Little did they know how much their influence would change the world!

The Disciples is a multi-million dollar 10-hour miniseries event chronicling the never told lives of the chosen twelve Apostles of Jesus and how the most important event in history would change their lives forever. Little did they know how much their influence would change the world! The story of The Disciples doesn t end with the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. It is where it begins! The triumphs, tragedies and sacrifices made by the Disciples after the life of Christ shape the very foundation of our lives today. Jesus Christ was considered the Way. But the Disciples made it world known! This is their story

History Channel s The Bible Miniseries 'The Bible' has been seen by more than 95 million viewers. #1 Cable entertainment telecast of the year to date. The Bible ranks as the fastest-selling TV title released on home video in the last five years, and the top miniseries title ever during its first week of release. The series became the biggest-selling miniseries on DVD in its first week of release, and biggest on Blu-ray and Digital HD of all time. In its first week on home video, 'The Bible' series sold 525,000 copies (over $21 million.) It was the fastest selling television show on DVD since 2008.

CHRISTIAN BASED TITLES ARE BIG BUSINESS! The Passion of the Christ (2004) Worldwide: $611,899,420 Domestic DVD Sales: $3,131,957 Rentals: $203,651,032 The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Worldwide $12,000,000 Rentals $7,000,000 In 2013 dollars: $136,500,000 Jesus of Nazareth (1977) Worldwide: $30,000,000 In 2013 dollars: $112,000,000 The Robe (1953) Gross: $36,000,000 Rentals: $17,500,000 In 2013 dollars: $452,900,000 King of Kings (1961) Worldwide: $25,000,000 Domestic: $14,483,352 Rentals: $8,000,000 In 2013 dollars: $359,600,000

ATI is one of the leading producers of family entertainment #1 rated! Highest in the history for NBC/PAX with increased ratings 91% overall. Spectacular HD prequel to Bonanza which is arguably the greatest TV western of all time! Shot on location and directed by Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove). This affirming account of the life, love and legacy of Christ s last days on Earth as we fully understand for the very first time what really happened.

After near extinction in 2008, ATI rescued this 80 year tradition and rebuilt it with bigger stars, a huge concert and the world s largest red carpet covering all of Hollywood Blvd! This event is now attended by over 1 MILLION spectators every year and is a top rated network television special year to year! Renowned scientific experts put the evidence related to the Bible to inquiring tests with inspiring results. Scholars provide educational and enriching commentary on these crucial facts. Witness the artifacts unearthed by famed archaeologists, which provide first time truth of physical proof. There are over 1.3 million homeless children in the United States. While many are struggling, many are making an effort to get an education; often overcoming what seems like insurmountable odds. In this Emmy Award winning special, we meet some of these remarkable children and what they have to do just to get a school education.

THE DISCIPLES is an epic FIVE PART miniseries shot on location from ROME, MALTA,TURKEY, MOROCCO AND ISRAEL that chronicles the history making lives and legacies of these followers of Jesus!

Part I - Home By The Sea We are introduced to each of the twelve disciples of Jesus as they were with their families and their trades. The struggles and brutalities of life under Roman occupation are becoming unbearable. Through their early lives, we will see why they were ultimately chosen to take on the task of changing the world..

Part II - A Man named Jesus After seeing that Jesus is no ordinary man, Simon (Peter), Andrew, Phillip and John make a life altering decision to follow this calling and we see how this ultimately affects their families. Throughout the installment Jesus brings all twelve into the fold as the journey begins. We witness the miracles of Jesus and the public attention surrounding Him. For many he is the Messiah they have prayed for. But then there is the Sanhedrin who become increasingly suspicious of Jesus intentions.

Part III - From Darkness to Light Following the miracles and Jesus growing popularity comes the political movement to remove him from the public for fear of Roman retaliation. The Disciples are put through their first test of loyalty with one steeped in denial and another in betrayal. They must face their fear of isolation and abandonment as Jesus is taken prisoner and crucified. But in so doing, they find a greater strength and calling following the Ascension where their real journey begins.

Part IV - Fishers of Men Within twenty years of Jesus death, the Christian faith had spread as far as Roe. The Disciples are re-charged with the healing and teaching powers of Jesus and their influence is exponentially spreading through the civilized world. With increased power comes more forceful retaliation from Herod and from Rome, yet Christianity continues to build.

Part V - Tyranny, Tragedies, and Triumphs The final chapter reveals the Disciples most glorious moments as the Christian faith begins to influence Roman life. There are wondrous miracles and stunning victories. The ending moments detail the ultimate price in martyrdom they paid for their mission but will also show how these Disciples, the Twelve Apostles, created such a strong path of Jesus message that lives with more than 2.1 billion people today.

Simon (Peter) Peter was born in Bethsaida (in Galilee, Israel.) By profession, he was a fisherman. His father (also a fisherman) was named Jona; his brother, the apostle Andrew. He and his brother (Andrew), along with their partners (the apostles James and John) were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Zebedee (the father of James and John) was also a partner. So firm was Peter's faith that Jesus gave him the name of Cephas, meaning, in the Syriac language, a rock (Peter is the Greek translation of Cephas.) It was Peter who preached to the masses in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost following Jesus' ascension to heaven and the one who prompted the disciples to choose a replacement to take over the apostolic ministry of Judas Iscariot. It was, also, Peter who healed a man, who was over 40 years of age, who had been crippled from birth and was called by Paul a "pillar" of the Church. It was also believed by the crowds that the mere casting of his shadow upon the sick was capable of bringing about miraculous healing. After being imprisoned several times in Jerusalem, he went to Rome. While there, it is believed that the Roman Emperor Nero, publicly announcing himself the chief enemy of God, was led in his fury to slaughter the Apostles. Peter was crucified upside down while in Rome. Of his final days in Rome, Peter was cast into a horrible prison. Peter met his death by being crucified upside down at the hand of the Romans in Nero's circus, 67AD.

Andrew Like their father, Jona, Andrew and Peter were also fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. In fact, the apostles Andrew, Peter, James and John were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Jesus to follow Him. Andrew was the first of the Apostles to follow Jesus and just as John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the nation of Israel, so Andrew is noted for having introduced Jesus to individuals. Peter became the fisher of men where Andrew was a fisher for individuals. In his latter ministry, Andrew went to the foothills of the Caucasus mountains (present day Georgia in Russia.) He also went to Byzantium (Istanbul) in Turkey and from there, to Greece. He traveled down through the Corinthian Gulf to Patros; it was there that Andrew was martyred. Aigeatis who was the governor of Patros became enraged at Andrew for his preaching and ordered him to stand before the tribunal in his attempt to do away with the Christian Faith. When Andrew resisted the tribunal, the governor ordered him crucified. Andrew remained tied to the cross with thick tight ropes for three days but continuing to tell the people around him of the love of Jesus. The people began to believe him and begged the governor to let him be taken down from the cross. Aigeatis at last ordered the ropes to be cut but when the last rope was severed, Andrew was already dead. He died on the last day of November, 69 AD.

James (Son of Zebedee) James was the eldest brother of the apostle John and that their father's name was Zebedee (their mother's name was Salome.) James, his brother John, Peter and Andrew were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Jesus to follow Him. Zebedee was, also, a partner in the business. Hewas the first apostle to suffer martyrdom merely 14 years after the death of Jesus. It is believed that within this period, James visited the Jewish colonist and slaves in Spain to preach the Gospel. It has been said that when James was led out to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of execution. He had expected to see James looking pale and frightened but he saw him, instead, bright and joyous, like a conqueror who had won a great battle. The false witness greatly wondered at this and became convinced that the Savior in whom the prisoner by his side believed must be the true God or He could not impart such cheerfulness and courage to a man about to die. The man himself, therefore, became a convert to Christianity and was condemned to die with James By order of Herod Agrippa I, James was beheaded in Jerusalem about the feast of Easter, 44 AD.

John John was the brother of the apostle James; he was also the son of Zebedee (a fisherman of Galilee.) John, his brother James and the apostles Peter and Andrew were all partners in a fishing business prior to their calls by Jesus to follow Him (Zebedee was also a partner.) The apostle John rose to a position of influence within worldwide Christianity and shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, he moved to Ephesus (Turkey). He became the pastor of the church and had a special relationship with other churches in the area (as we know from the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia, in the book of Revelation.) John was the last to die. While all of the apostles met a violent death, John died peacefully. John was living in Ephesus, and had with him Mary, the mother of Jesus, for a few years. By order of the Roman emperor Domitian, John was exiled to an island called Patmos (the cave of the Apocalypse). The sacred text of the book of Revelation was given to the apostle John by Jesus which he recorded here. Other New Testament books accredited to John are the Gospel of John, along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. When he was released from exile, he returned to Ephesus and lived till the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. He founded and built churches throughout all Asia, and worn out by old age, he had to be carried to the church in the arms of his disciples. He died in 100 AD and was buried near Ephesus.

Philip Philip was of the Jewish tribe of Zebulon. And lived in Bethsaida in Galilee, Israel. It is believed that after the ascension of Jesus, Philip traveled into Scythia (south Russia) and remained there for twenty years preaching the Gospel. Eventually, in the company of the apostle Bartholomew, the apostle Philip went to Asia Minor and labored in Hierapolis, near Laodicea and Colosse, in what is modern day Turkey. While in Hierapolis, it is said that the wife of the Roman proconsul was healed by them, that she became a Christian and that her husband ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be put to death by crucifixion. Philip was crucified, however, Bartholomew escaped martyrdom, when for some special reason, the magistrates caused him to be taken down from the cross and dismissed. Philip's tomb is still to be found in the Turkish city of Hierapolis. The body of Philip was acquired from Hierapolis by Pope John the Third (560-572 AD) and interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles Philip and James the Less in Rome. Philip was around 87 years of age when martyred.

Bartholomew The latter ministry of the apostle Bartholomew belongs more to the eastern churches than it does to the western churches. He is also said to have worn a white robe with a purple stripe. For twentysix years he wore this and they never grew old. In fact, his shoes lasted the same as his clothing. He prayed a hundred times a day and a hundred times a night. His voice was like a trumpet, angels waited upon him, and that he was always cheerful and knew all languages. In the company of the Philip, the Bartholomew went to Asia Minor and labored in Hierapolis, near Laodicea and Colosse, in what is modern day Turkey. While in Hierapolis, it is said that the wife of the Roman proconsul was healed by the apostles Philip and Bartholomew, that she became a Christian and that her husband ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be put to death by crucifixion. Philip was crucified, however, Bartholomew escaped martyrdom, when for some special reason, the magistrates caused him to be taken down from the cross and dismissed. From there, Bartholomew went eastward to India and then to greater Armenia. He labored in the area around the south end of the Caspian Sea. It is also said that Bartholomew carried with him a copy of the apostle Matthew's Gospel. The modern name of the district where Bartholomew died is Azerbaijan and the place of his death, called in the New Testament Albanopolis, is now Derbend which is on the west coast of the Caspian Sea. He was martyred in the year 68 AD.

Thomas, The Doubter The apostle Thomas was also known as Didymas (the twin.) As to who his twin was, it's not known. By trade, he was a fisherman and a native of Galilee in Israel. He became infamously known for doubting that Jesus had actually arisen and demanded that he be shown the wounds. Once Jesus had done so, he believed him. Because of his guilt over his weak faith at the time, Thomas became one of the more fervent apostles in making converts. After the resurrection of Jesus, Thomas went to Babylon where he established the first Christian church. He went to Persia and from there to India where he preached the Gospel and made many converts. Thomas arrived in India no later than 49 AD. It is also believed that the apostle Thomas evangelized as far as China, and while in India, he suffered martyrdom by a lance and was buried in Mylapore, India, which is now a suburb of Madras. He died on the 21st of December. He was considered to have been a fearless evangelist and a great builder of churches.

Matthew The apostle Matthew, also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and the brother of the apostle James the Less. By profession, Matthew was a tax collector before being called by Jesus to follow Him. Matthew remained in the Holy Land, as tradition says, for 15 years and after this, encouraged by the reports of the success of other Christian leaders among the Jews and also among the Gentiles, he went forth on several missionary journeys. It is certain that he went to Persia and the mysterious area in Persia. It is also possible that he traveled to the Ethiopia in Africa and was where Matthew was martyred in Egypt upon his return from Ethiopia in Africa. There are a few who believe that Matthew was martyred in Parthia. Matthew was a gifted writer, an ardent disciple, and was perhaps the best educated of any of the Twelve Apostles. He was the writer of The Gospel of Matthew.

James (son of Alphaeus) The apostle James, the son of Alphaeus, who is also called "Less" or "Younger," was a brother of the apostle Matthew. James was a native of Capernaum (located on the northwestern shores of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.) It is believed that he was from the Jewish tribe of Levi. In History of Eastern Christianity, Aziz S. Atiya says,"the seeds of Syrian Christianity had been sown in Jerusalem during the Apostolic age and the contention has been made that the first bishop of the Syrian church was none other than St. James of the Twelve Apostles, identified as 'St. James the Less'." It has also been said that James was stoned in Jerusalem for preaching the word of Jesus and buried by the Sanctuary.

Jude (Thaddeus) The apostle Jude was the brother of James the Less was believed to be from the Jewish tribe of Judah. And after the ascension of Jesus, Jude was one of the first apostles to leave Jerusalem for a foreign country. In fact, it is believed that Jude was one of the first apostles to witness directly to a foreign king. Jude is believed to have evangelized the area of Armenia associated with the city of Edessa, in company perhaps of the apostle Bartholomew, and for a brief time, with the apostle Thomas. One can also believe that Jude spent his years of evangelization in Armenia in northern Persia. It is likely that he was martyred there and buried in Kara Kalisa near the Caspian Sea, about 40 miles from Tabriz, in modern day Iran. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity occurred in the third century of our era. Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his letter in the New Testament stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital is founded upon the Apostle Jude who became the patron saint of hopeless causes.

Simon, The Zealot Simon was chosen by Simon Peter. He was an able man of good ancestry and lived with his family at Capernaum. He was twenty-eight years old when he became attached to the apostles and was a fiery agitator who spoke much without thinking. He had been a merchant in Capernaum before he turned his entire attention to the patriotic organization of the Zealots. Simon's strength was his inspirational loyalty. When the apostles found a man or woman who floundered in indecision about entering the kingdom, they would send for Simon. It usually required only about fifteen minutes for this enthusiastic advocate of salvation through faith in God to settle all doubts and remove all indecision, to see a new soul born into the "liberty of faith and the joy of salvation." Simon's great weakness was his material-mindedness. The one thing about Jesus which Simon so much admired was the Master's calmness, his assurance, poise, and inexplicable composure. He gradually subdued his fiery nature until he became a powerful and effective preacher of "Peace on earth and good will among men." Simon was a great debater; he did like to argue. And when it came to dealing with the legalistic minds of the educated Jews or the intellectual quibblings of the Greeks, the task was always assigned to Simon. He had always identified himself with the party of protest, but he now joined the party of progress, unlimited and eternal progression of spirit and truth. Simon was a man of intense loyalties and warm personal devotions. He was martyred with Jude in 65 AD.

Judas Iscariot, The Dark Apostle Judas Iscariot was an only son of wealthy Jewish parents living in Jericho. He had become attached to John the Baptist, and his Sadducee parents had disowned him. He was looking for employment in these regions when Jesus' apostles found him, and chiefly because of his experience with finances, Nathaniel invited him to join their ranks. Judas Iscariot was the only Judean among the twelve apostles. He had no outstanding trait of personal strength, though he had many outwardly appearing traits of culture and habits of training. He was a good thinker but not always a truly honest thinker. Judas did not really understand himself; he was not really sincere in dealing with himself. Judas had been shocked by the death of John the Baptist, severely hurt by the Jesus' rebukes on several occasions, disappointed when Jesus refused to be made king and bewildered by the refusal of his Master to resort to manifestations of power.. Judas was tremendously influenced by the ridicule of his Sadducean friends. Judas had never shrunk from persecution, but he could not stand this sort of ridicule. With the long-nourished emotion of revenge there was now blended this fatal fear of ridicule, that terrible and fearful feeling of being ashamed of his Master and his fellow apostles he betrayed Jesus as a cowardly act whose only thought was his own safety and glorification. When Jesus had thus spoken, leaning over toward Judas, he said: "What you have decided to do, do quickly." And when Judas heard these words, he arose from the table and hastily left the room. Judas returned shortly with the temple guards, stepped up to Jesus and, placing a kiss upon his brow, said, "Hail, Master and Teacher." And as Judas thus embraced his Master, Jesus said, Judas, would you even betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Judas Iscariot, The Fallen Apostle Throughout the trial of Jesus before Caiaphas and during his appearance before Pilate, Judas was fighting his conscience. He was also beginning to become somewhat disillusioned regarding the reward he was to receive as payment for his services as Jesus' betrayer. He did not like the coolness and aloofness of the Jewish authorities; nevertheless, he expected to be liberally rewarded. He anticipated being called before the full meeting of the Sanhedrin and there hearing himself eulogized while they conferred upon him suitable honors in token of the great service which he flattered himself he had rendered his nation. Rather, a servant of Caiaphas handed Judas a bag containing thirty pieces of silver-the current price of a good, healthy slave. From a distance Judas saw them raise the cross piece with Jesus nailed upon it, and upon sight of this he rushed back to the temple and managed to stammer out these words: "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. You have insulted me. You have offered me as a reward for my service, money-the price of a slave. I repent that I have done this; here is your money. I want to escape the guilt of this deed. This onetime ambassador of the kingdom of heaven on earth now walked through the streets of Jerusalem, forsaken and alone. On he journeyed through the city and outside the walls, on down into the terrible solitude of the valley of Hinnom, where he climbed up the steep rocks and, taking the girdle of his cloak, fastened one end to a small tree, tied the other about his neck, and cast himself over the precipice. Before he was dead, the knot gave way and the betrayer's body fell on the jagged rocks below.

Paul Paul is considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age and one of the greatest religious leaders of all time. He zealously persecuted the early followers of Jesus and violently tried to destroy the newly-forming Christian church. Paul's dramatic conversion experience with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus dramatically changed the course of his life. He did not know Jesus during his lifetime as did the Twelve Apostles, but he was the first apostle whose only experience with Jesus was after the Resurrection and Ascension. In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Being a Jew and a Roman citizen were ideal pedigrees for his ministry to both Jewish and Roman audiences. Three years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem, he met James and stayed with Simon Peter for 15 days. About half of the New Testament stems from Paul and the people whom he influenced. Thirteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have been attributed to Paul, and approximately half of the Acts of the Apostles deals with Paul s life and works. In Rome, he was imprisoned for two years, released, and then traveled to Spain, later to the East again, then back to Rome, where he was imprisoned a second time and, in the year 67, was beheaded.

Matthias Matthias was the apostle chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following Judas' betrayal of Jesus and suicide. His calling as an apostle is unique in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus. Why was this important? Twelve was a very important number to the Chosen People: twelve was the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed. Peter stood up to propose the way to make the choice. Peter had one criterion, that, like Andrew, James, John, and himself, the new apostle be someone who had been a disciple from the very beginning, from his baptism by John until the Ascension. The reason for this was simple, the new apostle would must become a witness to Jesus' resurrection. Not much else is known other than he preached through Judea and Ethiopia and faced the same persecution as his apostle brethren. He was stoned and then beheaded in Jerusalem.

The Seventy Disciples There were actually seventy disciples mentioned in the Bible in addition to the thirteen original apostles (counting Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot.) These disciples were appointed by Jesus to go throughout the land in pairs to every city in which he was to arrive. Some such as Luke, Barnabas, Mark, and James The Just are a few who have contributed greatly to the writings in the New Testament. Many became bishops and deacon, while one was a woman, Tabitha, whom Peter had raised from the dead. Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was called as such by the apostles because he had a rare gift of comforting people s hearts. He sought out Paul when everyone else was afraid of him, bringing him to the apostles. Barnabas was strongly considered to be the official replacement to Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles but lost out to Matthias. But it was Barnabas whom the apostles first sent to Antioch with Paul. Their long association was broken only when Barnabas was determined to take his cousin Mark, whom Paul did not trust just then, on a missionary journey. The three were later reconciled. Many ancient accounts say Barnabas was the first to preach in Rome and in Milan. He was martyred in Cyprus,

Key characters Pontius Pilate The reluctant executioner of Jesus of Nazareth who felt that the Christian movement would fade with the death of Jesus who now has to deal with an apostolic crusade. Caiaphas Because of the improprieties surrounding their turning over Jesus to be crucified, the public outcry forced the Sanhedrin to remove him from power in 36 AD.

Key characters Mary, mother of Jesus She is last seen during the time of Jesus at the foot of the cross. Following the Ascension, she lived out her life in the company of the disciples and eventually died of old age. Mary Magdalene She traveled to France settling in the little village of Rennes-le-Chateau. Her offspring became kings of France. The French believe she was an advanced healer and a highly respected member of the twelfth tribe of Israel

Caligula He commanded himself to be worshipped as God, requiring that his image be set up in all temples; and he threatened to do so also in the Temple at Jerusalem, which caused a great disturbance among the Jews. He was assassinated in 41 AD. Nero To divert suspicion away from himself, Nero blamed the great fire of Rome on the Christians, thereby beginning a persecution of innocent people that has never been surpassed. Key characters John The Baptist Andrew and Philip were first disciples of the Baptist before being sent to Jesus. Herod Antipas Unlike his father, Herod The Great, who had tried and failed to have The Savior killed, this Herod saw it happen as well as John the Baptist before him. Herod Agrippa I The son of Herod Antipas who had James and his brother John executed and Peter imprisoned. He died suddenly in 44 AD by what was said to be divine intervention.