The Visual Bible: Acts

The Visual Bible: Acts presents the events of the New Testament book of Acts as a straightforward cinematic retelling, using the Bible itself as the script. Scenes move from the days after Jesus' departure through Pentecost, the apostles' preaching, healings, and legal struggles, and key moments like Stephen's testimony and Paul's turn from persecutor to proclaimer. Dialogue is taken directly from the New International Version, so characters speak in plain, scriptural language rather than modern paraphrase. The film keeps its focus on how the early Christian community grows, copes with opposition, and spreads its message across cities and cultures, emphasizing the public and private moments that drove the movement without inventing subplots or modernizing the text.

Released in 1994, the production adapts the Book of Acts verbatim from the New International Version, and features Henry O. Arnold as Saul, James Brolin as Simon Peter, Dean Jones as Luke, and Bruce Marchiano as Jesus Christ.

Critical and audience reaction was mixed, reflected in a modest average rating, 6.625 out of 10 from a small number of votes. Faithful viewers praised the literal scripture approach and clear performances, while some reviewers noted the pacing and theatrical presentation could feel uneven to mainstream moviegoers.

The film has been used as a resource in some church study groups and religious education settings because its word-for-word scripture format makes it easy to compare screen scenes with the biblical text. Its straightforward style appeals to viewers who want a literal visual companion to the Book of Acts rather than a dramatized interpretation.

The Visual Bible: Acts did not attract major industry awards or a high-profile awards season presence, and it remains best known within niche faith-based circles rather than in mainstream cinema discussions.