This episode opens with Atticus in Capernaum, demanding an audience with the Roman praetor Quintus, who addresses him as Atticus Aemilius Pulcher. Atticus says, "I come bearing intelligence." Quintus says, "I bear ears." The news is about Jesus of Nazareth, whom Quintus is seeking for questioning, as posted notices attest.
Jesus and His disciples are also in Galilee, planning for a big sermon. The Lord tells them, "Everyone has a part to play in the execution of this sermon. Here's what I want each of you to understand. It's the why of this sermon. It's not that we need to make our presence felt, and it's not about the details of how we make this happen. The details matter and all of you will make sure this is executed well, but what makes this sermon so important is each person who will be there." He asks Philip what makes John the Baptizer's sermons so memorable. Philip answers, "He spoke directly to whoever was there. It was personal." Jesus agrees, but points out that since thousands will be at this sermon, He won't be directing it to one group of people over another. "But what I say will be for each and every one of them," He affirms. "They're coming because word is spreading from the signs and wonders, but what I will be giving them is far more important: truth. This will define our whole ministry, and that's what we need to focus on."
Rabbi Shmuel returns to his home synagogue in Capernaum with Yanni. He is greeted by Rabbi Yussif, who with Shmuel saw Jesus heal the paralyzed man lowered from a roof (Season 1, Episode 6). That is just the man Shmuel wants to talk to because he wants help finding the striking Ethiopian woman who brought her paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus after she witnessed Him heal a leper. Yussif comments, "There's no law against healing a leper." Shmuel says, "But if that healing happened on Shabbat, like the healing of the lame man at the Pool of Siloam, then a pattern has emerged." He obviously wants to use the Ethiopian woman in his attempt to charge Jesus with blasphemy. Yussif regards her as a person, not a tool, and knows her name: Tamar. Yussif reminds Shmuel that the rabbinic courts do not accept the testimony of a woman, but Shmuel hopes Tamar can lead him to the leper. Yussif sensibly asks, "Do you think anyone healed of leprosy would reveal damning information about his healer?" Yussif seems disappointed that Shmuel's time in Jerusalem studying false prophecy has led to this.
Rabbis Shmuel, Yanni, and Yussif confer.
While Jesus and His disciples prepare for the sermon, Simon and Andrew are fishing to provide the group with food. As they talk, it is clear that Andrew is worried about the opposition Jesus is experiencing from the religious leaders. Simon reminds him, "Jesus knows how to handle Himself. He doesn't need us riding to His rescue." Andrew says they can't let what happened to John the Baptizer happen to Jesus. He doesn't want to make a scene everywhere they go, thinking that's common sense. Simon, however, tells him, "I think Jesus is more an uncommon-sense guy. Get used to different, Brother." (What Jesus said to Simon after calling Matthew the tax collector to follow Him in Season 1, Episode 7.) Andrew retorts, "I'm being smart!" Simon tells him to leave smart to Thomas and Matthew. Andrew is surprised to hear him say something nice about Matthew. It is clear that Simon has grown spiritually, but that Andrew is crippled by worry and can't be reasoned with now. Simon suggests they stop talking and just fish.
Shmuel and Yanni request an audience with Praetor Quintus to give information about Jesus of Nazareth. They don't get past the front desk. The condescending Romans there offer to take their statement, but when they hear what Shmuel says, they dismiss it as outdated intelligence, and say that Jesus will soon be in their custody. The Romans ask what they know about the Zealots, whom Shmuel and Yanni are shocked to hear associated with Jesus. Shmuel warns the Romans not to underestimate Jesus.
Atticus marches with a group of Roman soldiers led by Gaius (who was promoted to Primi in season 1 because of his association with Matthew, whom he came to admire). Atticus learns that Gaius plans to act like they own the city they're heading toward, arrest their man, and be home by breakfast. Since that Galilean city, Jotapata, is notoriously anti-Roman, Atticus suggests they go straight to Jesus's camp just south of the town. Gaius, being sensible, agrees and also realizes Atticus is with them for a particular reason not yet stated. Atticus says, "You've got good instincts, Primi. I am intrigued by your prey, Jesus of Nazareth. I saw a man who had not stood on his own two feet in half a century bounding like a boy. I watched a martyr throw down his weapon and take a knee. I saw a lunatic's eyes go clear. Jesus of Nazareth did those things. He doesn't strike me at all as threatening or scary, and that scares me. Maybe I'm just interested to know how He will take to wrist irons."
Simon tells Andrew on the boat how he enjoys fishing because it's in their blood and they don't have to think much. Andrew frets about what happened with eating the grain on Shabbat and says something critical about Mary Magdalene. Simon asks, "Do you think you are not going to make another mistake in your life? She went through something terrifying and dealt with it the best way she knew how." Andrew says, "She should have gone to Jesus." "She knows that now," says Simon. "If you remember, He was disarming Crazy Simon from his dagger." "Oh, he's the crazy Simon?" quips Andrew. "You worked an honest trade dishonestly!" "That's how I met Jesus. Unexpected roads," observes Simon. Andrew goes back to criticizing Mary, voicing the terrible thought that the tension she caused in the group led Jesus to snap at the Pharisees. Simon warns him that's fear talking, not faith, and says, "You're the one who told me Jesus is the Messiah. Am I going to be the one to remind you now?" Andrew says, "The very fact He is the Messiah means there's going to be trouble, maybe even a war." Simon counters, "If you were building an army, would you start with Little James and Thaddaeus? You think Jesus is drawing up military plans when He goes away to desolate places?" Once again they return to fishing in silence, Andrew facing the sea and Simon the shore, where Simon soon spots the Roman soldiers closing in on their camp. He tries to brace Andrew, whose eyes grow wide with fear when he sees them himself.
On land near the water and away from the camp, Jesus spots the soldiers coming and gestures to those with Him to be calm, sending Matthew and Philip back to the camp to tell the others, "I will be back. Keep planning for the sermon." After the soldiers encircle them with swords to the ready, Gaius steps forward, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, You are sought for questioning by a Roman authority. Will You surrender to detainment peacefully?" Jesus answers, "Yes." John the Son of Thunder says, "Jesus, no!" Jesus quietly shushes him. "Are You armed?" asks Gaius. "No, I am not, but some of My followers are" is the reply. All the soldiers loudly draw out their swords. Gaius calmly orders, "Tell all Your followers to drop their weapons and step back 10 cubits." Jesus says He will and asks if He may say goodbye to His eema. When He realizes Gaius is unaware that is the Hebrew term for mother, He gives the Latin equivalent: mater mea. Gaius says yes. Jesus embraces Mother Mary, telling her not to be afraid, and then tells James and John to do as Gaius ordered. While they obey, Gaius gestures for a couple of soldiers to apply the wrist irons on Jesus, who notices Gaius making furtive glances. He says to him, "Matthew is safe and doing well. He's back at the camp." Gaius approaches Him and says, "You all look underfed, filthy." Jesus says, "We had a bit of a hungry spell, but we have men on the water stocking us up." Gaius gets closer and says softly, "He's used to eating well!" Jesus answers quietly, "Shall we talk about this later?" Gaius turns and orders loudly, "Move out!" Atticus is the last to do so, smiling with approval over how Jesus handled Himself.
Simon and Andrew run up to the other disciples, now standing all together at their camp. Simon, slipping into bad habits, demands, "Did you do nothing while He was arrested?" James and John make it clear that is what Jesus wanted and that He was detained, not arrested. Those are meaningless words to Simon. Andrew wants to go after them, but John tells him they agreed to surrender peacefully. Andrew reminds them of what the Romans are doing to John the Baptizer. He says in a frenzied voice, "They're going north. I'll catch them in Jotapata and petition for His release!" John replies, "Andrew, He didn't ask for our help." Andrew insists He shouldn't have to, saying with disgust, "I don't recognize any of you!" His brother tries to calm him, but Andrew runs off. Philip offers to follow him, explaining he gained much experience waiting for John the Baptizer to come out of Roman jails. "Why wait?" says Simon the Zealot. "Let's break Him out." Andrew stomps back to grab his travel bag and then leaves. Philip follows, telling them, "Don't wait up."
In Jotapata Shmuel and Yanni happen to have just arrived in their search for Tamar, who they heard has been going from town to town in the north with her formerly paralyzed friend to give testimony about his healing at Jesus's command. They see it is a very intense place characterized by religious fanaticism. For a few coins, a beggar woman tells them about an Ethiopian lady who upsets men dressed like them in their black and white Pharisee robes.
"I will be back," Jesus said, the disciples recall. Simon the Zealot suggests that maybe Jesus intended them to be the fulfillment of those words. Nathanael says disapprovingly, "Zealots, with your secret handshakes and codes!" Simon defends himself, saying, "I'm not a Zealot anymore, just zealous. There's a difference." Nathanael counters, "You just interpreted plain speech about trust and peacefulness as code for insurrection." Big James, nicknamed Son of Thunder, defends Simon, saying, "I think he's onto something. The Rabbi told us how important this sermon is. We can't let anything stop it." His brother adds, "With Zee's skills I think we could do it." Mother Mary reminds James and John to be mindful of what Jesus called them. John, missing her point, seems to think a little thunder is perfect for a time like this. Mary Magdalene says, "I think we should do what He says and wait here for Him." John scoffs about listening to the advice of someone who disappeared for two days. Ramah says, "How dare you!" Thomas says, "Don't talk to her like that!" John says something nasty about Thomas. Mother Mary says, "Boys! You're acting like children." Matthew speaks up: "Nathanael's right: the words were plain." Mary Magdalene adds, "I made a mistake leaving camp. I was wrong. I'm sorry, I relied on my own observation, my own understanding so heavily. Jesus said He will be back."
When Andrew and Philip arrive at Jotapata, Andrew is unnerved by seeing Pharisees and others swaying back and forth, chanting, and seeming oblivious to their surroundings. Philip says, "Don't worry about them. They're here for God or to preen. You don't get in the way of either." Andrew shakes his head at these people, commenting, "And they say we're extreme!" As they head toward the jail, they hear a woman clearly giving glory to God that her friend is able to stand before the crowd they are addressing. Philip says approvingly, "Now that's more like it!" Andrew takes a closer look and realizes it's Tamar and the once-paralyzed man lowered through the roof Jesus healed. Someone in the crowd shouts out, "I hear He consorts with Samaritans" (Season 2, Episode 1). Tamar says, "I cannot personally confirm that, but it wouldn't surprise me." The healed man says, "Who cares who He ministers to? I was paralyzed for 23 years and I stand talking to you on two feet!" A Pharisee asks, "Who on earth can claim authority on earth to forgive sins?" Tamar answers, "The kind of Person who can tell a paralyzed man to stand, and the miracle happened in front of dozens of witnesses!" Someone says, "It could be witchcraft or sorcery!" The healed man replies, "Witches and sorcerers require payment for their services, and He gave freely." Someone wants to know why He is in hiding. Tamar says, "We don't know. He told the leper on the road to keep it a secret." When asked why she is telling this, Tamar replies, "He gave us no such order to remain silent. I believe He will make Himself more known soon."
Andrew hops onto their platform. Tamar and her friend instantly recognize him. He persuades them to speak with him in private, but the crowd seems sorry to see them go. Andrew, still filled with anxiety, says, "You must stop drawing attention to Jesus of Nazareth!" Tamar rightly responds, "How can we not speak of what we have seen? How can you remain silent?" "The Romans!" blurts out Andrew, but he chokes on tears. Philip leads them all to a better location to tell what happened.
Jesus is led by Gaius and Atticus before Praetor Quintus, who asks, "Did He resist?" No, answers Atticus. "His followers?" asks Quintus. "Peaceful and compliant," responds Gaius. After dismissing Gaius and inviting Jesus to sit, Quintus says with glee, "Jesus of Nazareth, we finally meet!" "Here I am," says Jesus. Quintus remarks that he thought Jesus would be taller and more crazy looking with wild hair and animal skins. "Glad I could disappoint you," responds Jesus. Quintus says, "The first story I heard about you I didn't believe it." "That's usually how it goes," says Jesus. Quintus tells Atticus it was about an impossibly large catch of fish, and then asks Jesus if He has ever visited the Far East. Jesus answers, "I have received visitors from there, but have never been there myself." Quintus tells Him about people there who eat their fish raw, but spit out the bones, and uses that as an analogy to describe how he views Jesus and His ministry. That large catch of fish allowed a large tax debt to be settled that otherwise could have resulted in his demotion. Quintus regards that as flesh, but he regards as bones the healing of the paralytic, which led to crowd-control problems that damaged his reputation, and His calling Matthew away from being a Roman tax collector. He goes on to say that Atticus, whom he describes as the most tenured of the Cohorte Urbanae, personally witnessed Jesus disarm a Zealot sicarii, a feat Quintus declares is flesh. Jesus says, "Sorry to cause so much confusion for you over flesh and bone." Quintus summarizes, "You seem to be splitting your time between creating headaches for Rome and victories we could not achieve ourselves."
Atticus adds, "You have doubled Your followers since leaving Capernaum, yet You returned a violent man who had been terrorizing Jericho to his senses." Quintus says to Jesus, "I don't know what to make of You." "That's going to be a lot of people's problem with Me," says Jesus. "No more bones, Jesus," says Quintus. "No more draining my talent pool, creating spectacles and crowds. No more meddling." Jesus answers, "I cannot promise any of these things." "Then I cannot promise You won't stop breathing," says Quintus. "Well, it sounds like we're clear on what we can and cannot promise," responds Jesus. Quintus laughs and says, "Jesus of Nazareth, I like You! Just don't make me kill you." Jesus says, "I won't make you do anything, but My Father, on the other hand--" Quintus cuts Him off, wanting to end on a high note by declaring that he thinks they have come to an understanding. He tells Jesus He is free to go. As Jesus stands and turns to leave, Quintus adds, "Sorry about Your cousin, but marching into Herod's court and moralizing was not a very wise or brave thing to do. Jesus responds, "He knew what he was getting himself into." "Do You know what You're getting Yourself into?" asks Quintus. Jesus merely says, "It was a privilege to speak with you today, Quintus." When Jesus leaves, Quintus laughs, saying that was fun and that he thinks Jesus will be a pleasant diversion for the people. Atticus laughs too, but obviously at Quintus for underestimating Jesus.
Shmuel and Yanni receive word in Jotapata from people who just heard the testimony of the Ethiopian woman and her paralyzed friend whom Jesus healed. As they learn what direction those two were headed, they are stopped by Madai and Lamech from the Wadi Qelt synagogue, who compare notes with them about Jesus's Sabbath healings and invoking of Messianic titles.
Religious officials comparing notes about Jesus's Shabbat healings.
Meanwhile, Andrew is still with Tamar the Ethiopian and her friend in Jotapata, discussing what Jesus has done since they last saw Him. Andrew tells Tamar it is dangerous to speak openly of Jesus now, and receives affirmation from a surprising source: Rabbi Yussif from Capernaum, who came to warn Tamar that Shmuel is seeking to twist her testimony to discredit Jesus as a false prophet. He apologizes to Andrew for speaking harshly to him at the feast at Matthew's house (Season 1, Episode 8), and explains that he knows his master, Rabbi Nicodemus, saw something remarkable in their Master, Jesus (Season 1, Episode 7). Yussif states, "Rabbi Shmuel is threatened by what he can't comprehend. Worse, Shmuel is ambitious. He does not honor Nicodemus's teaching." He acknowledges the healing of the paralyzed man and urges him to leave immediately to avoid being trapped by Shmuel. The man agrees to leave and lay low, but expresses the hope that things don't stay quiet. Philip arrives to report that Jesus is not in the Roman jail. He and Andrew take Tamar with them to join Jesus's followers.
Rabbi Yussif gives a discrete warning to help Jesus and His disciples.
Back at the disciples' camp at night, Simon the Zealot is the first to spot Jesus's approach. He wants to know if Jesus is hurt. The other Simon asks if Jesus is safe and if anyone followed Him. Jesus greets His mother and answers, "Yes, I'm safe and they just wanted to talk." Matthew says, "I'm very happy!" Jesus chuckles and says, "I'm glad, Matthew. The Romans don't find Me much of a threat, which is fine." Zee says, "Hopefully that will change soon." John asks, "So what were You doing out here?" "Praying, John," answers Jesus. "Remember, there's a big event to prepare for." Big James respectfully expresses dismay that Jesus didn't tell them first He was back. Jesus says, "Did I not tell you that I would be back and to keep planning? You're all going to have to learn how to do this regardless of what's happening, good or bad. Things are only going to get more difficult. You can't just shut down when you're fearful. And what are you going to do when I'm no longer here?" John and Simon express that they're all still figuring this out, but that they can do better. John asks about teaching them how to pray, like John the Baptizer did with his students. Big James adds, "I'd like to know more about what You're saying when You're out alone." Jesus says in a glad tone, "Now you're behaving like true students! This is what I like to see. Prayer is the first step in getting the mind and the heart right. That's why you see Me go to it so often." One of them says, "So teach us, please, to pray as You do." "When we pray," Jesus explains, "we want to first start with acknowledging our Father in heaven and His greatness, so you can say, 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.' And we always want to be sure to do God's will and not our own, so we say, 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"
Jesus returns, just as He said.
Hours later, Jesus wakes up Matthew and asks him to come with Him, explaining, "I've been forming fragments of teaching in My mind for some months now in preparation for the sermon. I'm ready to organize them." Matthew says he will gather his writing materials, but then adds, "You've just returned from detention. Will these teachings make things worse?" Jesus says, "I'm here to make things better, not worse, Matthew." Matthew explains, "What I mean is for all of us who love You." Jesus says, "No promises." "It must be tonight?" asks Matthew. Jesus states, "The time has come."
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