A.D. The Bible Continues Episode 1.05 The First Martyr

After his trial, Peter finds that the people of the camp have become afraid of him. Mother Mary assures him that in time, the people's faith will give them understanding; but with all the crucifixions going on, pain and despair are ruling the day. That's why Jesus came: to free them from it. Deciding to take action, Peter gathers the apostles. They will go to Jerusalem to offer their fearful followers sanctuary in the camp. Once in Jerusalem, Peter and the apostles are stunned to find their former safe house stuffed with scared converts and refugees.

With no news of assassin Boaz, Pilate continues his reign of terror, ordering Cornelius to seize 10 Jewish women from a wedding party and crucify them. Overhearing this, Claudia asks her husband if he has no compassion... he doesn't. But when Cornelius raids the home where the wedding is to take place, it's empty. He rushes back to Pilate's palace to accuse Claudia of warning the wedding party. As Claudia refuses to deny or confirm, the cornu sounds, the signal the crucifixions have begun. Cornelius asks, "What did you think would happen? You'd succeed?" He and his men snatched 10 Jews from the market, who are being crucified in place of the wedding party. Moments later, Pilate interrogates Cornelius - why were there no women present at the marketplace? Could someone have warned them of the attack?

Meanwhile, Leah finds a worried Caiaphas in the bath. She has news to share: the assassin's name is Boaz, and they've found his fiance Eva, who could flush him out. Then Leah's off to visit Eva, asking her to persuade Boaz to give himself up in hopes of ending Pilate's crucifixions. Racked with guilt, Eva stays mum... for now. But once she learns of the Romans' attack, Eva visits Leah to inform that Boaz told her he was going to a place where people would forgive his sins. Leah locks Eva in a room for her efforts while Caiaphas and his men ride out to the camp, where they find Adam, John and Stephen studying scripture. Caiaphas demands the Christians turn over Boaz - don't they realize the Romans could wipe the camp off the face of the Earth in less than an hour?! After refusing to give up Boaz, Peter rushes to his tent to remind that only God decides who lives and dies. Refusing to sit in judgment of Boaz' fate, Peter says, "All I can do is forgive you." If the Romans come to destroy the camp, then it's God's will. Late that night, Boaz turns himself in to Caiaphas and Reuben. Caiaphas speechifies, claiming that in time, the monster that is Rome will move on. But Boaz knows Caiaphas despises Pilate, and deep down wishes Boaz's assassination attempt succeeded.

Later, Leah meets with Claudia to report Boaz's capture. Claudia is grateful that life in Jerusalem will return to "normality," which incenses Leah. What's wrong with Jerusalem is the Romans and their murderous occupation. Claudia slaps Leah - a warning - but Leah just smiles. At least they know where they stand. The next morning, Caiaphas presents Boaz to Pilate, who demands proof of his assassination attempt. Where did Boaz move to strike him? When Boaz complies, Pilate pulls out a small knife and stabs him in the chest, promising he'll die slowly over many days, an example for all to see. It's not long before Pilate has made good on his promise, and Boaz is being tortured by Cornelius in the square. Hearing Boaz's anguished screams, Levi ends his misery, shooting an arrow into his heart from a nearby rooftop. A furious Pilate lays into Cornelius, who claims it's all his fault for not taking more preventive measures. Back in the square, Caiaphas laments to Peter: Boaz was a man of great conviction, though misguided. Both men join in a song of mourning, then Peter tells the crowd not to judge Boaz, but forgive him and show love to all men. Only then will they find salvation, when Jesus returns to establish a new Kingdom of God in Jerusalem. Caiaphas orders his men to take Peter away, and Reuben and his men quickly seize John, Matthew and the remaining apostles.

In jail, Peter tells his friends that something awful is about to happen, but it will mark the beginning of something wonderful. Late that night, the Holy Spirit appears to destroy the locks on the men's' prison cells, and Peter knows it's time for them to preach in the Temple plaza. It's not long before Reuben and his men bring the apostles before the Sanhedrin, where Caiaphas convicts them of a host of crimes, notably, teaching the name of a false prophet. Peter declines to prove their beliefs; they're simply true. The spirit of Jesus freed them from Caiaphas' chains. Since such a statement condemns the apostles as false prophets, Caiaphas sentences them to death by stoning. Gamaliel, the elderly president of the Sanhedrin, interjects, claiming the apostles are not dangerous, since their false beliefs will just fade away. When the Sanhedrin collapses into argument, Caiaphas commutes the apostles' sentence to public flogging. Moments later, the flogging proceeds as Caiaphas reads from Deuteronomy, reminding the apostles that if they do not obey God, they and everything they touch will be cursed.

Late that night at the camp, Maya tends to the bloody welts on Peter's back. Frightened, she wants her father to take her home to Galilee, especially now that she has undertaken the care of the orphaned Tamar. Realizing her father can't leave his people, Maya tearfully resolves to return to Galilee without him. Back in Jerusalem, Eva meets with Levi, to thank him for ending Boaz's suffering and offer herself as his replacement. Will Levi teach her how to kill?

The next morning at the Temple plaza, the Sanhedrin is just laying into Caiaphas for his divisive decision to flog the apostles when Stephen shouts from the crowd. Stephen seals his fate, accusing Caiaphas of refusing the word of God, and meting unjust punishment on the righteous. When Stephen recalls Jesus' words, "I will tear down this temple and rebuild it in three days," the mob swallows him up and drags him outside the city gates, where he is stoned to death as Saul looks on. Stephen says, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and do not hold this sin against them." Saul picks up a rock and hands it to a man beside him to deliver the deathblow.