Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9420 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-08-01
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 193 minutes

Customer Reviews

True to the NIV text, very educational to watch
I bought this after watching the Visual Bible version of Matthew, and I have not been disappointed. The producers do not play with the NIV text, sticking to it word for word. This certainly must not have been an easy task to accomplish, but I so appreciate that these videos are, for the most part, not "Hollywoodized" and the established text was not tinkered with. I'm sure the producers would have liked to have had more freedom, but it comes off very good and accurate too (which is what I so much appreciate). My young children also enjoy watching this series, and it sure beats having them read the text by themselves. This acts it out, making it not only educational but entertaining. Christians, you ought to have this set in your video collection.

"the birth of the Christian church"
This 1997 word-for-word depiction from the New International Version Bible of The Book of Acts is a wonderful addition to any Christian film library; directed by Regardt Van Den Bergh, it uses historically accurate costuming, and has the feel of what it must have been like in the time of the apostles, in their journeys throughout the Mediterranean countries.
It makes a great Bible study tool, and can be used either just to watch, or if you have a NIV Bible, to read along as the chapters unfold; also useful are the chapter and verse numbers on the lower right hand corner of the screen when each verse changes.

The acting overall is very good, but special mention must be made of some:
As narrator and protagonist, Dean Jones as Luke is absolutely superb; he is not just acting, but living the words. It is a remarkable, unforgettable performance.
Henry O. Arnold as Paul is excellent, with a physical energy and passion that is very believable.
Francesco Quinn (who looks so much like his father Anthony in his younger years) is a convincing Stephen, in a performance that touches the heart.

Tape I: Chapters 1:1-8:3. Jesus ascending to heaven, Pentecost, Peter heals the crippled man and is brought before Annas and Caiphas, the miracles of Stephen, his discourse to the Sanhedrin, and his brutal murder, which is a wrenching scene, and very moving. Running time 46 minutes.
Tape II: Chapters 8:4-13:52. Philip's journeys, Saul/Paul's conversion, the receiving of the Holy Spirit among the gentiles, and the travels of Barnabas and Paul. Running time 42 minutes.
Tape III: 14:1-20:38. Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Timothy; their travels, teachings, persecutions. Running time 50 minutes.
Tape IV: 21:1-28:31. Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, presenting his defense to King Agrippa, his perilous journey to Rome and shipwreck in Malta, and then his two peaceful years in Rome.
There is a short epilogue that joins Luke and Paul that makes a lovely ending to this marvelous biblical book that gives the early history of Paul and the apostles as they "plant the seeds of change at the heart of the civilized worlds". Running time 53 minutes.

cast:
Luke: Dean Jones
Paul: Henry O. Arnold
Stephen: Francesco Quinn
Barnabas: Wilson Dunster
Philip: David Clatworthy
Paul: James Brolin
Jesus: Bruce Marchiano
Lydia: Jennifer O'Neill
Music by David Mines
Cinematography by Tobie Swanepoel

Dramatized Bible brings not only the words but ideas alive
This live-action dramatization of the book of Acts, using only the word-for-word text of the NIV as a script lends new life and meaning to a book people often think they already "get." Nothing is taken away from the story and so much more is made available through seeing the events described take place before you. Even if the message of the text is somehow missed, the manner in which it is told should give anyone insight into how Acts came to be written -- through Luke's witness and collection of people's recollections, multiple stories and viewpoints combined to make a whole picture rather than one person's monogram. If you'ld rather view or hear than read, or if you want a new perspective on how the Bible was put together, Acts in particular, this is the video set for you.