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Private Notes
In the bustling marketplace of Alexandria we meet Samuel and Macky. Soon they encounter two young refugee girls who have stowed away aboard a ship from Galilee and are being pursued by Roman soldiers. Macky and his family risk their safety and defy the Romans by taking the sisters into their home. Samuel tells the story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den to encourage the family not to be afraid - and Macky learns that violence is not the answer. When the girls are captured, Macky reminds everyone how Jesus demonstrated his power with a Miraculous Catch of Fish before calling his followers to leave everything and follow him. This motivates Samuel to help Macky spring a daring raid on the prison to free the girls.
Macky rescues a snobbish, aristocratic Roman girl, Portia, from her runaway horse and she is so fascinated with Macky and the whole world of Alexandria’s Delta Quarter ghetto, that she returns and hires Diana to make a dress for her - at the Governor’s palace! Rebecca is horrified that a Roman should enter their lives and uses the story of how Delilah led Samson astray to warn against being corrupted by foreign ways. But Macky senses there is more to Portia than they have seen so far. Diana teaches the youngsters the value of tolerance through the story of Peter’s friendship with Cornelius, the Roman Centurion - and with help from their new Roman friend Portia, the gang thwart an extortion scheme run by Tobias and his sergeant, Brutacus.
A giant warship docks in Alexandria harbour and Macky learns from Portia that the ship’s mission is to attack the rebels resisting the Romans in Galilee. Macky inspires his neighbour, the young genius Sollie, with the story of David and Goliath. Sollie comes up with a plan to sink the ship. When Macky and Samuel are captured and imprisoned on the doomed ship, the story of how God released Peter from prison encourages them never to give up hope. As a result of the heroic destruction of the ship, its Roman architect decides to stay away from objects of war.
Macky and the family take a risk and give shelter to two men they think are fugitive rebels, brothers Caleb and Aaron. The story of Rahab teaches the family, and Portia, about caring for strangers. Aaron is very sick, and to nurse him Diana needs to cool his raging fever. Disguised as musicians, Macky and Samuel venture into the Governor’s palace to bring back ice from a lavish Roman banquet. When the sickness looks serious, the story of how Peter raised Tabitha back to life encourages Caleb never to give up hope for his brother. We’re left in suspense at the end of the Episode when it’s discovered that Caleb and Aaron are actually dangerous criminals.
Caleb and Aaron are trying to escape Alexandria. Meanwhile, after intelligence reports of refugee rebels entering the city by sea, Tiberius orders the famous lighthouse extinguished, threatening the lives of many innocent fishermen too. Macky is inspired by the story of Gideon not to feel defeated by the might of the Romans. Portia, Diana and the girls make a desperate, dizzying descent from the top of the lighthouse as they take a stand against Aaron. Together they must find a way to re-illuminate the dangerous shore. Samuel’s telling of the well-known Christmas Story - where the Good News was first told to lowly shepherds - turns Caleb and Aaron from criminals into heroes.
Macky and the gang want to rescue some slaves who are forced to work, shackled, in the Roman granary, but their friends and neighbours are worried about the repercussions. Sollie’s mother, Miriam, challenges them by telling the story of Moses beating the Egyptian slave master, and Macky soon finds he has enough support to help the slaves. Once rescued, the slaves must be hidden from the Romans, and Marx Brothers-style havoc ensues as Diana - theatrical wardrobe mistress - hides them right under the Romans’ noses at the theatre. The story of how Paul was changed on the Damascus Road gives Macky hope that even the Romans might one day change - and slavery will disappear.
Portia is still trying to make friends with all of Macky’s family and Diana learns from the story of Ruth and Naomi how to reach out to others - even outsiders like Portia. Little Leah gets lost in the chaotic back streets of the city and is tricked by a devious Roman called Lydia, (actually Portia’s palace tutor), who leads her to enslavement in a sweatshop run by Tobias. Macky uses the story of the Good Samaritan to remind Samuel that Portia, though a Roman, can help, and soon with additional help from Pontius the parrot they find and rescue Leah, ruining Tobias’s lucrative sweatshop in the process. Only the audience knows that Lydia’s story is left unresolved. Will she pose a future threat to our heroes?
Whilst Macky and the girls are minding Samuel’s shop, a petty thief steals a piece of jewellery. The silver fish has information vital to the rebel movement engraved on it and if it falls into Roman hands, there will be serious consequences. Macky can’t figure out how to get the fish back, but after telling Leah the story of a resilient John being beaten by the authorities for the crime of healing people, all becomes clear. Moments after getting the fish back, the bars of the harbour prison slam shut on the kids. Just as things are looking desperate, and it seems the gang are to be sent to the salt mines as slaves, Macky remembers the story of Shadrach and the Furnace. Samuel intervenes and creates an elaborate ruse that sets everything right.
It’s Purim time and while Macky, Sollie and the kids act out the story of Esther’s bravery, Diana shows her own bravery, as she tries to lead destitute refugees through the dangerous streets of Alexandria. When Diana is captured, she tells her Roman guard the story of the selfless generosity of Joseph of Cyprus and finds that the guard is sympathetic to the Friends of Jesus. He releases her, but still she can’t shake off Brutacus who with his troop insists on following her home through the streets, as the refugees try to thread their way to safety. Between them, Diana and Sollie use their wits to avert disaster and get the soldiers out of the way so the refugees can safely join in the Purim celebrations.
Out on Macky’s horse without permission, Leah easily outrides a spoilt Roman boy, Caius, who challenges her to a horse race so he can salvage his damaged pride. Rebecca is furious with her little sister, but Macky tells her the famous story of Joseph and his Brothers and she sees that forgiveness between brothers, or sisters, is more important than chastising Leah for her disobedience. When Leah goes to meet Caius and face his wager, Rebecca plans to help her and stop the Roman boy and his flunkies from cheating to win. Meanwhile Portia has been pulling strings amongst her fellow Roman aristocrats to help Leah from the opposite side. Between them they outwit Caius and Brutacus, but Leah had been hoping to get the wealthy Roman lad to pay his dues after beating him in the race. Rebecca tells Leah the story of Simon Magus, who foolishly thought money would make him all-powerful, and little Leah finally understands her big sister’s message.
As Macky’s family and guests celebrate Passover, Portia brings her Roman tutor, Lydia, with her to dinner. Leah recognises Lydia from the sweatshop incident. As the family recount the stories of the Burning Bush and the Exodus, Leah sits in silent fear of Lydia. Lydia is anxious that the Governor will find out about the illegal sweatshop from Leah and Portia, so she gets Tobias to intimidate Samuel and the whole family. A tense but comic cat-and-mouse game ensues as Tobias searches for Leah, but fails to find her and then tries to double-cross Samuel. Portia takes a big risk and warns Samuel of this trickery. Tobias leaves frustrated, once again. Nevertheless Samuel decides there have been too many close calls and to emphasise his belief that it is time to leave Alexandria, he tells the story of the Last Supper Jesus shared with his friends.
Macky and his family have left Alexandria and have sought safety amongst some desert ruins. Macky argues with his father that they have run away from their responsibilities and Samuel tells him the story of Jonah and the Sailors, showing that it is never really possible to leave behind responsibilities. Searching for Samuel back at the shop, a vengeful Tobias arrests their neighbour Nathan and Sollie brings this news to the family in the desert. Returning to the city, Samuel and Macky meet a thief, their old adversary Caleb. When Caleb recounts the story of the Prodigal Son, they know he is no longer a thief and enlist his help to free Nathan from prison. But to their horror, they realise Tobias had been using Nathan as bait to capture Samuel…
With Samuel imprisoned and Caleb injured, Nathan tells a discouraged Macky the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal to help restore his hope. Portia hears that Daniel, the father of Rebecca and Leah, has been captured by the Romans in Jerusalem and that she is being moved away from Alexandria to Jerusalem with her Uncle. She brings the distressing news to Macky and the girls and Macky makes a promise to Rebecca and Leah that he will, somehow, rescue their father. A torrential rainstorm commences and Samuel tells his frightened fellow prisoners the story of the First Pentecost. Sollie devises a scheme to use the rainwater to flood the palace jail, forcing the guards to open the jail doors. Samuel is finally free, but now Macky tells his parents of his decision to go to Jerusalem, with Portia. Samuel and Diana see that they must let go of their young son. Macky must travel his next journey alone.
Macky arrives in Jerusalem disguised as a member of Portia's entourage, and soon comes across both some old adversaries and several new friends. Awed by the sight of the besieged city, he tells Portia the story of Jesus in the Temple as a boy, and a mysterious Roman soldier tells Macky how King David captured Jerusalem, reminding him that great obstacles may be overcome.
Macky is now a dependable courier between Jerusalem and the outside world. But he's soon given a job that might be too much, even for him: taking an elderly man out of the city for medical care.
The Romans are bringing in an enormous battering ram to use against the walled city of Jerusalem. Macky have to find a way to help out. Waiting to fight it, the zealots liken the Romans to Ahab and Jezebel, who wanted Naboth’s land, had him killed, then took the land for themselves.
Because of his success against the battering ram, Macky is now a little full of himself. Isaac tells him how strongly Paul and Barnabas objected to being treated as gods in Lystra, but the story doesn’t seem to make much of an impression on Macky.
This time, Macky sets out to rescue the real Daniel, but his new plan is no less dangerous than his earlier plan. He’s going disguise himself as a young Roman noble and brazenly go right into the Roman camp.
Stung by his humiliation at Macky’s hands, Toadie convinces General Tiberius to allow him to take hostages from the nearby villages. These hostages will be executed if Macky doesn’t turn himself in. One of the hostages is Macky’s friend Isaac.
Toadie gets very ill (sick, too) and only Macky can get the medicine that will save Toadie’s life. But will he? He decides to do it when Lucius tells him how Elisha helped Naaman, even though Naaman was an enemy soldier.
With the story of the Slaughter of the Innocents running through her mind, Portia hatches a plan that could force her uncle and the Romans to allow Jerusalem’s children to escape the besieged city.
As the people in Jerusalem starve, Macky comes across several sacks of grain that Toadie has stolen for himself and hidden in the Roman camp. With the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in mind, Macky decides to take the grain into the besieged city. But how?
The Romans are tearing down homes outside Jerusalem and using them for building material. Isaac’s daughter, Rachel, worries what will happen to her when their house is torn down, so, to calm her, Isaac tells her of the kindness Jethro the Midianite showed to Moses, a stranger.
To gain leverage in negotiations, the zealots decide to kidnap General Tiberius. Macky isn’t sure if this is the right thing to do, and recalls the story of Solomon and the baby, envying Solomon’s great wisdom.
After Macky fails in an attempt to escape from the Roman camp, Toadie accuses Portia of being a rebel sympathizer.
As Tiberius launches the final assault on Jerusalem, a still-incarcerated Macky begs Portia to help his zealot friend, Sarah. Portia stages a daring rescue from the city, then learns from Sarah that she was never Portia’s rival; Macky has always been Portia’s.
Intent on rescuing the zealot Daniel who is imprisoned nearby, Macky now arrives in Jerusalem disguised as a member of Portia’s entourage. Awed by the sight of the besieged city, Macky tells Portia how the young Jesus was briefly left behind in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph. Then Macky has to run – literally. He’s been found out by Toadie and must hurry off to the safe house his father told him about. On the way, he meets Lucius, a mysterious Roman soldier with an impressive (and unexpected) knowledge of the Old Testament. He tells Macky how David’s soldiers once entered Jerusalem through a narrow water tunnel. Dismissing the story as nothing more than legend, Macky hurries off to the safe house. There, he meets the owner, Isaac, who pretends to be senile when the Romans are around. No sooner does Macky arrive than he’s pressed into service bringing medicine into Jerusalem. Macky must brave the unpredictable currents of the (not-so-legendary) water tunnel, and then, the even less predictable reactions of the fiery zealots inside the city.
Macky is now a dependable courier between Jerusalem and the outside world. But he’s soon given a job that might be too much, even for him: taking an elderly man out of the city for medical care. Unable to use the water tunnel because of its dangerous currents, Macky must find another way. Lucius tells him the ailing man might be taken over a certain part of the city wall, but Macky is suspicious; why should he trust Lucius, a Roman? Lucius tells him the story of Paul/Saul, and his conversion on the road to Damascus. Macky is convinced of Lucius’s desire to help and quickly conceives a plan. But when Macky offers the plan to Sarah, his new zealot friend, she rejects it. Like Macky, she sees no reason to trust a Roman. But unlike Macky, she goes even further: she’s leery of trusting anyone, and she uses the story of Esau and Jacob to back up her distrust. Macky agrees to scrap Lucius’s plan, but that decision almost proves fatal. So it’s Lucius himself who must ride in to save Macky and Sarah. This gives Macky an opportunity to finish the Esau and Jacob story for Sarah, adding the part where the brothers finally reunite.
The Romans are bringing in an enormous battering ram to use against the walled city of Jerusalem. Waiting to fight it, the zealots liken the Romans to Ahab and Jezebel, who wanted Naboth’s land, had him killed, then took the land for themselves. The zealots draw strength from the remainder of story: Elijah’s accurate prediction that Ahab and his family would be brought very low. Macky goes to Lucius for help. Lucius is at first unwilling; he thinks the zealots should simply surrender and avoid the slaughter. But he soon has a change of heart, inspired by the story of Paul helping the shipwrecked Roman soldiers, even though they were his enemies. Lucius gives Macky the key to defeating the giant battering ram, and Macky must then risk his life as well as those of two friends in order to send the ram to its spectacular reward.
Because of his success against the battering ram, Macky is now a little full of himself. Isaac tells him how strongly Paul and Barnabas objected to being treated as gods in Lystra, but the story doesn’t seem to make much of an impression on Macky. Later, when a stranger named Tamar urges him to attempt a risky rescue for the imprisoned zealot Daniel, Macky rashly takes on the task – even though some of Tamar’s information about Daniel is at odds with information Portia has given him. Macky finds out almost too late that Tamar has taken advantage of him; she’s tricked him into rescuing not Daniel, but rather, a friend of hers – who happens to be a brutal killer. Only Portia can save Macky now, but she’s angry at him for rejecting her advice in favor of a stranger’s, and Isaac must recount for her the story of Michal’s rescue of David in order to galvanize Portia into action.
This time, Macky sets out to rescue the real Daniel, but his new plan is no less dangerous than his earlier plan. He’s going disguise himself as a young Roman noble and brazenly go right into the Roman camp. Isaac uses the story of Elymas, to underscore the danger of trying to be something you’re not, but Macky won’t give up, and soon, both he and Isaac are in disguise inside the Roman camp, sitting down for a huge banquet – catered by Toadie and Brutacus. At this point, Macky is moved to contrast the Romans’ over-abundance and lack of gratitude with his own people’s tribulations, as mentioned in the story of the manna in the desert. The banquet comes to sudden end when Toadie discovers Macky is not all that he seems, and he and Isaac must scramble to get Daniel out of the Roman camp, while also saving their own skins.
Stung by his humiliation at Macky’s hands, Toadie convinces General Tiberius to allow him to take hostages from the nearby villages. These hostages will be executed if Macky doesn’t turn himself in. One of the hostages is Macky’s friend Isaac. Unsure what to do, Macky heads for Jerusalem, but on the way, he saves the life of Marcus, a thuggish Roman soldier. When Sarah asks him why he would do such a thing, Macky tells her how David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but chose not to. Later, Marcus decides to return the favor by helping Isaac escape, but Isaac refuses to go; he knows that the Romans will retaliate against Marcus. He tells Marcus about the time Paul was in jail during an earthquake, and Paul refused to leave because it would have meant the end of his jailer’s life. Macky eventually decides to turn himself over to the Romans, but before he can, Portia realizes that the perennially corrupt Toadie let bribes determine who he would and wouldn’t take as hostages. She tells Tiberius, and, seeking to avoid further enflaming the locals against the Romans, Tiberius releases the hostages.
Toadie gets very ill (sick, too) and only Macky can get the medicine that will save Toadie’s life. But will he? He decides to do it when Lucius tells him how Elisha helped Naaman, even though Naaman was an enemy soldier. While Toadie hallucinates in his sickbed, Macky takes the medicine out of Jerusalem. As Macky makes the perilous trip to the Roman camp, the zealot Amikam follows him, suspicious. Is Macky trying to betray the zealots in some way? Still grumbling about having to help his enemy, Macky arrives at Lucius’s tent and gets a surprise: Lucius’s young son Antonius is now ill, too. Macky overhears Lucius tell Antonius how Jesus cured the woman who was bleeding, then hands over the medicine – which will now be used to cure both Toadie and Antonius. Just as Macky is leaving Lucius’s tent, Amikam confronts him. Overhearing this, Lucius thinks fast and comes running out after Macky, accusing him of trying to steal from him. Hearing this, Amikam’s suspicions of Macky fade and the two hurry back to Jerusalem together.
With the story of the Slaughter of the Innocents running through her mind, Portia hatches a plan that could force her uncle and the Romans to allow Jerusalem’s children to escape the besieged city. She arranges for the zealots to kidnap her away from Toadie while he and she are riding outside the city. The zealots then offer to trade Portia back in exchange for safe passage for the children. Fearful that Tiberius will punish him for losing Portia, Toadie tries to make Tiberius think that he is Portia, but he’s quickly exposed. And back in Jerusalem, Portia and Macky are having problems of their own: the children don’t want to leave the city. As Tiberius and the Roman army prepare to attack, Macky tells the children how a very young Samuel heard the words of God and obeyed them. The kids finally decide to leave, and the battle is averted. Portia returns to her uncle Tiberius, who never suspects that this was all her idea.
As the people in Jerusalem starve, Macky comes across several sacks of grain that Toadie has stolen for himself and hidden in the Roman camp. With the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in mind, Macky decides to take the grain into the besieged city. But how? Is he going to try to use the Romans’ own catapults to send the grain over the walls? That’s what the Romans believe, largely because a spy has told them that. But Macky has a trick or two up his sleeve, and just when it looks like all is lost and his plot is about to be exposed, Macky proves that he has become craftier with age. As a befuddled Toadie realizes just how badly he has outsmarted himself, Macky and his friends hear the story of the widow whose oil increased beyond all expectation.
The Romans are tearing down homes outside Jerusalem and using them for building material. Isaac’s daughter, Rachel, worries what will happen to her when their house is torn down, so, to calm her, Isaac tells her of the kindness Jethro the Midianite showed to Moses, a stranger. But Isaac’s problems are bigger than the loss of his home; if it is torn down, Toadie will see the secret tunnels underneath it – tunnels which will prove Isaac is a rebel sympathizer, and which will also lead directly to other rebels. Isaac must collapse the tunnels, but he needs time for that, so Macky offers to distract the Roman demolition crew... by tricking them into thinking that they are about to be attacked by a huge army. But Macky’s scheme unravels in mid-hoax, and Isaac is almost trapped in the collapsing tunnels. Afterwards, Macky and his friends are reminded of the narrow escape Paul and Silas made with the help of Jason.
To gain leverage in negotiations, the zealots decide to kidnap General Tiberius. Macky isn’t sure if this is the right thing to do, and recalls the story of Solomon and the baby, envying Solomon’s great wisdom. Ultimately, Macky decides to go along with the plot, but once he and the other zealots have sneaked into the Roman camp, he gets a nasty surprise: the zealots don’t want to kidnap Tiberius, they want to assassinate him. Macky refuses to go along with it; a fight starts, and in the resultant confusion, Macky is captured by the Romans. When Portia hears about this, she goes to Lucius, who tells her how Paul, a Roman citizen, claimed his right to be tried in Rome. Thinking that a trial in Rome would be preferable to a summary execution here in Jerusalem, Portia tries the same ploy with Macky – only to learn that Macky is not a Roman citizen.
After Macky fails in an attempt to escape from the Roman camp, Toadie accuses Portia of being a rebel sympathizer. Meanwhile, Lucius tells his kids the story of Paul’s imprisonment in Rome and his subsequent disappearance. Then he hurries off to deliver food to Isaac and his family, who are now living in mountain caves. On the way, though, Lucius is severely injured in a landslide. Just as Portia turns the tables on Toadie by insinuating that he is the real rebel sympathizer, news comes that Lucius has died – and with his last words, he has adopted Macky, thus making him a citizen at last. Tiberius is uncertain about all this, though, and he rules that Macky should be sent to Rome so the matter can be properly adjudicated. Less uncertain about Toadie, Tiberius has him arrested on the spot, while Portia hurries off to take Lucius’s children to go live with Isaac and Devorah, where they soon hear the story of the Sabbath loaves.
As Tiberius launches the final assault on Jerusalem, a still-incarcerated Macky begs Portia to help his zealot friend, Sarah. Portia stages a daring rescue from the city, then learns from Sarah that she was never Portia’s rival; Macky has always been Portia’s. As the city falls, Isaac’s children recall the story of Noah’s Ark, and are moved by its message of hope. Later, Isaac tells Portia about Paul’s appearance before King Agrippa and his retelling of what happened to him on the road to Damascus. After that, it’s off to Rome for Portia, Tiberius, Macky and Toadie – the latter two in chains, headed for an uncertain future.
Macky and Portia finally arrive in Rome, but under very different conditions: Portia is welcomed as the niece of Rome’s famous General Tiberius, while Macky has arrived in chains... and that’s just the beginning of his problems. He has been sold to a school for gladiators! Macky tells the story of Amos speaking out, and recalls the preaching of John the Baptist, to remind us of brave men who spoke out against corruption.
When Macky refuses to kill another trainee during practice, the gladiator school manager decides to send him to the arena the next day. Because he won’t kill, he will almost certainly be killed. Portia goes to Senator Antonius, who has spoken out on behalf of the Friends of Jesus in the Senate. But Antonius seems unwilling to help. We hear the story of King David and Three Soldiers, and Antonius tells Portia about Jesus speaking in Nazareth.
Macky is now a slave in Senator Antonius’s home. After telling the story of Jesus calming the storm to the Senator’s two children, to help them get to sleep during a dramatic storm, Macky discovers something extraordinary about their father. We hear of the trust between David and Jonathan, while Macky succeeds in foiling a trap laid by Brutacus and the mysterious Masked Rebel considers acquiring a daring young partner.
Toadie has a new job: he’s managing a gladiator, and finds he must resort to his usual cheating habits. Macky tells the story of David and Mephibosheth to explain the importance of helping others, and Antonius retells the Parable of the Sower, and the story of the House built on Rock to underline the need for solid foundations in life.
Marcus has an evil plan in the works, and he’s enlisted Toadie to help him. Meanwhile, Antonius tells Macky about Abraham and three strangers, and recalls the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus the tax collector, and how Zacchaeus soon changed his dishonest ways. Determined to find out what’s going on, Portia sets out to do some detective work at a mysterious warehouse where she runs into Macky, who then gets into serious trouble.
Macky escapes from the warehouse with Portia, but he is badly injured. Trying to keep Macky conscious on the way home, Portia gets him to focus on the story of Joseph and Pharaoh’s Dreams. Later Portia finds she must take the lead in foiling Marcus’s plot, while Macky remains on his sickbed and Sophia tells a frightened Felix how Jesus brought Jairus’s daughter back to life.
Convinced he knows who the Masked Rebel is, Marcus orders Toadie to spy on Antonius. Felix hears the story of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus and learns the importance of having faith. Meanwhile, Absolom encourages Macky by retelling the story of Samuel anointing Saul. Toadie sneaks into Antonius’s house believing no-one is home, but has a surprise coming when he discovers someone is in after all!
Macky and the Masked Rebel rescue some slaves from certain death in the Circus Maximus, and as the scared slaves hide from their pursuers, Absolom reassures them with the story of Elijah and the Poor Widow. An angry Marcus orders Aemelia to be jailed, planning to use Babatunji as bait. Later, Babatunji hears the Parable of the Lost Sheep, and helps Antonius in a daring prisoner swap, understanding now that God cares for each of us.
Macky urges Antonius to speak out against Marcus in the Senate, but Antonius is reluctant to openly confront Marcus, reminding Macky of the importance of doing right when he tells the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. Macky responds with the story of Jesus and the Moneylenders in the Temple. Later Antonius is wrongly arrested after accusations by Marcus. To give Macky and Portia encouragement, Felix and Sophia tell the story of Jesus healing a Paralysed Man.
Hoping to gain approval and payment, Toadie informs Antonius that Marcus is planning to rob Rome’s treasury. Antonius tells The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard to remind Macky that things can be seen differently. When Toadie appears asking to be rewarded, Macky tells him the story of Jesus and the Widow’s Offering to explain how the poor woman quietly donated all she had. Later Macky and the Masked Rebel confront Marcus and his men inside the treasury and Antonius tells Macky the story of Jesus and the Roman Tax.
News arrives that Felix is in trouble and later Antonius is arrested. Through the stories of Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet, Jesus and the Lepers and the Last Supper and Jesus’ Arrest, we learn the importance of humility.
Portia seeks the Emperor’s help to get Antonius released, but the Emperor decides not to intervene. Our friends recall how Jesus appeared before Pilate, and the events which took place as Jesus carried his cross, and at The Crucifixion.
Macky finally decides he must leave Rome. Now Portia must decide what she wants her future to be! We hear the stories of Jesus being seen on the road to Emmaus, the Rich Young Man and the Ten Commandments, reminding us to make good choices in life.
Macky and Portia finally arrive in Rome, but under very different conditions: Portia is welcomed as the privileged niece of Rome’s new prefect of police, Tiberius, while Macky has arrived in chains... and that’s just the beginning of his problems. Roman officials have decided that the trial he was supposed to get isn’t really necessary, and Macky has been sold to a school for gladiators. There, he meets Aemelia, the school’s owner and a former warrior herself, and Babatunji, the chief trainer. Together they impress on Macky that the only way out is to kill or be killed. Macky soon makes friends with Absolom, a Jewish trainee who seems to accept his unjust lot with little more than a shrug. Macky tells him the story of Amos speaking out about an unjust king, but Absolom remains unconvinced. Soon, hope arrives in the form of Luciana, a mysterious and apparently influential older woman who convinces Aemelia to arrange an obstacle course contest between Macky and another prisoner at the school: Toadie. The prize? Freedom. Macky soon finds that his side of the course is booby-trapped, but despite this, he wins – or so he thinks, until Luciana prevails on her Senator friend, Marcus, to say that the winner is Toadie – who turns out to be Luciana’s son! Despite the unfairness of the decision, Macky’s faith is unshaken. He tells Absolom the story of John, who spoke out against corruption, but then recalls that John was eventually beheaded...
When Macky refuses to kill another trainee during practice, Aemelia decides to send him to the arena the next day. Because he won’t kill, he will almost certainly be killed. Hearing about this, Portia goes to Senator Antonius, who has spoken out on behalf of the Friends of Jesus in the Senate. But Antonius seems unwilling to help. Meanwhile, the other trainees, all sympathetic to Macky – are planning a mass escape. But Absolom takes Macky aside and tells him the story of David’s lieutenants, who risked their lives just to bring him water. Absolom’s point is that all the trainees shouldn’t risk their lives just for Macky. Macky agrees to go it alone, but when the other trainees hear that Macky has left them behind, they betray him. At the same time, Portia has learned something about Senator Antonius: his late wife was a Friend of Jesus. Confronted with this, Antonius tells Portia how Jesus refused to perform miracles in Nazareth, and that he can’t go out on a limb to help one person for fear of jeopardizing the work he does for many people. But Portia persists, asking what his wife would have thought of his reluctance. Moments before Macky is scheduled to be executed, Portia and Antonius arrive at the gladiator school with good news: Macky won’t be executed, but he’s not free, either. He’s been purchased by Antonius and will now be his slave.
Macky finds that being Antonius’s slave isn’t terribly burdensome. All he has to do is serve the occasional meal and keep an eye on Antonius’s young daughter and son – Sophia and Felix – a task made easy because both kids enjoy Macky’s stories, particularly, on one stormy night, the tale of Jesus calming the storm. To Macky, Antonius is a secretive, enigmatic figure, who keeps very odd hours. Curious, Macky soon finds out why: at night, Antonius dons a mask and goes out and rescues Friends of Jesus who are in jeopardy. Macky is shocked at first, but soon decides that he’d like to help Antonius. Antonius, of course, is surprised that Macky has learned his secret, but he’s adamant in his refusal to let Macky help him. Trying to soften Antonius’s attitude, Macky reminds him of the trust between David and Jonathan, and how Jonathan even went against his own father to save David’s life. But Antonius remains unconvinced – until he walks into a trap set by Brutacus – and only Macky can save him. Soon, the mysterious Masked Rebel has a daring young partner.
Toadie has a new job: he’s managing a gladiator, but there are already problems. The gladiator’s first opponent is Macky’s friend Absolom, who has become a formidable fighter. So Toadie decides to skew the odds by adding a potion to Absolom’s pre-fight dinner. Macky has already tried to get Babatunji to free his friend, but his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Even when Macky tells Babatunji the story of David bringing his friend Jonathan’s son to him, Babatunji’s only response is that his only friend is his sword. But Babatunji soon discovers that Absolom has been drugged and he goes to Antonius to stop the match. But Antonius declines to help. Officially, that is. Unbeknownst to Babatunji, Antonius and Macky immediately go to work formulating a plan to rescue the still-drugged Absolom from the arena. As the giant arena looms before them in the darkness, Macky briefly despairs that their little movement will never catch hold here in Rome; Antonius counters by telling him the story Jesus told about sowing seeds. Sneaking inside the arena to rescue Absolom, Macky and Antonius must get past a hungry lion, and then, after finding Absolom, get around a no-less-dangerous Babatunji. At the last minute, Babatunji recalls the story about David and Jonathan’s son... and lets Absolom escape. As the three leave the arena, they pass the huge foundation of the Coliseum – a site for still more mindless Roman violence, Macky believes. But Antonius tells him the story Jesus told about the houses built on different foundations, and Macky realizes that the foundation isn’t really as strong as it seems.
Marcus has a mysterious plan in the works, and he’s enlisted Toadie to help him. By accident, Portia sees some evidence of the plot, but she still has no idea of the specifics. Meanwhile, Macky is overburdened as he clandestinely plays host to several refugees. With his patience at an end, he complains to Antonius, and Antonius tells him of Abraham’s hospitality to the three strangers, and how one of them told him that Sarah would soon be having a baby. Later, when Macky expresses frustration with the Romans, Antonius tells him how Jesus visited Zacchaeus and how Zacchaeus soon changed his ways. Warned by Portia that Toadie is up to something unsavoury, Macky initially hides his interest from Portia, but then, in costume, he sets out to see what Toadie is up to. At a warehouse, Macky runs into Portia, who has been doing detective work on her own, and she now realizes that Macky is in league with the mysterious Masked Rebel. But before she can say much about that, she and Macky overhear Marcus, a rabid opponent of the Friends of Jesus, tell a confederate that his plan involves killing several Senators when they gather in their communal bath. Marcus intends to blame the deaths on the Friends of Jesus. Macky is shocked by the brutality of the plan, but before he can get away, Portia looks inside one of the mysterious barrels in the warehouse. It’s filled with the poisonous snakes that Marcus intends for the Senators. And, as one starts to bite her, Macky pushes her away... and is bitten himself!
Bitten by the deadly snake, Macky escapes from the warehouse with Portia. Trying to keep Macky conscious on the way home, Portia gets him to focus on an old story: Joseph’s prophetic dreams. Macky remains conscious, but not out of danger; once they get home, Antonius puts Macky to bed, but he knows that there’s little that can be done for him. When Portia tells Antonius about Marcus’s plot to kill the Senators, and that she now knows that Antonius is the Masked Rebel, Antonius enlists her in a counterplot to foil Marcus and Toadie. And, because Antonius must not fall under any suspicion, Portia must play the key role. Overcoming unexpected obstacles at the Senatorial baths, Portia is able to secretly re-direct the flow of the incoming water so that Marcus’s plan boomerangs on him and Toadie. Meanwhile, Macky remains on his sickbed and Sophia tells a frightened Felix how Jesus cured Jairus’s daughter. Soon after, Macky recovers, recalling a childhood snakebite that just might have inoculated him against this most recent bite.
Marcus has a growing suspicion that Antonius is the Masked Rebel, so he rents Toadie a neighboring villa with orders to keep an eye on Antonius and try to find the hidden passageway that apparently allows Antonius to come and go from his home unseen. Aware of the surveillance, Antonius must curtail his nocturnal activities. And now that he has some spare time, he notices that Felix is being shunned by the other boys because he’s mute. So he tells the boy the story of Bartimaeus, an old blind man whom Jesus picked out of a crowd to help. Meanwhile, Absolom encourages Macky to take on Antonius’ mantle while Antonius is lying low. Macky is reluctant – those are mighty big sandals to fill – so Absolom tells him the story of Saul, a seeming non-entity who eventually became king. Macky decides to go out on a rescue mission solo, while at the same time, Toadie causes the kids’ dog to run away, and Marcus imposes a long and tedious dinner on Antonius. Toadie thinks he has Antonius’s house all to himself and that he can search it for the hidden passageway, but he has a surprise coming: when the others left to find the dog, Felix remained behind, and now the boy must find a way to get the very determined Toadie out of the house, and keep him out.
Macky and the Masked Rebel rescue some slaves from certain death in the arena, and, as the frightened slaves hide from their pursuers, Absolom reassures them by telling how Elijah was fed by ravens and then by the poor widow. Later, an angry Marcus orders Aemelia jailed. He tells Babatunji that the only way she’ll be freed is if Babatunji agrees to help trap the Masked Rebel. Using Babatunji as bait, Marcus smokes out the Masked Rebel, but the Rebel smells a trap and the rescue goes awry. The Masked Rebel and Macky escape, while a dazed Babatunji – and an unconscious Toadie – are taken to a rebel safe house. Recuperating from his injury, Babatunji hears the Friends of Jesus tell the tale of the shepherd who placed so much importance on a single lost sheep. Soon, Antonius arrives to help Babatunji, and Babatunji finds himself unable to betray him. Instead, he tells him that Marcus is holding Aemelia hostage, and now, there seems to be no way of getting her back. Undeterred, Antonius devises a daring prisoner swap, one that takes full advantage of the still-unconscious Toadie. Once Aemelia is free, Babatunji begins to tell her the story of the shepherd and the sheep.
Frustrated by Marcus’s continual verbal assaults on the Friends of Jesus, Macky urges Antonius to speak out against him in the Senate. Antonius is reluctant to openly confront Marcus, so he tells Macky the story of Jesus humbly entering Jerusalem on a donkey. Macky counters with the story of Jesus throwing the moneylenders out of the Temple... and Antonius gets an idea. He confronts Marcus in the Senate the next day, and Marcus is caught off-guard, speechless for once. Toadie offers to help Marcus get even with Antonius, but Marcus says he doesn’t need any help, and he fires the incompetent Toadie then and there, right in front of Toadie’s mother, Luciana. The next day, Marcus accuses Antonius of sending someone to spy on him. Antonius is arrested, and Macky feels the inevitable guilt for getting him into a predicament that seems to have no solution. To give Macky encouragement, Felix and Sophia tell Macky the story about the man who was lowered through a roof in order to meet Jesus. Macky and Portia decide to confront the so-called spy. They discover that he’s yet another of Marcus’s dupes, secretly scheduled to be eliminated as soon as he testifies against Antonius. Macky and Portia rescue the hapless spy, triggering a chase across Rome’s rooftops. In the end, the spy vanishes, but Macky and Portia are saved from Marcus’s thugs by Toadie, of all people.
Now trying to score points with Antonius, Toadie tells him that a financially strapped Marcus is planning to rob Rome’s treasury. Antonius takes Macky aside and tells him Jesus’ story about the vineyard owner whose son is murdered. It’s his way of telling Macky they need to take down Marcus themselves. Toadie soon returns to Antonius’s home, hoping to be paid for the tip. But Macky tells him the story of the rich people proudly putting coins into a trumpet-like plate at the Temple, and the poor woman who quietly donated all she had. The story sails right over Toadie’s head. Later, Macky and the Masked Rebel confront Marcus and his men inside the treasury. There’s a big, dangerous battle, but just when it looks like Marcus is about to be caught red-handed, Toadie stumbles in, ruining everything. Marcus escapes, and Macky is left thinking about all that money in the treasury, and how it could have helped those who are fighting the Romans. To help Macky keep his perspective, Antonius tells him the render unto Caesar story... but Antonius has regrets of his own, namely that Marcus is still walking around free. But not for long; furious that Marcus has rejected her precious son, Luciana tells Marcus that if he doesn’t leave the Senate – now – she will tell his fellow Senators about the lies, indiscretions and outright corruption she has seen during the forty years she’s known Marcus. With little choice, Marcus leaves the Senate.
When Macky tells Toadie the story of Jesus humbly washing the feet of his disciples, Toadie finally realizes that there will never be any material gain working for Antonius. So where should he turn? The answer comes only a little later, when Felix is taunted by some older children, and he runs away. Toadie goes to Marcus to exploit the situation. Meanwhile, Macky complains to Antonius about Toadie’s love of money and status, and Antonius tells him the story of Jesus helping the group of lepers, and being thanked by only one of them – the foreigner. Moments later, they get the news that Felix is being held for ransom by petty criminals. As the Masked Rebel, Antonius confronts one of the criminals and intimidates him into telling where Felix is. But Antonius decides to go into the place alone, leaving Macky outside to keep watch. Antonius easily defeats the thugs, who are holding an unharmed Felix, but Antonius’s mask terrifies Felix, and Antonius must remove it to calm him down. That’s when Toadie and Marcus reveal themselves. It was a trap, and Antonius is immediately arrested. Denying to passers-by that he’s involved in this, a guilt-ridden Macky hurries away with Felix. Later, when Portia goes to visit Antonius in jail, he tells her the story of Peter’s denials, and Portia realizes just how guilty Macky must feel right now.
Portia finds a dispirited Macky and gives him what she thinks is good news: that the authorities will release Antonius if he names the people he helped. But Macky knows that Antonius would rather die than do this, and he tells Portia how Jesus was condemned to die. Worried, Portia begs her uncle Tiberius to intervene on behalf of Antonius. A hesitant Tiberius agrees to send a message to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Antonius is on trial, and it’s not going well. Marcus is pushing for execution, while Antonius is remaining silent. Finally, a messenger arrives with news from the Emperor: he has decided not to intervene with the trial. Antonius is quickly condemned. As he sits in his cell the night before his planned execution, Antonius tells a seemingly uninterested guard the story of the crucifixion. But the guard turns out to be Absolom, who’s been brought in by Macky to help rescue Antonius. Antonius regains his freedom, but not before a daring chase through the catacombs, topped by a rousing chariot ride.
Injured during his escape, Antonius entrusts Macky with the scrolls that contain the New Testament stories Antonius has been transcribing. But when Macky and Portia go to retrieve the scrolls, they learn that Marcus has possession of them now, and he intends to burn them in the arena. Portia urges Macky to forget about the scrolls and leave Rome immediately, but Macky is deeply committed to seeing that their stories live on, and he tells her the tale of Jesus meeting Cleopas and the other man to help explain why it’s so important to him that the story lives on. With Absolom’s help, Macky and Portia are able to steal the scrolls back, while at the same time, Marcus falls victim to a horrible accident involving a hungry lion. Leaving Rome for a new and uncertain life, Macky asks Portia if she’s sure she wants to come with him. He tells her the story of the rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus; the young man was prepared to accept the Ten Commandments, but he was unwilling to give up everything he owned. What will Portia decide? You'll have to watch the episode to see!
