By Gavin Boyle
TESTAMENT creator Paul Syrstad shared what inspired him to create the show and how he hopes it helps audiences rethink what they thought they knew about the book of Acts.
“I hope people watch this, [and] if they’re already believers, they just re-engage with the story, whether they come away agreeing or thinking deeper about something or whether they come away, you know, more convicted about what they already thought. Let’s just re-engage with the Word. I think the word should always be challenging us,” Syrstad told Movieguide®.
“I hope it challenges people. I hope it encourages people and really just invite[s] people to engage with the story of the early church and to engage with the one that the whole show is about who is Jesus and the Holy Spirit,” he added.
The show was first announced by Angel Studios in February 2024 when production first got underway. A year and a half later, it is now in the hands of the audience following the release of the first few episodes.
“TESTAMENT connects audiences to the Bible in a way that is refreshing and new. While biblical stories are filled with action, danger, and hope, many people find the text difficult to engage with and not relatable,” Angel said. “By setting TESTAMENT in modern day, the show hopes to draw in a younger audience and remind viewers of the ground-breaking movement Christians are called to be a part of.”
So far, the show has delivered, providing a faithful representation of the Biblical stories from Acts in a setting that today’s audience recognizes. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
Related: Angel Studios Begins Production of New Series TESTAMENT From Book of Acts
The first episode of TESTAMENT is an excellent adaptation of the BOOK OF ACTS. It offers an excellent showcase of Christian values such as preaching the Gospel, performing baptisms, and developing deep friendships. There is no objectionable content, but there is light violence where Roman soldiers berate and abuse Christians. The writing, direction, camerawork, and acting by the principal actors are excellent. However, the acting by the supporting actors is a bit wooden. Also, the first episode suffers from weird editing. Certain cuts between scenes feel forced, and some sequences feel like they should last longer. MOVIEGUIDE® commends TESTAMENT to families with older children.
TESTAMENT joins a growing list of high-quality Christian shows and movies working to engage viewers and help them connect with the Bible in new ways. Other shows doing this include THE CHOSEN and HOUSE OF DAVID which, though set in ancient times, help audiences view Biblical heroes as real people, rather than mythical protagonists that have no connection to the modern world.
Read Next: The Cast of House of David on Bringing a Biblical Epic to Life
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +2