The series was known for high production values and special effects, particularly in its depiction of the Resurrection and Pentecost [11, 21].
Reviews were mixed. While some praised its scale and emotional weight, others criticized deviations from the biblical narrative or insufficient focus on core Gospel messages [1, 8, 17].
While the Romans and Sanhedrin plotted in their palaces, the heart of the show lay in the Upper Room. A.D. The Bible Continues excelled in its depiction of the transformation of the disciples. The series did not shy away from their initial cowardice and confusion. It captured the palpable fear that gripped the followers of Jesus in the days following the crucifixion, making their eventual transformation into bold preachers feel earned rather than assumed.
Led by Peter (Adam Levy), the remaining disciples navigate life after the Ascension and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost [1, 19]. A.D. The Bible Continues
Is A.D. The Bible Continues perfect? No. But it is bold, sincere, and often brilliant. It takes the most improbable story in history—that a dozen terrified men and women turned the Roman Empire upside down with a message about a crucified and risen Jewish carpenter—and treats it with the epic scope it deserves.
The series posited that the spread of Christianity was not merely a series of miracles, but a movement that threatened the political stability of the Roman Empire. By framing the narrative as a clash of empires—the Kingdom of God versus the Might of Rome—the show injected a palpable tension into stories that many viewers already knew by heart.
For viewers who grew up on The Ten Commandments and Jesus of Nazareth , A.D. feels like a modern, gritty reboot. For new audiences, it serves as a thrilling introduction to the foundational story of Christianity. It reminds us that the Church was not born in a cathedral, but in an upper room; not with power, but with vulnerability; not with swords, but with the Holy Spirit. The series was known for high production values
Picking up where the previous miniseries left off, it begins with the Crucifixion and Resurrection
Where The Bible concluded with a triumphant but brief resurrection, A.D. begins in the shadow of the cross. The pilot episode, “The Tomb Is Open,” does not shy away from the raw grief of Christ’s followers. Peter (Adam Levy) is a broken man, haunted by his denial. Mary Magdalene (Chloe Pirrie) and the other women move in a fog of trauma. Crucially, the series spends deliberate time in the silence of Holy Saturday—the 48 hours between death and resurrection.
Juan Pablo di Pace delivered a charismatic performance as Jesus, appearing in visions and flashbacks that guided the narrative. However, the mantle of the protagonist was effectively passed to Peter (Adam Levy) and John (Babou Alieu Ceesay). Levy’s Peter was a standout—a gruff, flawed, impulsive fisherman slowly learning to navigate the responsibilities of leadership. His struggle with his own ego and his fear of the authorities made him relatable to a modern audience. While the Romans and Sanhedrin plotted in their
Picking up precisely where The Bible left off, this 12-episode series (originally airing on NBC in 2015) aimed to translate the most explosive, dramatic, and transformative period of Christian history onto the screen: the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the subsequent birth of the early Church as recorded in the Book of Acts.
While its predecessor covered a vast span of biblical history, narrows its focus to the explosive and dangerous years following the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The 12-episode season adapts the first ten chapters of the Book of Acts , portraying:
A.D. The Bible Continues is a television miniseries that serves as a sequel to the 2013 hit . Produced by Mark Burnett Roma Downey