Paul, Apostle of Christ

Name: Paul, Apostle of Christ
Genre: Drama, History
Released: March 23, 2018
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Alessandro Sperduti, Alexandra Vino, Andre Agius, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Giorgos Karamihos

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

See All

7.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Paul, Apostle Of Christ: Persecutor To Persecuted (Featurette)

Now Playing: Paul, Apostle Of Christ: Persecutor To Persecuted (Featurette)

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 23, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Alessandro Sperduti, Alexandra Vino, Andre Agius, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Giorgos Karamihos, Graham Charles, Husam Chadat, James Caviezel, James Faulkner, Joanne Whalley, Joe Azzopardi, John Lynch, Kirsty Bartolo, Manuel Cauchi, Noah Huntley, Olivier Martinez, Sarah Michelle Attard

Summary: Paul, Apostle of Christ is the story of two men. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. But Nero is determined to rid Rome of Christians, and does not flinch from executing them in the grisliest ways possible. BeforePaul, Apostle of Christ is the story of two men. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. But Nero is determined to rid Rome of Christians, and does not flinch from executing them in the grisliest ways possible. Before Paul’s death sentence can be enacted, Luke resolves to write another book, one that details the beginnings of “The Way” and the birth of what will come to be known as the church. Bound in chains, Paul’s struggle is internal. He has survived so much—floggings, shipwreck, starvation, stoning, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure—yet as he waits for his appointment with death, he is haunted by the shadows of his past misdeeds. Alone in the dark, he wonders if he has been forgotten . . . and if he has the strength to finish well. Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world.… Expand

Director: Andrew Hyatt

Genre(s): Drama, History

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 108 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Mar 22, 2018

It’s an impressively staged, well-acted, thoughtful and faithful telling of the last days of the Apostle Paul — and how Luke risked his life again and again to visit his great mentor in prison and make a written record of Paul’s life experiences and teachings. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Mar 21, 2018

Clearly well timed with Lenten reflections on sacrifice, service, suffering and responsibility. But it offers an equally relevant — and inspiring — portrayal of principled steadfastness and spiritual integrity in the face of a petty, corrupt and tyrannical leader. Read full review

Justin Chang

Jun 21, 2018

There is no triumph or easy uplift here, only an urgent emphasis on Christ’s message of sacrificial love and a principled rebuke to anyone who would cheapen the gospel with politics — a conclusion that has lost none of its sting or relevance 2,000 years later. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Mar 21, 2018

As movies expressly courting the faith-based audience go, Paul, Apostle Of Christ acquits itself reasonably well from moment to moment, avoiding the howlers that plague such Pure Flix titles as "Samson" and "God’s Not Dead." Read full review

Peter Debruge

Mar 22, 2018

Countering the CG bombast and apocalyptic doom and gloom of the modern blockbuster with a soft-spoken message of faith and love, Paul, Apostle of Christ struggles to find a compelling entry point to a critical period in the early Christian church. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Mar 22, 2018

We have a monotonous conjectural melodrama for the faith-based crowd that does nothing to reach out to others. It does indicate how a very important seed was planted for the blossoming of Christianity, but is banal where it needed to be charged with passion and a palpable religious compulsion of its own. Read full review

Robert Abele

Mar 22, 2018

A few minutes of thriller-like tension early on gives way to a lot of tediously scripted scenes of whisper-acting that rarely breathe life and humanity into what should be a potent turning point story in a religion's history. Read full review

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Dostoyevsky3

May 5, 2020

Paul, Apostle of Christ brings the true story to life with splendid cinematography and acting, while bringing a powerful message in an in depth and meticulous study of the final days of the titular character.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

aaron2203

Apr 4, 2018

The only reason this movie will get a low score is because of religious bigotry. They'll trash this film, while raving about empty and soulless blockbuster movies. They'll look past all the flaws of "The Last Jedi" or some other tragically awful story, and eviscerate any faith based orThe only reason this movie will get a low score is because of religious bigotry. They'll trash this film, while raving about empty and soulless blockbuster movies. They'll look past all the flaws of "The Last Jedi" or some other tragically awful story, and eviscerate any faith based or morally centered film.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

jerrydude

Mar 26, 2018

I am a bible thumper. 40 years at it. Best movie of last 10 years. May God have mercy on the ppl who hate this movie. Those critics who bothered, or who were given an opportunity to review the latest faith-based movie Paul, Apostle of Christ, dumped all over it at a 75 percent rate; theI am a bible thumper. 40 years at it. Best movie of last 10 years. May God have mercy on the ppl who hate this movie. Those critics who bothered, or who were given an opportunity to review the latest faith-based movie Paul, Apostle of Christ, dumped all over it at a 75 percent rate; the audience score, however, is a healthy 93 percent approval, according to Rotten Tomatoes.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

gzayas91

Jul 19, 2018

A solid good Christian movie of the final days of Paul. So good that it should put up with The Passion of the Christ.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Fabriccio

May 12, 2018

I arrived 15 minutes late at the theater and still had a truly great time. This movie successfully captures the spirit of those character's lives that we see in the Bible and the ethos of the time. I would easily watch it again soon.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dubeau

Jun 9, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is more about the efforts of the apostle Luke to get the story of Paul while he was in prison in Rome. You get a brief resume of Paul's story. You get to see why Paul is the leader of the christian at the time. But overall this is more about Luke and I would say the small community of christian during Nero's persecutions. So, the title is somewhat misleading. The movie isn't to display the violence or actions scenes. It's more about showing the faith and how it moves within peoples. The actors were very good. I like the fact that the Romans had a real Italian accent. There was a good body of work for authenticity with limited budget. The reproduction of Rome is minimal in terms of scope. For a low budget movie, it's very good. I give it a 70%. Just don't expect the life of Paul, but more of what happened in the end of his life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ThatDudeThere

Jun 22, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is almost anti-Christian. The reason I say this is the Christians in this movie are almost cult like in there teaching and in their ways. There is no Holy Spirit or walk with God, but only head knowledge of "love love love". It was like they were unsaved "christians" that are filling churches today. They have no idea what the power of God is. This movie only appeals to that crowd, affirming their lack of faith. The movie also makes sure to let the audience know that prayer doesn't work, and God doesn't protect. They sent a boy out on a mission full of faith that God would protect, only to have him killed. Sure the persecution happened, but we do not shiver in fear with no hope. "The Holy Spirit shall lead you to all truth." Yet they had to force feed "just love" teaching. This is a modern teaching that is very crafty. Yes Jesus is love but he taught hard truth. He blasted the pharisees for being hypocrites and their teaching keeps people from salvation, over and over for the entire chapter. (matthew 23) Paul of the bible was also bold in teaching and correcting. Now on to the writing of the book of Acts. In the movie it was Luke's idea for Paul to encourage the church with a letter. Paul would randomly say a classic verse throughout the movie, which the average non discerning Christian will eat up. But it comes off like man made one liners. The way the "story" was told to Luke was not even word for word from the bible. Then at the end Luke heard Paul say something great, and he said "I now have an ending!" Like an author that had writers block. This gives the message that the bible is man made and manipulated. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." 2 Timothy 3:16 I will say God did have a cameo appearance at the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Other than that there was no God in this movie. Like another reviewer pointed out, the one chance to let Paul heal the dying daughter of the jailer, and Paul offers the skills of Luke "the best surgeon in Rome." There is power in salvation and in the life of the true believer. I'm afraid that if this movie doesn't turn people away from Jesus, that it will keep the lost "christian" in his deception. I know from experience from praying multiple times as a child for salvation. I never knew God or his power. I even thought to myself in high school "if Jesus were Lord, wouldn't you feel God?" So many today teach "it's not like that for everyone, it's not about feeeeelings". Really? So you can't feel fruit of the Spirit? The Holy presence, peace love for strangers, patience, conviction unlike ever before salvation? If salvation for you didn't bring you to shame and tears in the Holy presence of God...only to be filled with peace and holiness after crying out for forgiveness? Does God bring peace in an instance when they are down? Do they lose that peace and holy desires, and are filled with flesh when they sin? And also get that peace back in an instance when asking for forgiveness? " For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance"… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS