Summary
Highlights
Dallas Jenkins, the creator of 'The Chosen,' introduces the show, explaining that it aims to depict Jesus through the eyes of those who encountered him. He encourages viewers to watch the full series on 'The Chosen' or Angel Studios apps for better quality and access to all episodes, though it can also be watched on YouTube. The show focuses on the historical and cultural context before Jesus's direct appearance, allowing viewers to connect with the characters' struggles and questions.
The episode opens with a young girl being comforted by her father, who recites Isaiah's prophecy of redemption. This transitions to an adult Mary Magdalene, tormented by demons, seeking solace in a tavern, and later experiencing a violent episode against her tormentors, highlighting her suffering and desperation.
Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee, is stopped by Quintus, the Roman praetor of Capernaum. Quintus discusses the various religious factions vying for power and expresses concern about unpaid taxes, suggesting Nicodemus's help in exchange for continued Pharisee influence. Nicodemus is challenged to help resolve the tax issue without burdening the already struggling people.
Simon, a fisherman, is seen with a tax collector, Matthew. Matthew, a Jew working for the Romans, is disliked and mistrusted by his community. Simon and his brother Andrew are struggling financially, with their fishing business under immense pressure from taxes and competition, threatening their livelihood.
Nicodemus is reluctantly compelled by a Roman centurion to help a woman causing a disturbance in the red quarter, who is believed to be demon-possessed. He attempts an exorcism in Mary Magdalene's home, but fails, leaving him shaken and questioning his own spiritual authority and interpretation of God's law.
Simon and Andrew are in dire financial straits due to unpaid taxes. Simon, desperate, reveals a plan to fish on the Sabbath, hoping to avoid Roman patrols but risking the condemnation of the Pharisees. He later considers informing on other fishermen to Quintus to save his boat, leading to a confrontation with Andrew.
Mary Magdalene, still tormented, is encouraged by a friend to seek help from a 'holy man,' but she has lost faith. Later, while at home contemplating suicide, she encounters Jesus. He calls her by her true name, Mary, and recites the prophecy from Isaiah, redeeming her and freeing her from her demonic oppression. This marks a profound transformation for her.
Simon and Andrew approach Matthew, the tax collector, to settle their debt. Simon, leveraging information about other fishermen breaking Sabbath laws, makes a deal with Matthew and Quintus to expose illegal fishing operations in exchange for their debts being forgiven. Matthew doubts Simon's reliability but accepts the proposition.
Nicodemus is called before his peers, who inform him of the miraculous healing of the woman from the red quarter. He is surprised and requests to investigate the matter himself before it becomes a public spectacle, questioning the source and nature of her healing, as he failed in his own attempt to help her.
Simon and Andrew are out on the sea, observing other fishermen. Simon contemplates informing on them to the Romans, a difficult decision that would save his family from ruin but betray his community. Andrew struggles with the moral implications, calling out Simon's plan as a betrayal of their own people.
Mary Magdalene prepares to host her first Shabbat dinner since her healing. She encounters Nicodemus, who seeks to understand her miraculous transformation. Mary explains that it was 'someone else' who healed her, a man whose name she doesn't know but whose touch brought profound change and redemption. She mentions he said, 'I am his,' and that his time had not yet come. Nicodemus is intrigued and filled with wonder.
Mary Magdalene's Shabbat dinner guests are surprised by the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth. Nicodemus, who is also at the dinner, recognizes him as the one who healed Mary. Jesus humbly allows Mary to lead the traditional blessings, marking a significant moment of acceptance and shared faith among the diverse group, including some of Nicodemus’s students.
Dallas Jenkins encourages viewers to continue watching 'The Chosen' on the dedicated apps. He highlights Episode 3, which features Jesus encountering children in the wilderness, as a particularly beloved episode.