User reviews

A very good documentary, produced by The History Channel and Paulist Productions and narrated by Martin Sheen, about the Twelve Apostles. It focuses on the Twelve Apostles during Jesus ministry and following his death and resurrection. Following the resurrection, ascension, and pentecost it deals with the Apostles proclaiming the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. It also deals with the relationships between between the Twelve and Saints Mary Magdalene and Paul of Tarsus. This was, and its follow up documentary THE STORY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL: THE MAN WHO TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, were two of the last project that the late Fr. Ellwood Keiser, C.S.P. produced. He was the founder of Paulist Productions and the Humanitas Prize.

Considered a documentary, this 2-hour History Channel special recreates the lives of the Twelve Apostles from their first meeting of Jesus until after His ascension, to Saint John's martyrdom.

Actor Martin Sheen narrates the film, which reveals the inner circle of Jesus Christ's original 12 first-century followers during and after Christ's death and resurrection. The message delivered by these untrained men--comprised of fishermen, tax collectors, agrarians, and a doctor--offers the promise of hope for the forgiveness of any man's sins committed, due to Christ's substitute payment and the intervening love of God for mankind (John 3:16).

The historical reenactment is based on the Book of Acts of the Apostles from the Bible and follows the apostles Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas through brotherhood, betrayal and redemption.

Reenactment actor Joseph Steven, a devote Christian, in the role of publican Saint Matthew is noted as actually having praised God in tongues during the filming of the Pentecost worship sequence.