A.D.: THE BIBLE CONTINUES: Rise Up
Empowered to change the world through faith.
Should You Watch It?
“Rise Up,” Episode 11 of A.D.: The Bible Continues, is a strong choice for family viewing. It presents the early Christian disciples as they seek a peaceful return to the Temple and a renewed opportunity to preach, even while Peter wrestles with Caiaphas’s role in Jesus’s crucifixion.
The episode’s greatest strength is its faith-filled energy. It depicts God’s Spirit working through Peter and the disciples, with moments that are exhilarating, soul-stirring, and deeply moving. Brief violence and references to pagan idolatry and betrayal are present, but the source rates the family content +3 and names the intended audience as all ages.
For an exciting, faith-based biblical drama, this episode is worth watching.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCaiaphas warns the Temple crowd about the Roman Emperor’s statue being placed in the Temple and urges the Jews to unite peacefully. Jesus’s brother, James, asks whether the Christians can return to the Temple and resume preaching.
Peter hesitates because Caiaphas helped crucify Jesus. John reminds him of Jesus’s words: “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Meanwhile, the Zealots prepare to attack the Romans.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this episode is excellent entertainment, and the source’s praise is emphatic. “Rise Up” is described as exciting, powerful television, shot like a feature-length movie with superb acting and excellent production values.
Its strongest element is its depiction of God’s Spirit working through Peter and the early Christian disciples. The episode also contains exhilarating, soul-stirring moments and scenes intended to move the audience to tears.
The Worldview
This episode presents a strongly Christian, biblical worldview. It includes prayers, positive references to God and Jesus, faith, baptism, Scripture, forgiveness, and biblical miracles. The disciples’ willingness to pursue peace and continue preaching reflects a commitment to the Christian faith, while Peter’s reluctance toward Caiaphas is answered by Jesus’s teaching about forgiveness.
The episode also includes pagan idolatry, but that idolatry is rebuked. Violence and betrayal appear within the story, yet the overall perspective is clearly positive toward Christianity and the work of God’s Spirit through the early disciples.
The episode’s central call is to rise up in faithful witness while pursuing forgiveness and peace. Jesus teaches, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview with prayers, positive references to God, Jesus, faith, and baptism and explicit references to Scripture and forgiveness, and biblical miracles; no foul language; brief references to violence include man tries to execute another man, but the other man kills him in defending his life, and imprisoned Christian woman strangled by Roman soldier, who’s deeply disturbed by what he was ordered to do; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, pagan idolatry but rebuked, and people are betrayed.
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
James asks whether the Christians can return peacefully to the Temple and resume preaching. When should Christians pursue peace, and when must they speak courageously?
Matthew 5:9 · Acts 5:29Peter struggles with Caiaphas’s role in Jesus’s death, but John reminds him of Jesus’s words about forgiveness. What makes forgiveness difficult, and how does Christ’s forgiveness change the way we forgive others?
Luke 23:34 · Ephesians 4:32The episode shows God’s Spirit working through Peter and the early disciples. Where do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to act faithfully?
Acts 1:8 · Galatians 5:22–23Caiaphas calls the people to unite peacefully, while the Zealots prepare to attack the Romans. How does the Bible distinguish faithful courage from violence driven by anger or fear?
James 1:19–20 · Romans 12:18The Final Word
“Rise Up” is exciting, moving, and deeply encouraging television. Its Christian worldview, strong production, and portrayal of God’s Spirit at work make it a welcome choice for viewers of all ages. WORTH WATCHING.
