A.D.: THE BIBLE CONTINUES: Saul’s Return
Empowered to change the world through forgiveness and transformation.
Should You Watch It?
“Saul’s Return” carries a strong Christian message about forgiveness and God’s ability to transform even the worst sinners. It also makes clear that the Roman Empire is becoming more dangerous, while Jesus Christ and His first disciples remain able to withstand the evil of depraved tyrants such as Caligula.
The episode is less dramatic and less well paced than the previous one. Much of it follows Saul trying to convince Peter to believe his conversion story and forgive him, making the episode feel more transitional than decisive. Saul also remains somewhat unlikeable from the viewer’s perspective.
If your family can handle the brief violence and implied attack, this episode is worth watching, especially for middle-schoolers and older viewers who can engage its themes of forgiveness and transformation.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter his conversion and baptism, Saul escapes Damascus and returns to Jerusalem. There, he reunites with Peter and the other disciples, who struggle to believe that Saul has truly changed.
At the same time, Emperor Caligula forces Pilate to erect a statue in his image in the temple. Caiaphas warns that this act could bring revolt, as Roman pressure increasingly threatens everyone.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this episode has worthwhile themes but does not match the previous episode’s drama or pacing. Much of “Saul’s Return” focuses on Saul trying to persuade Peter to believe him and forgive him, which makes the installment feel like a transitional episode with gaps to fill.
The episode does establish that the Roman Empire is becoming more dangerous, and a plot involving Simon the Zealot develops near the end. Its Christian message is strong, but Saul’s characterization makes him somewhat unlikeable even from the viewer’s perspective.
The Worldview
“Saul’s Return” presents a very strong Christian, biblical worldview. The episode focuses on forgiveness and God’s ability to transform even the worst of sinners. Saul’s return centers on whether others can believe that his life has truly changed and whether they can forgive him.
The episode also portrays the Roman Empire as increasingly dangerous, especially under the depraved tyranny of Caligula. Against that evil, it presents Jesus Christ and His first disciples as the only ones capable of withstanding such oppression. The message is clear: human transformation and faithful resistance are possible through Christ.
The episode’s central hope aligns with Scripture’s teaching that God makes people new: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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 this episode focusing on forgiveness and God’s ability to transform even the worse of sinners; no foul language; one violent scene where the Roman emperor tells a subject to stab himself out of loyalty, a man is punched; it’s implied that a woman was attacked by a roman, we hear and see her crying afterward; and, no other immoral content.
Talk About It
Three questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
Saul has changed, but Peter and the other disciples struggle to believe him. Why can forgiveness be difficult even when someone appears transformed?
Acts 9:17–19 · Ephesians 4:32What does it mean for God to transform even the worst of sinners? How should that shape the way we view our own past and the past of others?
2 Corinthians 5:17 · 1 Timothy 1:15–16The Roman Empire becomes increasingly dangerous in this episode. How can Christians remain faithful when powerful people act unjustly?
Acts 5:29 · Romans 12:21The Final Word
This episode is slower and more transitional than the previous one, but its message about forgiveness, transformation, and standing against evil is strong. For families with middle-schoolers and older viewers, WORTH WATCHING — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
