Since they mentioned, “viewers are encouraged to read the Gospel”, so here I am to help you – again this is based on my research and it might be incomplete [peace sign]. But I hope it gives a sense of clarity when you read then watch or vice versa.

So here we go… oh before I forget, I might have a side comment in Italicize and clickable links in green that will lead you to another page.

Links of the videos will be at the end of the story.

2BC at Magdala (BC = Before Christ)

A daughter who is scared and was asked by his father to dictate some lines of what they were taught about their savior which we can find at Isaiah 43

28yrs later at Capernaum – awakened from her flashback, still in fear and yet those words (in Isaiah) couldn’t penetrate her troubled spirit. Don’t let your problems eat up your spirit and drown it with worries, ‘coz that’s when the devil wants to take advantage of those fears.

❗ You’ll get to encounter these popped-up boxes with some names mentioned in the episode, but could not be found in the bible, we’ve provided some links that go to another page which I assumed was used based on its history: [but then again, I may be wrong, my curiosity just led me to sharing my thoughts]

Character	Position in the Story	Reference Link
Quintus	A praetor of Capernaum	Wikipedia – Quintus Sertorius

A Pharisee, named Great Nicodemus, was stopped by Quintus before arriving at Capernaum. Quintus mentioned his problem that Great Nicodemus may help him with their unpaid tax collection. This just shows how government positions can be used as the power to make a deal bait.

Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots mentioned are like other religions that we have right now – may it be  Born Again, Christians, and alike.

Quintus and Nicodemus exchange of conversation about people who are already drowning in debts yet he left a symbol of a fish? You’ll get to know more about it in Season Season 1: Episode 4 – The Rock Which it is Built

Matthew in this series is pretty much unique since the director revealed that one of the disciples will have Asperger Syndrome, which is now considered one of the milder forms of autism spectrum disorder. “A Tax collector that was good in numbers and facts guy, and he didn’t mind a job that made him socially unacceptable.” – you’ll get my point of uniqueness in him as the series goes on.

Tax collectors are usually despised due to their job description but can’t help it if someone is really good in numbers and they have their talent to earn a living, isn’t? “Talent is a blessing, just use it in a right purposeful way”

Nicodemus then preached to his students about Quintus’ favor about their uncollected debt in relation to fishing on Shabbat day which was unholy. This part shows how Nicodemus uses his good act of storytelling in a wise truthful manner that can still be related to their belief when fishing in Shabbat is unholy.

A centurion came in the middle of their feast and requested Nicodemus to help them with the disturbance caused by the Hebrew Lady in the Red Quarters.

What popped into your mind when you heard it? Well, red can define a lot of meaning but the set-up of the scene had some beggars and writings on the wall shown, etc. It made me think of the uncontrollable slum area – poorest of the poor

When they went there, Nicodemus and the centurion had a brief argument on how they give orders – which can symbolize our Church and Government Leaders.

Let’s have a short intermission to introduce a new character – Now, you’ll witness a somewhat boxing battle game between Simon and Jehosaphat, though there was cheating involvement wherein Jehosaphat’s Brother, Abrahim, came into the rescue. So Simon and Andrew failed the bet. Jehosaphat’s name can be seen in the bible but he was not anything near to the character so at least they have reused some names in the Bible that we can explore, then Abrahim was tweaked from Abraham I guess.

This part of the battle is one form of gambling in their era wherein our generation that made me think of a cockfight, that some cocks have a blade on one of their foot as a way of winning which was not fair to the competitor. Anyways that was a random analogy of mine. 🐔

Simon and Andrew talked about their defeat that was not even fair about double knock-out then Simon jokingly reiterated his “wine hands”. This adds some humor in the chosen, where I guess wine was meant as a blessing for his strength. Simon then left to go fishing on Shabbat day which he knew was not allowed but still did it for desperation to have income.

So back to Nicodemus having a small talk with Rivka (like a tweaked name from Rebecca in the Bible) learned that her name is Lilith, He did this because of an order demanded by the Romans, or else their place will turn into dust.

Nicodemus then tries to do some exorcism ritual, saying divine names Adonai, El-Shaddai while drawing towards her but she replied “we are not afraid of you. you have no power here teacher” (from several voices). Nicodemus shakily left.

Character	Position in the Story	Reference Link
Lilith	Demon	Myth about Lilith

Let’s move away to the negative and demonic part. And time to meet another character~

Character	Position in the Story	Reference Link
Eden	Simon’s wife	7 interesting things you may not know about the garden of Eden

Eden is happily married to her husband Simon which they describe their relationship as fun, colorful, and perfection.

After the exorcism, which did not really help her, good thing she was able to go back to her normal state but she was outside her house so she then went back in and to get her toy that had a hidden note, there is a flashback of his father’s passing plus the fact that she had a terrible memory of being raped by a soldier. This adds up to his tormented soul that made her possessed, piled up problems that she wasn’t able to endure but good thing she tries to seek for help to her savior.

She then went to Cheverim Maqqaba.

Character	Position in the Story	Reference Links
Eunich	Owner/Servant in a hidden bar	Definition of his name

Lilith conversing with Eunich, about the pharisee who visited her but she couldn’t clearly remember but could recall that he ran away in terror plus she mentioned loudly like she was in hell. She then gave the precious toy that means a lot to her which worried his friend since it holds something valuable and said she doesn’t need it. She thanked him with his hospitality leaving the words, there’s is something I need to do. Eunich comforts her with words to let him know that he will always be there to face their problems – what friends always do!

Nicodemus on the other hand whom he felt failed in his quest on the Red Quarters, explained to his wife Zahora, his sentiment ‘coz he now questions his own ministry.

Zahora the sternly replies to Nicodemus that He is the teacher of Israel, you do not have questions, you have answers. You have authority. You bring clarity, not confusion.

Nicodemus relaxed as he says his thoughts to his wife. I actually admire his questions.

I wonder if what we can know of Adonai in the law is just blurred, what if we’re not seeing the whole picture? What if it’s more beautiful and the stranger than we could ever imagine?

A man is free to question in his heart. This feels like he wants to express his free will. But you shouldn’t Zahora said and that this is a serious engagement which they expect you to be an erudite teacher, not a doubting blaspheming fool. OUCH. She added you’ve dedicated your life’s work to serve God, not to become Him. Well, that was practically true in their current state.

Nicodemus is sure that only God Himself can draw out those demons.

As Nicodemus explains his experience, in the Red Quarter, which was a hasty decision to correct a lost soul. He is now giving an example that when we “follow God’s Law” which may be taken from Deuteronomy 4, that God is alive through us and lives through us if we follow is the law.

With Lilith seemed to have a suicidal attempt after she threw the piece of paper but thankfully a dove caught her attention that stopped her.

DOVE represents HOPE like what happened in the story of Noah which you can read a part from Genesis 8

Now we have a view of a commoner being taxed, checking of Andrew’s tax collection. Matthew noticed the last tributes that could have caused them to be locked in jail but ends up an accumulation of 60% penalties due to the rate of 10% weekly. And talked further about extension rates that can compound at 15% weekly. Yikes for a big debt, so most have collateral or also known as loans in our generation! how to secure yours? Click on this.

Wherein their collateral will be their boats, house, etc. So, Simon interrupted and mentioned Quintus’ name who’d gave them grace period. Which led to Matthew’s stern decision for verification.

Discussions of their problems were continued inside the bar. This explains while some use this place for discussion and business proposition in our generation, haha. Simon explains to Andrew how he met Quintus acting as a merchant and his plan of robbing fish to other fishermen, which will be risky that ends up their discussion for Simon to walk out of the bar whom Andrew followed then bumped into Lilith, who was led by the dove.