Episode 7

Overview: Persecution drives some of the disciples to new territory. One of the new leaders, Philip, leads a revival in Samaria. Meanwhile in Jerusalem, the power struggles continue—especially when the Roman emperor visits.

Bible Connections: Acts 8:4-13; Luke 8:2-3 (Joanna).

Other Sources: We now see three different sets of power-players all jockeying for position: the Roman rulers (Tiberius, Gaius/Caligula, Pilate); the priestly family (Annas, Caiaphas, Jonathan); and the Herods (Antipas, Agrippa). This is all confirmed by Roman and Jewish sources.

Dramatic Imagination: The screenwriters have found a way to put nearly all of these grapplers in the same place at the same time. It’s unlikely that the emperor visited Jerusalem, but not impossible, and it gives us a chance to watch things develop.

Entry

• Are you following these events? What questions do you have?
• Who’s the most powerful person you ever met? How did you feel at that meeting? Proud? Humbled? Awed? Inspired? Disgusted? Do you see any of those reactions in the characters of this episode?
• What’s your impression of Simon the Sorcerer, whom Philip encounters in Samaria? What sort of man is he? What drives him?

Dig Deeper

• How do you explain Philip’s success in Samaria? Why were people suddenly responding so favorably? How did he win them over?
• Let’s talk about power. How would you describe the different types of power we see in this episode? What kind of power is craved by, say, Antipas, Agrippa, or Caligula? How do they plan to get it? What kind of power does Simon the Sorceror want? What kind of power do you see in Philip, or even Mary and Joanna?
• It’s not much of a stretch to see Joanna and Mary Magdalene in the midst of these events. They surely knew each other, and Joanna’s husband worked for Herod Antipas. So then, how would they feel as followers of Jesus in the midst of all this Roman power—power that was trying to stamp out the Jesus movement. Would it be frightening or energizing?

Takeaway

• Do you ever find yourself, like Mary and Joanna, in the midst of enemies? Do you ever feel that your coworkers or neighbors don’t really understand your connection to God? Do you sense that they are grasping for power in ways that you don’t? Do their priorities and values seem very different from yours? What can you do in a situation like that?
• What kind of power are you looking for? In this episode, we saw a lot of fame and influence with the Roman and Jewish leaders scrambling to gain the upper hand. Even Simon wanted to dazzle people with supernatural power. How much of your life is spent in the quest for financial power or political influence or employment status or just the dazzling of people? Where do you think true power comes from—and how do you get it?