Here is my second attempt at an episode guide. It is meant to be a summation of the episode and will not make sense if you haven’t watched.
Biblical- What We Find in Scripture
James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddeus were disciples.
It still remains true that Nicodemus was a pharisee, Peter a fisherman, and Matthew a tax collector.
Other than these facts, all of the events of this episode are fictional.
Unbiblical- What Contradicts Scripture
The details of Mary’s exorcism, as she interacts with Nicodemus, seem to be chronologically incorrect. She and Nicodemus both call her exorcism a miracle, and so it was. However, Jesus first miracle is the turning of water to wine in Cana of Galilee. When Mary, his mother, asks him to make wine he states that his time has not yet come. John also indicates that this was the first of his miracles. (John 2:1-12) Note: As the chosen seems to be jumping around chronologically, it is possible that I am simply not understanding their timeline.
Extra-biblical: What Is Made Up but Doesn’t Contradict Scripture
A boy in Chinereth in Galilee asking about the Shabbat (aka Sabbath).
Matthew’s visit with the Roman prefect Quintas and, as stated in the previous episode guide, the tax debt of Peter.
The “pub” scene of Peter and his friends.
Nicodemus being called before some called the “Av beit din”, which means “father of the court,” regarding the healing of Mary Magdalene. Including the investigation of Nicodemus into the healing of Mary Magdalene.
Peter and Andrew’s investigation of fishing on the sabbath, including the interaction about Peter and his wife. There is nothing in the gospels about Peter’s wife. We know she existed because of Peter’s healing of his mother in law.
At this point, anything including the characters Quintas or Gaius is fictional. He is not a biblical character.
Matthew’s broken relationship with his father.
Nicodemus interaction with Mary Magdalene, including the name “Lilith” used for her, regarding her no longer being demon possessed.
We are not introduces to James the son of Alphaeus or Thaddeus until they are called to be disciples. Even at that point, they take up very little space in the gospels. It seems later in the episode that Jesus has already called them to be his disciples.
Jesus arrival at Mary Magdalene’s for a Sabbath meal.
Helpful: What We Might Be Helpful To the Watcher
The opening scene helps to provide background on Sabbath observation of the Jewish people.
Mary’s gratitude is well depicted. While we do not have the details of her exorcism recorded in Scripture, she does choose to follow him. No doubt this following included gratitude.
I’m going to put something about Nicodemus in this category because everything we have seen about him at this point is made up, yet what Scripture does reveal about Nicodemus shows that he seemed to have been genuinely curious. Ultimately we see him come to follow Jesus, though we do not know at what point that happened.
The little history we get from Nicodemus about Antiochus and the Hasmonean dynasty is historically accurate even if the conversation between him and his wife is fictitious.
Dangerous: Things That Have Been Added That Might Be Dangerous to Accept as Fact
Nothing
Anachronisms and errors- Things that are out of place regarding the time, etc.
The Roman prefect’s office contained windows with clear glass. Clear glass wasn’t likely readily available at this time. If there was glass windows at all they would likely have been translucent
This may be silly, it appears that Nicodemus, in a made up scene, is writing in Hebrew from left to right. Hebrew is written from right to left.
Wax candles would unlikely to have been used, and if they were they would not have been as well formed as they are. Small clay lamps used for burning oil would have been primarily utilized.
Dogs were not pets and not looked well upon. It is unlikely that Matthew would have been willing to throw food to the dogs.
A woman would not have been likely to lesd a shabbat meal in the way Mary Magdalene does in this episode.