- 4 hours ago
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00:18I've always been a religious man.
00:22As prison caretaker doing duty in the stench-filled underground cells,
00:27I've gotten a glimpse of many a prisoner's own faith, or lack of it.
00:32Please! No! I don't want to die! Please!
00:36I don't judge them.
00:38I too would fear the mauling beasts.
00:44And death.
00:48But what I saw today in a young woman and her companions...
00:54Such courage. I have never seen before.
01:00No. Never.
01:41Come in! Quickly! What joy to see you all!
01:45Nothing could keep us away. It is indeed our blessing.
01:51We are all gathered. You were careful, my friend.
01:54Yes. We were not followed.
01:55Good. Then let us begin.
01:58My dear friends, what blessings God gives us, allowing us to meet yet again.
02:05To pray, to sing...
02:09That's right, little one.
02:11To sing, to encourage one another, and to strengthen each other in Christ.
02:15Let us give thanks to the Lord. Lift up your heart.
02:19We will lift them up to the Lord.
02:24Gods of my forefathers, may I prosper at the generosity of your hands.
02:31I honour you and tremble at your presence.
02:35Watch over me. Spare me misfortune.
02:38Pudence!
02:39Can a man not petition the gods?
02:43Salve!
02:45What a stench!
02:47How can you stand the smell of this place?
02:50I apologise, the accommodations are not to your pleasing, Flavius.
02:55What now?
02:56News from Rome.
02:58The Emperor has issued a decree banning new converts to that sect, Christians.
03:05Christians?!
03:05Minerva deliver us.
03:07Ah! Still calling on the gods, I see.
03:11You know what they say about them!
03:13Unfaithful to the gods!
03:15Unbelievers!
03:16They'll bring the wrath of the gods upon us!
03:19We shall be doomed!
03:20Back to yourself!
03:22And you keep insulting the gods and you will be the one doomed, infidel!
03:27You and your clay gods.
03:30This is all the god I need.
03:34Rome!
03:35In any case, make room for some new prisoners.
03:38We ride to arrest them now.
03:40Now?
03:41Now, Pudence!
03:43The Emperor wastes no time in ridding the Empire of these dangerous elements.
03:55But how can this be? Are you certain, Lucius?
03:59I have just gotten word.
04:01Where is my chariot?
04:03She will be alright!
04:05If I get there in time...
04:07My chariot, now!
04:09I am certain this is all a mistake.
04:11You know good and well that our daughter has no taste for such things.
04:15Perpetua was not brought up that way.
04:19I shall have her slaves whipped to the foe for getting her involved with those criminals!
04:24Those Christians!
04:42Let's go!
04:47Let's go!
04:50Let's go!
04:51Let's go!
04:52Please don't!
04:54Round them up!
04:55Help!
04:56I am a chariot!
04:56Leave up me!
04:58Felicity!
04:58Please!
04:59By decree of the Emperor, you are under arrest and...
05:03Let me through!
05:04Hello!
05:06I am Lucius Vibia.
05:09And?
05:09And this is my daughter and grandson.
05:12This is all a terrible mistake, I am certain.
05:14It's these slaves.
05:16They are to blame.
05:19Is this the way you take care of my daughter?
05:22Swine?
05:24Husband!
05:24Father, please!
05:26You...
05:27Stop!
05:28Father!
05:30Do you have any idea what they have gotten you into, Perpetua?
05:34She is but a slave!
05:37She is my sister!
05:40Your...
05:41What?
05:42Are you mad?
05:43Sir!
05:44I would that you take up this matter later!
05:46For now, I will fulfill my duty!
05:50Take them!
05:50No!
05:51You cannot!
05:52Perpetua!
05:53This is a mistake!
05:55Tell him, Perpetua!
05:56And she will have the opportunity to tell the proconsul, like everyone else!
06:01But the child...
06:02Surely the prison is no place for him?
06:05Hmm...
06:06That's true.
06:07So take it with you!
06:08My baby!
06:09No!
06:10But...
06:11Get moving!
06:12Perpetua!
06:13Tell them!
06:14Tell them you're not one of them!
06:17Perpetua!
06:18Perpetua!
06:18I shall see to your release, my daughter!
06:22I shall see to your release!
06:25I shall see to your release!
06:29I shall see to your release!
06:32I shall see to your release!
06:36But...
06:37We've done nothing wrong!
06:39I shall see to your release!
06:43I shall see to your release!
06:44What's all the fuss?
06:47Er...
06:48Just a mob!
06:49Perpetua!
06:50Look!
06:51It's Perpetua!
06:53Look!
06:54Oh!
06:55She must join us!
06:56What?
06:57How could this be?
06:58She went in with their lot!
07:00Oh!
07:01Isn't that her safe?
07:02I think I'm going to vomit!
07:05Fortunata!
07:06Cassia!
07:08Keep on!
07:09Quickly!
07:10Before anyone thinks we know her!
07:12Go!
07:13Go!
07:16Pastor!
07:17Courage!
07:18Be strong, my friends!
07:19We are gathered!
07:20We pray for you!
07:22Pray that we may endure!
07:24Move along!
07:27The believers pray for us!
07:29Let us bear this as Jesus did!
07:31Bravely!
07:34No!
07:35No!
07:35No!
07:36In there!
07:37Please!
07:42Please do not harm her!
07:44Quiet!
07:45Please!
07:46Sir!
07:47Please!
07:47She is with child!
07:49In there!
07:50Felicity!
07:51She is with child!
07:55Seconsulus!
07:55No!
08:01What has to be going on?
08:04What has to be going on?
08:06What has to be going on?
08:09Get on with you!
08:10Where are you taking us?
08:12Out!
08:16How much time are we allowed?
08:17How much money do you have?
08:20There.
08:21Get on with it, then.
08:23I'll tell you when your time is up.
08:27Pastor! Tertius!
08:29Oh, Tertius, what joy!
08:32Is it really you?
08:33Yes, my friends.
08:35Pastor, what blessing?
08:37But how did you...
08:38Alas, everyone has his price.
08:42Besides, the Emperor is after new followers of Christ such as you.
08:47He wishes to make an example out of you, to discourage others.
08:51But tell me, how are you?
08:54Were you not five?
08:57Secundulus, obey.
08:59He is dead.
09:01Then he is with the Lord, and we must draw faith and strength from his example.
09:07For you must endure.
09:10But come now.
09:11We have nourishment for you, and we haven't much time.
09:14Cheese?
09:16Milk?
09:16I never thought I would see this again.
09:19The believers are gathered.
09:21They pray for you constantly.
09:23Your suffering is ours.
09:24Then so must our joy be yours.
09:27For apart from the grief of our brother's death,
09:29the Lord has been gracious to us, even in our prison,
09:33and bestows upon us peace that can only be from his hand.
09:36And speaking of joy...
09:39Mother!
09:40Perpetua!
09:42My dear...
09:43Mother!
09:44Dear brother!
09:46And my son!
09:48My precious little one!
09:50They say the child can remain with you.
09:52Oh, praise and thanks for all God's goodness!
09:56If my Saviour does not but spoil me, my prison has become my palace!
10:03Be hungers, daughter.
10:05And you also need nourishment.
10:07How do you fare, sister?
10:09It is difficult, Marcus.
10:11But the Lord, he has helped us hour by hour.
10:16And you?
10:17I've met with the pastor and the others.
10:20We've had to be careful.
10:22I'm advised to keep the faith secret for now,
10:24as the law prohibits new believers.
10:27Oh, Perpetua!
10:29How I pray, how I wish...
10:31Take this.
10:32But keep it hidden.
10:34It belonged to Sir Congelus,
10:36martyred the night we were arrested.
10:38Let this remind you of the Lord's strength, brother.
10:44My dear...
10:45Thank you, Mother.
10:46And father?
10:47Hurry it up!
10:49Your father is beside himself with worry, my child.
10:52You do not belong here, with these people.
10:56He is doing all he can to free you.
10:59He is seeking the help of the proconsul.
11:02I regret your daughter's misfortune,
11:05but ignorance of the law excuses no one.
11:08I am aware, proconsul, but surely...
11:10And I find it difficult to believe that your daughter had no knowledge of the law.
11:18These Christians, worshipping their Christ above the Emperor, simply...
11:26Must be punished.
11:28It is mercy I beg for!
11:31And fortunately, mercy is abundant in the Empire.
11:35Your daughter has no doubt brought you great embarrassment, and as a result, possibly the loss of business.
11:41I, on the other hand, do not wish or need any embarrassment reflected on my promise.
11:46What can I do?
11:48Fortunately, there is a way out.
11:50Your daughter and her, uh, companions will have the honor of coming before me for a public trial.
11:56If she burns incense to the gods in honor of our divine emperor, denies this Christ, we are content, she
12:04is content, and more importantly, Rome is content.
12:08It's as simple as that.
12:10Now, I am busy.
12:13Vibia, I am not unreasonable.
12:17You are an intelligent man. Use something that is dear to your daughter.
12:22Something that will bring her to her senses.
12:27Perpetua?
12:27Yes?
12:29I am wondering.
12:32It was so good to see the pastor today, however short the time was, and it makes me question, shall
12:39we be delivered from this prison?
12:43I gather the Lord knows.
12:47Then let us ask him.
12:52A God that talks to mortals!
12:56Our Lord did say, ask and it will be given to you.
13:00Then, please, make sure he knows visiting hours are in the morning only.
13:10I have no doubt the Lord Jesus will answer our request and guide us through this trial.
13:17Let us pray and ask him plainly.
13:39Climb up, Perpetua.
13:41But be careful and see that the wicked serpent doesn't bite you.
13:50It shall not hurt me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke it.
14:01Welcome, Perpetua.
14:04My Lord.
14:08Drink.
14:09It is a taste of sweet things to come.
14:19Are you all right?
14:21What?
14:21You were staring.
14:23Jesus spoke to me through a dream.
14:28We shall be delivered.
14:30Well, he got that wrong.
14:33And shall join the Lord as martyrs.
14:38Then we shall soon be with our Lord.
14:41We must speak to the believers and find our baby a good mother.
14:46And a good father.
14:49God will take care of our child.
14:53So, you really do believe this God of yours has spoken?
15:00Yes, Pudence, he has.
15:03And you will die.
15:06The one true God calls us, Pudence.
15:11Perpetua!
15:13By the gods, announce yourself!
15:16Bring the child and come with me.
15:18Perpetua!
15:18Sister!
15:23Father!
15:25I beg of you, my daughter.
15:28Father.
15:28If you have any love for me at all.
15:31If I have not with my own hands provided for you and preferred you above all my children.
15:38Father.
15:38Do not bring this shame on us.
15:41Think about your brother, your mother.
15:44And if not us, then please think about your son.
15:48But, Father.
15:48What is this?
15:50What have these people done to you?
15:52They have done nothing.
15:54Then tell me quickly.
15:55For a thousand thoughts raised through my head and...
15:58I feel about to die.
16:00You are killing me, Perpetua!
16:03Speak!
16:04I am a Christian, Father.
16:06I have found...
16:07No, you are not!
16:08I am a Christian, Father.
16:11I have found in Christ the God who lives.
16:14Not the clay and marble ones we have so often worshipped,
16:18but the living God that comes to live in our hearts.
16:21Silence!
16:24We can get you out of this predicament.
16:26We shall go to the proconsul.
16:28What? I...
16:29He has promised me to free you.
16:31If you only recant, pronounce this silly notion...
16:35I will not.
16:36I did not raise you to end up in this.
16:38I cannot!
16:38You will!
16:39No!
16:48Father...
16:48Do you see that?
16:50What?
16:52What is it, Father?
16:54It...
16:55It is a vase.
16:56I don't...
16:57Can it be called by any other name than that which it is?
17:01It...
17:02It is...
17:03A vase.
17:04Neither can I be anything other than what I am.
17:08I am a Christian.
17:11Then come with me.
17:13No!
17:14Come with me!
17:16Wait!
17:20I shall have the child.
17:22No!
17:23The child!
17:25Father!
17:25No!
17:27If you have any love for your son, you will turn from this foolishness.
17:33It is your choice!
17:35It is your choice!
17:36Otherwise...
17:36Father, please!
17:37This ridiculous superstition shall be the end of me!
17:41Your mother!
17:42Your family!
17:43Your son!
17:45You will kill us all along with you, Perpetua!
17:50You and your God!
17:51You and your God will kill us all!
17:53You and your God will kill us all!
18:19Lord!
18:19We have prayed, Perster!
18:21Yes!
18:23We have prayed!
18:25And I have made a decision!
18:28You are a good leader, Tertius!
18:31You have kept the believers strong in my absence, as I visited others!
18:37You must carry on!
18:40Perster?
18:41Didn't our Lord say greater love has no man than this?
18:45That a man lay down his life for his friends?
18:48But surely...
18:48Tertius!
18:50Our friends are in prison!
18:52I am certain this ordeal cannot be easy for them,
18:55and I believe God wants me to stand with them in their hour of need,
19:00as well as in the greater tests that are sure to befall them.
19:08I... understand.
19:20Father?
19:22My son!
19:25My daughter!
19:27How is he?
19:28He is well, my lady.
19:32And what's this?
19:33They are married, Proconsul.
19:35She is with child.
19:36I am not blind, soldier.
19:41Now, let's get this nonsense over with.
19:45Think carefully, my daughter.
19:47I have spoken with the Proconsul.
19:50You may come back home with me today.
19:52You will have your son back in your arms.
19:55All the comforts I can give you.
19:57You can return, my dearest.
20:00And it will be like none of this has happened.
20:03Just offer a pinch of incense.
20:06By the gods if you people aren't stubborn.
20:09I will not.
20:10Take her away!
20:12One less slave.
20:13No, a baby makes two.
20:16I take it the husband will want the same fate.
20:19It is the living God that we serve.
20:22Make that three less slaves in Carthage.
20:25Then you shall go to your living God as a dead man.
20:29Bring the next one.
20:31It's all very simple, really, my dear.
20:34In fact, you don't even have to mean it.
20:37Just do it so that fool of a priest sees you.
20:41All it takes is just one little pinch of incense.
20:45I cannot.
20:47I will not burn incense to a false god.
20:50Libby a perpetua.
20:54I... I must go.
20:56Perpetua.
20:58Remember, it is of no consequence.
21:01Only a pinch of incense.
21:05You shall be home with me.
21:07With us.
21:08What will it matter to your God anyway?
21:13Only a pinch.
21:15Only a pinch.
21:21No!
21:24Perpetua.
21:24I am a Christian.
21:28Jesus Christ is Lord.
21:30No! Perpetua.
21:32Perform the sacrifice.
21:33Have pity on your baby.
21:35I will not.
21:36It is a living God we serve.
21:39Christ Jesus.
21:41Perpetua.
21:42Do you not care for your father?
21:44Your own son?
21:46Offer the sacrifice for the welfare of the Emperor!
21:50For the sake of your family, Perpetua.
21:52Offer the sacrifice you must!
21:54Strike him!
21:56Ah!
21:57Father!
21:58Do it!
21:59I will not!
22:00Are you a Christian?
22:02I am!
22:04Your own mouth condemns you.
22:07I love you, Father.
22:09And you shall be thrown to the wild beasts!
22:14I love you, my son.
22:16Take them away!
22:20Perpetua!
22:22You shall see us no more!
22:25You shall see us no more!
22:30Pastor!
22:31And who is this?
22:33What do you want?
22:34I too am a Christian.
22:36Their pastor.
22:37I am with them.
22:39Then die with them, you scum!
22:42One more for the beasts!
22:45Pastor!
22:46But why?
22:48God calls me to join you, sister.
22:50All of you.
22:51For he wishes to give you some comfort.
22:55Now, let us strengthen each other to the end.
23:01Felicity!
23:01Husband!
23:02The baby!
23:04The baby!
23:04It is time!
23:21I am restless. I cannot sleep.
23:25I shall pray for you then, dear Pudence.
23:28I've already said my own prayers. Thank you very much.
23:31Oh, by the gods, if I am not the one they probably hear from the most.
23:38No sooner is Apollo raising the sun than Pudence is already awake and asking for something.
23:45You all sleep so soundly.
23:49Tell me, are you not afraid?
23:53Of pain, perhaps, but not of death.
23:58How? How is that?
24:01Jesus has conquered death for us.
24:05He is with us here. He will be with us in the arena.
24:09His love keeps us, and we long to be with him.
24:13I do not understand a God I cannot fear.
24:17How do you stand it? This cell? Losing your son?
24:24Christ promises us eternal life, Pudence.
24:28As for this prison, it may keep our bodies, but not our souls.
24:36I shall try to sleep a little longer.
24:39I wonder, dear Pudence, my son, I want him to know I had to do this.
24:45I want him to know I loved him.
24:50Will you continue my journal after I am taken away?
24:53I... I want no part in this, but I shall ponder it.
24:59And what you tell me about your God, I shall ponder it.
25:15I shall prevail.
25:18Oh, my sweet, sweet saviour, oh, thank you.
25:22Perpetua.
25:23I'm sorry. Did I wake you? I...
25:26I have had a most amazing dream.
25:29What? As did I.
25:32Both of you, dreams?
25:34What is it?
25:36A perpetua? You look so radiant.
25:40God has been speaking to me, sister.
25:42He is so near to us, and oh, the dream was most wonderful.
25:47As was mine.
25:49Well, then, do not keep us waiting.
25:50What has God shown you?
25:52Our souls had left our bodies, and we were soaring into the air,
25:56accompanied by four magnificent angels.
26:05Do they take us now?
26:07The Lord be with us.
26:12I have arranged one last comfort for you.
26:25Tershius!
26:26Esther.
26:27Dear brothers.
26:29May God bless you, dear Pudens, for such kindness.
26:33Go on now.
26:35Your friends await you.
26:37Your friends await you.
26:38The Lord be with us.
26:40I have written my own life.
26:43My school is a martyr.
26:44The Lord be with us who are.
26:51My son is a martyr.
26:52Oh, Lord be with us.
26:56The Lord be with us.
26:56Thus far I have written this account till the day before the games.
27:00But the deed of the games themselves shall be written by the hand of another.
27:14And so the day finally came when Perpetua and her friends were led into the arena.
27:22The crowd was eager for some good entertainment.
27:25But I was unprepared for the sadness that overtook me.
27:32For though I had seen a hundred deaths, yet I had now no doubt that these five were innocent of
27:39any crime.
27:40And their sincerity and devotion to God had slowly penetrated my own soul.
27:51Behold the Christians!
28:02Refusing to sacrifice to the gods, they become a sacrifice themselves!
28:10And it seemed to me that if they trembled, it was for joy and not for fear.
28:26Procouncil!
28:28Your Eminence!
28:31You have judged us!
28:34And now, may God judge you!
28:40Silence!
28:41Silence!
28:42You shall regret your words, Christian!
28:46Flog them!
28:51And they were flogged before the line of gladiators.
28:56And I, I standing near, was amazed to hear them thank their Lord because they shared in his sufferings.
29:10And then...
29:12Bring in the beasts!
29:29I was witness to their prayers many times before, and heard them speak of God.
29:36God's assurances.
29:38The pastor, he was very fearful of bears, and so had received a promise from God.
29:46I trust in you, Lord, that it will be even as you have shown me.
29:52I will not die by the bear, not by the bear, but by the leopard.
30:06The Boor!
30:09The boor!
30:10Bring out the boor!
30:13The boor!
30:14The Hallo!
30:17Theber!
30:19Soon thereafter.
30:23A leper! Lord, I come to you!
30:34Perpetua and Felicity, how my heart ached for them.
30:39They faced a mad cow which tossed and trampled them.
30:47But Perpetua didn't seem to notice.
30:51Are we to be thrown to that wild beast?
30:54But Perpetua, you have already been thrown to it.
30:58What are you saying? I have not.
31:01You have, Perpetua, you have been thrown to the wild beast.
31:06But I have felt nothing. I have felt nothing!
31:13Finally, tired of the spectacle, the crowd called for them to be put to death by sort.
31:20And to the surprise of all...
31:22Stop!
31:24Ha! She recants!
31:26I will not go to my lord as if I am grieving.
31:31What?
31:32She's not afraid.
31:35And she looked radiant.
31:39And thus, one by one, they died by the edge of the sword.
31:47And through roof added blood
31:55Like that!
32:05Your testaments, dear Perpetua.
32:09And mine as well.
32:17The authorities concluded that the spectacle of death had served to discourage new Christian
32:23believers, but how wrong they were. The courage of Perpetua, the pastor, Felicity, Revocatus and
32:33Saturnius only served as seed to increase the believers, and many people came to
32:41faith in Jesus as I have done. And somehow I know that at the moment of death it was
32:51not the Empire that was rid of Perpetua and her companions, but rather that they
32:57were free from the Empire. And it was all at once that I recalled the pastor's
33:04dream as he recounted it to Perpetua and the others a few days before their
33:09death. I had a dream we were accompanied by four large angels. We had left our
33:16flesh and as we passed the world's edge, there before was a great and wondrous
33:24light. And one of the angels said, come and salute the Lord.
33:35After her death, Perpetua's story was told from one generation to the next, and her account
33:42read every year on the anniversary of her martyrdom. Considered one of the earliest known pieces
33:49of writing by a Christian woman, it is testimony to her desire to make Christ known even after
33:55her death. Today, her story remains a convicting testimony to Christians everywhere.
34:02forevermore.
34:08forevermore. For great is your mercy towards me. And you have delivered my soul. And you have delivered my soul.
34:32forevermore.
34:40forevermore.
34:47Earthreal.