters in the faith to love their enemies. • Psalm 136:26 (NIV): “Give thanks to the God of heaven. This man who had been repeatedly beaten, whipped, His love endures forever.” stoned, and falsely accused continued to extend love and forgiveness to his persecutors. In the same way, we are • 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NIV): “But whoever loves God is called to love as Christ loved us. known by God.” • 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT): “Most important of all, continue to SCENE TO REVIEW show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” “Peace Begins With You” [00:40:31 – 00:43:42] • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV): “Love is patient, love is • In this scene, what do you learn about the cultural and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. historical context for life as a fi rst-century Christian? How It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is does this scene illustrate the daily struggles of living in not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love Nero’s Rome? does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It • How does this scene characterize Cassius? Why does always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always Cassius feel justifi ed in his views—and how would you perseveres.” describe his sentiment? How do the other members of the community respond to Cassius? SCENES TO REVIEW • Describe Luke’s rebuke to Cassius’ impassioned speech. “Peace Begins With You” [00:40:31 – 00:43:42] What does Luke mean when he says, “Peace begins with “Love Is The Only Way” [00:43:42 – 00:46:54] you”? “Saved” [01:27:10 – 01:31:59] Read John 13:35; Luke 6:27-31; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; 1 John 4:9-12 (see Scriptures Referenced). • What do John 13:35 and Luke 6:27-31 tell us about the Christian response toward our enemies or persecutors? How did Christ himself live out this kind of love? • Consider the high calling of 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. What does it mean that we do not wage war as the world does? • Notice how 1 John 4:9-12 says, “since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” Christian love is the response to experiencing Christ’s love. How can we demonstrate Christ-like love to both neighbors and enemies? Though the Christians in this scene are heartbroken and grieving the death of a loved one, Luke reminds them that love is the only way to respond to evil. Where Nero incites violence, they are to show peace. While the Romans persecute them, they are called to pray for their persecutors and show love. As the Christians struggle to comprehend and live out such love, they’re reminded to follow Christ’s example—that evil can only be overcome with good. SCENE TO REVIEW speech, but with actions and truth? “Love Is The Only Way” [00:43:42 – 00:46:54] Romans 8:35-37 says that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ—no trial, no hardship, no persecution. When • Looking through the scene, what reasons does Luke list tragedy strikes the Christian community, members of “The when declaring that “this world doesn’t know a thing Way” are divided and disagree about whether to show about love”? Name as many as you can. What parallels love or strike in retaliation. Luke turns to Paul for guidance— do you see between this depiction of ancient Rome and and Paul reminds him that the Christian calling is to show our world today? love. John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will • At their darkest moment, Paul reminds Luke that, “Love prove to the world that you are my disciples” (NLT). It is is the only way.” What does that mean for you? When this profound love that the Christians are called to show not you face adversity, challenge, or hardship, how do you only to their fellow believers, but to all people. respond? • How does this scene characterize the relationship SCENE TO REVIEW between Paul and Luke? Notice how Paul both rebukes “Saved” [01:27:10 – 01:31:59] and encourages Luke. How does this illustrate Christian discipleship? • Throughout the fi lm, Mauritius struggles to understand how Paul is deemed a threat by the mighty Roman • In this scene, Paul describes love by quoting 1 empire.