Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle, also known as Saint Paul, is a figure prominent in Christian history and a recurring subject in visual art. In the context of this collection, he serves as a motif across 71 works, appearing in devotional paintings, altarpieces, and narrative scenes. The apostle also serves as the subject of a 2000 television film, titled San Paolo in Italian and Die Bibel: Paulus in German. Directed by Roger Young and written by Gareth Jones, the film dramatizes the biblical events of the apostle's life, blending scriptural narrative with fictionalized elements to explore his transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a foundational missionary.

In the collection's visual works, Paul's iconography is tied to his biblical narrative and theological role as the apostle to the Gentiles. He is frequently depicted alongside other sacred figures, such as in Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints Peter and Paul and Angels, or within the collective assembly of the twelve apostles. His representation often carries the meaning of zealous conversion and steadfast faith, concepts also central to the 2000 film. The cinematic narrative emphasizes his evolution from Saul of Tarsus, a rigid Pharisee who persecuted early Christians, to Paul, a devoted missionary who endures persecution to spread Christian doctrine to the wider Roman world.

While the collection demonstrates Paul's enduring presence in Christian art, the 2000 film illustrates how the treatment of his story shifts across periods and mediums. The film, part of The Bible Collection project, adapts the apostle's narrative for modern television, utilizing the genres of drama and adventure. Unlike traditional visual representations that often idealize or isolate sacred moments, this contemporary treatment integrates the apostle into a sprawling historical epic. The production modifies the scriptural account, reflecting a modern dramatic sensibility by inventing a personal antagonist, the Sadducee priest Ruben, and crafting a sustained conflict that drives the plot across a two-part television format.

Within the collection, notable depictions of Paul include The Apostle Paul and The Conversion of Saint Paul, which isolate his individual narrative. In film, the most prominent depiction is the 2000 television movie, where Johannes Brandrup plays the apostle. The cast includes Ennio Fantastichini as Peter, G. W. Bailey as Barnabas, Franco Nero as Gamaliel, and Massimo Sarchielli as Ananias of Damascus. Thomas Lockyer plays the fictionalized character Ruben, a Sadducee priest and former friend who becomes Paul's relentless persecutor. Barbora Bobulova plays Dina, Ruben's wife, who secretly converts to Christianity and aids Paul's escape. Director Roger Young also appears in the film as Herod Agrippa.

The 2000 film adaptation of Paul's life experienced a divided legacy. In Italy, the miniseries was a ratings success, drawing over 8.7 million viewers during its premiere broadcast on December 3 and 4, 2000. Italian critic Aldo Grasso described Roger Young's direction as honest and expository. However, the production faced criticism for its historical and scriptural deviations. Christianity Today reviewer Peter T. Chattaway called it one of the weakest entries in The Bible Collection, noting that it diluted its biblical source material with more fictitious material than any preceding film in the series. Specific critiques targeted the invention of Ruben and Dina, as well as scriptural inaccuracies, such as a scene where Paul enters the inner sanctuary of the Temple, an act historically restricted to priests.