A Prisoner for Christ

080: A Prisoner for Christ

Preview:

Airdate

July 29, 1989

Last Aired

Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

06: Mission: Accomplished
06: Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions
Classics 04: Bible Eyewitness: New Testament
Bible Eyewitness: Collectors Set

Cassette No.

{{{cassette}}}

Length

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Theme

Forgiveness

Genre

Bible story

Scripture

Philemon

Written By

Phil Lollar

Directed By

Phil Lollar

Produced By

Bob Luttrell

Executive Producer

Chuck Bolte

Post-Production

Bob Luttrell

Engineer

Bob Luttrell

Music By

Library

Songs By

Unknown

Inventions Used

Imagination Station

Rating

Current user rating: 94% (28 votes)

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Family Store

Our Best Vacation Ever

A Prisoner for Christ

Good Business

Summary

Nicholas Adamsworth uses the Imagination Station to experience the story of Onesimus from the the book of Philemon in the Bible.

Plot

Nicholas Adamsworth is back - and he's more afraid than ever. But it's not Richard Maxwell he's scared of, it's Eugene! Nicholas tells Whit that he and Eugene had to create computer programs for a class at the college. Eugene created a great one that Nicholas has managed to ruin! He's afraid that Eugene will kill him, so he's hiding out at Whit's End.

Whit says that since Nicholas is there, he can help test a new Imagination Station adventure. Nicholas agrees, climbs in, and is propelled back to first-century Rome, where he finds himself in the middle of an exciting chase. A slave named Onesimus is being pursued by Flavius, a centurion who's driving a chariot. With Onesimus, Nicholas manages to escape from Flavius, but Onesimus sprains his ankle in the process. Fortunately, they are helped by Epaphras, a countryman of Onesimus's, who witnessed the end of the chase. Onesimus pleads to Epaphras for sanctuary, so he takes them through the sewers to the only man he knows who has a house in Rome - the apostle Paul!

But after they arrive at Paul's house, Flavius shows up, claiming Onesimus. Paul grants Onesimus sanctuary, but the centurion still demands payment for the damages caused by the chase. Paul agrees to pay Onesimus's bill himself! This satisfies Flavius, and he leaves. Everyone is stunned by Paul's generosity, especially Onesimus. He wants to know why Paul would do such a thing. Paul says that someone special once paid a great debt for him - could he do anything less for others?

Onesimus wants to know more about this man who repays impossible debts, so Paul tells him about Jesus. Eventually, Onesimus becomes a Christian. He realizes that now he must return to his master, Philemon. Nicholas tries to talk Onesimus out of it, but Onesimus says that not going back would be like living a lie. He only wants to do the right thing. Nicholas realizes that he needs to do the right thing as well. He exits the Imagination Station and tells Whit that he's returning to the college to face Eugene.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was Nicholas so afraid of Eugene?
2. Have you ever repayed someone’s debt?
   • If so, when?
3. Is it important to be baptized?
   • Why or why not?
   • What does your church believe about baptism?

Cast

Characters	Actors
Epaphras	Rob Gregory
Flavius	Bob Luttrell
John Whittaker	Hal Smith
Nicholas Adamsworth	Dick Beals
Onesimus	John Mallon
Paul	Hal Smith

Notes

Trivia

• VERSION DIFFERENCE: The broadcast version of this episode begins with Chris writing a letter to her parents. She writes about how she has named her dog "Stay" (which of course has driven the dog crazy), but her dog steals her letter.
• This is the last time we hear Nicholas Adamsworth before #239: “The Power”, where he turns into a shady character.
• The baptism scene in this episode has generated a bit of controversy. Some listeners objected to the Apostle Paul baptizing Onesimus "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," but the writers were only intending to use the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19.
• This episode featured the only other use of the original Imagination Station between the debut episodes and its destruction by Regis Blackgaard.

Quotes

John Whittaker: Ok, that takes care of the programming. Now to make my interior adjustments. Step into my parlor said the spider to the fly.

---

Nicholas Adamsworth: Hi Mr. Whittaker! Bye Mr. Whittaker!
John Whittaker: Oh-Wha-?! Nicholas! Nicholas, what are you doing?
Nicholas Adamsworth: Uh, hiding!
John Whittaker: Well, I can see that! Who are you hiding from?
Nicholas Adamsworth: Just Eugene!
John Whittaker: Nicholas!
Nicholas Adamsworth: Sorry! He's not home!
John Whittaker: Now Nicholas...
Nicholas Adamsworth: No one here by that name!

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