The Chosen

Afraid of public outcry—and further embarrassment—Caiaphas resolves to arrest Jesus quietly at night. Only one problem: no one knows how to find Him.

Jesus preaches one last time to the massive Passover crowd, and the religious leaders try to trap him in his words.

Why kill Jesus when Rome can do it for you? As the Jewish High Priest schemes to bring Him down, Jesus strikes first: turning the tables.

Jesus rides into the holy city as king, but finds that the rulers have turned His Father’s house from a place of prayer to a corrupt market.

Beginning with a funeral procession, time marches rapidly toward the final days of Jesus’ ministry. While the disciples seek status for themselves, a Roman ruler comes with a humble request.

When Jesus heals a blind man on the Sabbath, religious leaders confront him, drawing a riotous crowd. Gaius defies a direct order leading Quintus to take matters—and someone’s life—into his own hands.

Jesus founds his church on unholy ground and Simon goes public with Jesus' true identity, getting a new name in the process. But can the new "Peter" forgive old wrongs?

An intoxicating dance leads Herod to put an end to John the Baptizer, but no one can stop what-or Who-he's ushered in.

Two by two, the disciples carry out Jesus’ mission to heal, cast out demons, and preach his words. But upon returning, they struggle with understanding what happened while Simon and Eden struggle to reconnect.

Jesus returns to his childhood home for the big Jewish new year celebration. His childhood friends and family are all buzzing with what they’ve heard about Jesus…until he tells them the truth of who He is.

Jesus is a problem for the Romans. With pilgrims from everywhere setting up a tent city at the gates of Capernaum to see Jesus, tensions rise. Jesus officially sends the twelve apostles on an exciting but dangerous mission, causing Little James to ask why he hasn’t been healed.

Jesus delivers the most life-altering sermon in history. The result? More followers, more enemies, and disciples ready to follow Jesus anywhere. Simon and Eden reunite, Matthew faces his past, and Andrew visits John the Baptist in prison.

As Jesus and the disciples head to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, a new enemy follows them, while a familiar enemy awaits.

A long, exhausting day turns into night as the disciples help Jesus deal with a large crowd hoping to be healed. Around the campfire, over dinner, the group tried to get to know each other better. But tensions erupt.

A mysterious visitor seeks to meet Jesus, but the disciples are hesitant. Tension builds between Simon and Matthew. As the group heads to a new city, word arrives that Jesus’ fame is growing.

Tension builds among the disciples as they wrestle with the increasing fame of Jesus in Samaria. Jesus rebukes Big James and John for their prejudice and, after a near-violent encounter, gives them a new nickname.

With his life and family under threat from Rome, Simon spends one last night fishing in a desperate attempt to square his debts. Andrew spots a familiar face waiting for them on the shores of Galilee.

Jesus befriends and teaches the group of children who discover His camp on the outskirts of Capernaum.

Matthew validates Simon's claims with Praetor Quintus, Nicodemus investigates the miracle reported in the Red Quarter, and Mary receives surprise guests at her Shabbat dinner.

Two brothers struggle with their tax debts to Rome while a woman in the Red Quarter wrestles with her demons.

Matthew, Luke, and John—the three Gospel writers we all know. Oh, wait! There’s a fourth. Episode 7 introduced us to Mark, but it also left us with several questions about him. Was he really so young? And was the Upper Room really part of his house? Our consultants dig into the history of Mark and that upstairs room where so many important events happened. But first, Dallas has some questions about footwashing, and the insights from Rabbi Sobel just might knock your socks off.

In Episode 6, we saw the first Communion at the Last Supper. The Chosen’s portrayal stuck closely to Jesus’ words straight from the Gospels, but there’s a longstanding Catholic-Protestant disagreement over how to interpret those words. How literal or figurative was Jesus being when He said, “This is my body,” and “This is my blood”? In this discussion, Father Guffey clearly presents the Catholic viewpoint. Dr. Huffman presents a continuum of Protestant views, and Rabbi Sobel brings in a Jewish perspective, connecting the Lord’s Supper to Passover—and all the way back to the trees in the Garden of Eden. Despite any differences of interpretation, one thing is clear: everyone takes Jesus’ words seriously and believes in the sacredness of this sacrament.

You’ve seen Jesus get angry at corruption in His Father’s house and hypocrisy within the religious leadership, but now, you’ve also seen Him snap at a tree. The “Cursing of the Fig Tree,” has stumped many Christians over the centuries, but Dallas promises our Bible consultants will fig-ure it out. ;) Puns notwithstanding, this discussion truly gives us a solid understanding of the spiritual, historical, and symbolic meaning of what’s been a confusing Bible passage for many.

It’s time to talk about the most bone-chilling scene in the entire season—the moment when Judas gives himself over to “not God.” Our biblical experts weigh in on nagging questions about Jesus’ betrayer. Was he trying to do good or harm? Was he bad from the beginning, or did he stray along the way? Was he a conscious agent or a pawn in a bigger plan? They also discuss perhaps the most surprising question and controversy that came out of this episode: Did Jesus pray for Judas?

Episode 3 covered a lot of ground Biblically—and all of it pretty weighty stuff—so there’s much to discuss. Our scholars address the religious leaders’ attempt to publicly discredit Jesus, His equally public denouncement of them, and his private prediction to the disciples about the end of the age. And despite all the conflict and sadness throughout the episode, they point us to the words of hope and peace at the beginning and end.

It’s time for some lively table talk—literally—as our Bible consultants discuss Jesus turning over tables. They discuss (and disagree over) whether Jesus cleansed the Temple once or twice. And along with explaining why He got so righteously angry, they also consider the deep meaning of his actions from a Jewish perspective—and how it revealed Him as the Father’s Son.

Jesus fulfills an old prophecy and makes a new one. He offers a powerful prayer and hears an audible voice from Heaven. He rides into a joyful city, but weeps over its coming destruction. And all of that’s just Episode 1. There’s a lot to talk about, and our Messianic Jewish rabbi, Catholic priest, and Evangelical scholar are back to discuss it all.

When he first set out to make The Chosen, Dallas visited Israel to get a deeper understanding of the story in its original setting. What he discovered about the Garden of Gethsemane—the place where Jesus agonized right before His arrest—made a huge impact and gave new meaning to that story. And now, years later, you can see how that discovery affected the making of Gethsemane in Season 5.

Prayer is at the center of everything we do for The Chosen. Here's the special beginning to our research trip to Israel.

We all know Da Vinci couldn't have gotten Jesus and the disciples to all pose on one side of the table... but more importantly... we should all know that Jesus and the disciples weren't all white.

We chose this disciple as one of our main characters because of the special way Jesus called him and how fast he responded.

As you celebrate the victory of Easter, it's vital to understand the significance of the Garden of Gethsemane. Before we produced The Chosen, we went to Israel to go deeper into the stories we're telling you. The meaning and importance of olive trees truly impacted us.

We wouldn't have made The Chosen without going to Israel first. The cultural, historical, biblical, and artistic foundations of The Chosen are rooted in the insights gained here.

We knew before we started writing that Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well would be the climax of Season One. The story has so many beautiful layers, and Dallas and Rabbi Jason explored them at the actual location in Israel.

Our research trip to Israel brought us beautiful biblical insights about fishing, nets, and how The Chosen can be a net to gather more “fish.”

The Chosen director Dallas Jenkins and biblical consultant Rabbi Jason Sobel visit the site of Jesus' first public miracle and take you deeper into the scripture.

On our research trip to Israel, we visited Capernaum, the town where our first season is set, and looked into disciples Matthew and Simon Peter.

If you found our walking on water scene believable, that's because we faked as little as possible. The waves, wind, and rain were all real. And the footing...well, it was firmer than water, but far from solid ground.

The story behind the climactic scene of episode 4 of The Chosen is as powerful as the scene itself. See why it’s our favorite episode.

John the Baptist's death wasn't simply premeditated—it was choreographed with lethal precision. Our cast, writers, and director retrace all the steps leading to John's tragic, yet hopeful end.

The process of finding the actors to play some of the most iconic and influential people in history was daunting but ultimately beautiful. And it’s not only impacted viewers, but the actors themselves.

We know what Judas will do. The question is why. In this video, Dallas, our writers, and actor Luke Dimyan consider Judas’ state of mind as he takes his first steps toward betrayal and what might have plausibly motivated him to break bad.

Unless you’re a history major (or spend all your time thinking about the Roman Empire), the political and religious landscape in The Chosen can be a little confusing. If Rome’s in charge, who’s this King Herod guy? And what about this Jewish “congress”, the Sanhedrin? And those odd-sounding religious factions—Pharisees, Saduccees, Zealots, etc.? If any of that’s unclear, this video’s for you. Listen as co-writer, Tyler Thompson, gives you a crash course history lesson on all the rival rulers carving out their own kingdoms in Jesus’ day—and ultimately, finding Him to be their common enemy.

What happens when good news and the best of intentions go terribly wrong? Season 3 wrestled with that question as Jesus’ words preached by Andrew and Philip caused deep division and conflict in the melting pot region of the Decapolis.

Sometimes, the Bible leaves a lot to the imagination. That’s true of the disciples’ first big mission. We know Jesus sent them out two by two to preach and heal, but we don’t know who got paired up or why. In this video, members of our cast and writing team give you The Chosen’s approach to choosing the duos and telling their stories.

Before we launched The Chosen, we knew the pool of Bethesda healing from John 5 would be a signature moment. Here we take you from our trip to Israel to inside the entire week of filming one of the biggest, most complicated, and important scenes of the show.

Episode 5 features one of the most famous miracles in the Bible, the water to wine. We also portrayed a Jewish wedding through the eyes of Jesus, his mother Mary, the disciples, and Thomas. Here’s an inside look at “wedding week,” the filming of the wedding at Cana.

Episode 6 features a famous healing, the paralytic being lowered through the roof. So many issues at play, from the challenge of the Pharisees to the growing crowds to the faith of friends. Here’s a look inside “Zebedee week,” the filming in extreme heat of most of Episode 6.

The nighttime encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus from John 3 was always going to be a climax of Season One. The pressure to accurately, and with impact, capture the most famous conversation in the Bible was immense. But because we spent multiple episodes setting it up, and because of the brilliant performances of our two actors, the scene surpassed our expectations. Here’s a look behind our full day of filming this scene.

We've gotten tons of comments and questions about the "Jesus backpack." The story behind it moved us deeply.

Don't know about you, but we feel like something's missing without the musical score in these three big scenes. We'll go ahead and keep our composers around. ;)

This summer, more than 600 fans made the trip to Goshen, Utah, to help us film some big Season 4 scenes. In this video, you’ll meet some of them and hear what motivated them to travel from other states (or even farther!) to be part of making The Chosen.

Our Chosen Insiders give you a first look at the scenes being set up for Season 4. See how much thought and attention to detail goes into building a believable first-century world where our story unfolds.

Now that Season 4 is a wrap, here's a roundup of some of our favorite moments from filming. Enjoy!

You can take a front-row seat as Dallas, cast, and crew work through the logistics of filming this emotional and impactful miracle from Matthew chapter 8. It's also the introduction of fan-favorite Tamar, played by Amber Shana Williams.

The emotional moment when Simon decided to follow Jesus was also one of our toughest to shoot. Watch how our team used a "big green burrito" to get this pivotal miracle from Season 1 Episode Four.

If you’ve ever had questions or been intrigued by our costumes, join Chris & Kris as they take you inside the world of The Chosen costume design and introduce you to our designer.

How did we create a historically accurate 1st century set in the middle of 21st century Texas? In this video, we introduce you to our incredible set designers—James and Jeff—who step you through the streets of Capernaum, from Matthew’s house to the synagogue. Plus, you don’t want to miss the little competition they’ve set up for you…

Was one of Jesus’ followers a potential murderer? Is it plausible Simon the zealot would have planned assassination plots before he met Jesus? We think so, and here we take you inside the set as we filmed one of our most complex scenes in our biggest episode ever.

Fire on the set! That’s real fire in those torches, cauldrons, and lanterns. How do they keep it safe? Chris & Kris give you an inside look at how our team goes the extra mile for authenticity.

Right before we filmed the epic finale of Christmas With The Chosen, Dallas gathered the crowd, band, and crew for this spontaneous encouragement about the entire point of The Chosen. He also shared what he believes is the single most important word in the song “Joy to the World.”

Fan of the music in The Chosen? Chris & Kris went to L.A. to talk to our co-composer and take you behind the process of getting the music into the episodes.

Did you know background actors don’t actually say anything? Chris & Kris show you where those voices come from and teach you about “looping,” “donuts,” and bad British accents.

Our story is set in the 1st century, but did you know some of our dialogue is delivered in a studio in Los Angeles? Chris & Kris show you why.

Who’s the editor, what’s the editing “language” of the show, and does Dallas hate music? Chris & Kris take you into the editing room of The Chosen and find out how it all works.

Dallas getting pranked isn’t even the best part of this video from Chris & Kris. You’ll also see how we make sure every word and sound you hear matters.

Notice how Season 2’s sets seemed bigger? We’re taking you on a guided tour through every corner of our set so you can see which scenes filmed where.

What exactly does a director do? In the midst of all the impact and excitement of The Chosen, the show still has to get made. We thought you’d enjoy a look inside a day on the set from Dallas’s perspective.

The opening credits and theme song set The Chosen apart from other shows about Jesus and have gotten a ton of response. Here we take you behind the scenes of how it all came together, the meaning behind the design and the song, and how the opening credits set the tone for the series.

The Chosen writers give you a glimpse into their recent week-long writing retreat, where the entire rest of the series was plotted out. BONUS: some exclusive insights into Season 2!

The day before filming, Dallas pulled out his phone, pressed record, and walked through the entire set, sharing with you insights about every corner of where we'll be filming Season 2.

You see our “behind the scenes” stuff all the time, but our associate producer Justen wants to give you some insights, private access, and conversations with cast and crew you won’t get anywhere else.

Associate Producer Justen Overlander shares Chosen set building surprises with you and pitches his "interesting" story idea for future seasons to co-writer Tyler Thompson.

Want a glimpse of the filming plans for season two? See Dallas and some crew walk through each location and scene being filmed in the next 6 weeks.

For this emotional scene, we took a shallow ravine and turned it into a cliff overlooking the Sea of Galilee using blue screen, shooting targets, and a little movie magic.

Enjoy this walkthrough our Texas site with a look at the various scenes we filmed in each spot. I think you’ll agree we made the most of a small space!

When we researched The Chosen, our understanding of Nicodemus and the Pharisees shifted a bit. So did the way we portray them.

One of our visual effects companies, VFX Magic, assembled these clips of some of the unique effects in The Chosen, some of which you may not have noticed.

Grips play an important role on The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season show about Jesus. But what exactly do grips do? Do they all have epic beards?

Do you pray for the Chosen? Wonder if it’s working in between seasons? Here’s why we ask for your prayers and here’s why you need to keep it up.

Not every film set uses phrases like “loaves and fishes” or “get used to different,” but they all use terms like “speeding” and “key grip.” This video tells you exactly what those and other film-specific terms mean.

Meet The Chosen's script supervisor and see how she helps bring script to the screen.

Our head writer, Ryan Swanson, takes you behind the scenes of a “rough cut” as he describes his first time seeing The Chosen.

Our goal is to reach a billion people in as many languages as we can... check out what's happening...

For the first time, Dallas visits where your Chosen gear gets made and gets a behind the scenes look at the what, the how, and most important, the who of The Chosen’s merchandise.

Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, is one of the unsung heroes of the gospels. We love his portrayal by Noah James, who auditioned for three roles (the shepherd, Simon, and Matthew) before being cast as the immediate and passionate follower of Jesus.

Go behind the scenes with director Dallas Jenkins as he hops around New York City and Washington DC in a jam-packed media blitz for The Chosen.

Our associate producer Justen Overlander wears many hats, but the most important one is to be your eyes and ears behind the scenes of The Chosen. If you've been following The Chosen for a while now, make sure you stay until the end of the video. ;)

The Chosen's head writer takes you inside the process of writing the first-ever show about the gospels.

In Part 2 with "The Chosen" head writer Ryan Swanson, he discusses the approach to (and danger of!) writing portrayals of some of the most important and famous people in the Bible, particularly Jesus of Nazareth.

We didn't set out to become the #1 crowd-funded film/television project of all time, but somebody has a way of multiplying your loaves and fishes.

Usually, there’s a clear line between make-believe and reality on a TV set, but for Jordan Walker Ross, that line has occasionally blurred or even disappeared as he’s played the part of Little James. Listen as he shares his personal experience in The Chosen, along with an example of someone else who’s been deeply affected by his story.

Within the same year, she became a mom in real life and on TV. Vanessa Benavente describes how her own experience of motherhood has shaped her portrayal of Jesus’ mother, Mary—and given her a window into the profound loss and love the real Mary would have experienced.

Along with giving us the highlights (and low points) of Simon Peter’s journey so far, Shahar Isaac shares how he loves playing his character in the present moment each season. Even if we know how the story ends, Peter doesn’t, and it’s vital to portray a man who’s following even if he doesn’t know where the road will go. See what's next for Peter when Season 5 begins streaming on Prime Video June 15.

At the crucial moment, we know Pilate will wash his hands of responsibility for Jesus’ fate—giving into mob rule instead of taking charge. Andrew James Allen considers the character traits that might have led Pilate to cave when it counted most.

Full bank account. Empty life. That was Joanna’s story before she encountered a couple of homeless Jewish rabbis—John the Baptist and Jesus. Actor Amy Bailey talks you through her character’s reverse rags-to-riches story, and shares how much she can personally relate to Joanna’s experience of uprooting her life and finding real worth in loving and serving others.

While many of Jesus' opponents in The Chosen are morally compromised, actor Shaan Sharma argues that his character, Shmuel, is purehearted-and it's hard to argue with him. Shaan explains how we can relate to his character's mistaken confidence and how he's a cautionary tale for the dangers of confirmation bias.

“Your faith is beautiful.” Jesus said that to Tamar in Season 1, Episode 6, and to this day, fans repeat it to Amber Shana Williams, who plays her character. As Amber will tell you, Jesus’ acceptance of Tamar resonates with lots of people who’ve felt like outsiders or struggled to fit in—herself included.

An honest liar? A charitable thief? A loving betrayer? Those are all oxymorons, yes, but they're also pretty good descriptions of how Luke Dimyan plays the character of Judas Iscariot. Instead of assuming he was a mustache-twirling villain from the start, Luke (and our writers) assume Judas began with good intentions and lost his way over time. In this edition of In My Words, Luke gives you some insight into how he elevates his character from a simple bad guy to a complex human being…who you can't help caring about.

It all began with Mary Magdalene. If you've watched The Chosen episode one, you know her origin story (especially that last 5 minutes) is impossible to forget. There's also no one we can imagine playing her role except Elizabeth "Liz" Tabish. From day 1, she's brought Mary to life in a profoundly relatable and deeply human way. In this In My Words, Liz takes us through some of Mary's most consequential moments- turning points, setbacks, and a very realistic journey of growth as a disciple of Jesus.

It's more than playing a part: it's personal. That's how The Chosen cast feels. After many seasons walking in their footsteps, each actor is deeply invested in their character's journey. And in this series-In My Words-they share that journey with you. Leading us off is Alaa Safi. From a warrior trained to kill to a disciple learning to lay down his own life, Simon the Zealot has come a very long way. Alaa walks you through that story and shares some strong connections with his character.

Yasmine Al-Bustami, our beloved Ramah, is a one-woman cultural melting pot. Born in Abu Dhabi to parents from Jordan and the Philippines, her family emigrated to the US when Yas was just three, and sunk their roots in Texas. So it’s no surprise that her culinary tastes and interests are wide and diverse. Over a fusion of international foods, she tells Elijah about her original degree in finance, her borderline addiction to Chick-fil-A sauce, and how the character of Ramah will always be a part of her. Oh, and she also has a little detective experience of her own, so Elijah had better watch out.

When you think of Caiaphas, “sweet” probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind, but this interview with the man who plays him is a real treat. Richard Fancy brings a lifetime of film, TV, and stage acting to the role. In this interview, he shares some of that history with us, from Star Trek to Seinfeld. As you’ll see, Richard’s acting chops, smarts, and heart make him absolutely perfect for portraying Caiaphas in all his complexity.

Despite a delicious spread of Mediterranean food, there’s more fasting than feasting in this episode because Jonathan Roumie (Jesus) was on a strict diet to prepare for Season 6. Fortunately, less eating means more talking. The guys have a great talk and Elijah (Atticus) spills the beans on Jonathan’s strangest talents, best celebrity impressions, and the character he’d most like to play besides Jesus.

Welcome to The Spy Who Fed Me—the show where we get to know The Chosen cast members one secret (and bite) at a time. This time, Liz Tabish (Mary Magdalene) spills the tea about some early life experiences and a very important teacher who directed her into an acting career—though, it’s so much more than a job. Liz also shares how Mary’s journey and her own have matched up so perfectly…it’s almost like it was meant to be. ;)

Welcome to The Spy Who Fed Me—the show where we get to know The Chosen cast members one secret (and bite) at a time. This time, Elijah Alexander (Atticus) orders pizza and gets to know Luke Dimyan, who plays Judas. Their dinner table talk ranges far and wide—from 15-year-old Luke’s Renaissance fair cosplay to his uncanny voice impression of Sir Ian McKellen. But a common thread is his lifelong passion for great storytelling and complex characters—both of which we find in his portrayal of Judas Iscariot.

Welcome to The Spy Who Fed Me—the show where we get to know The Chosen cast members one secret (and bite) at a time. In this first episode, our ̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶r̶o̶g̶a̶t̶o̶r̶ host Elijah Alexander (Atticus) bonds with Noah James (Andrew) over a bowl of “tea-real.” You’re just gonna have to watch to see what that is, but we’ll warn you: it looks something like a Kellogg’s crime scene. Elijah’s informants have provided excellent intel on Noah, which makes for good conversation about his family, early career in radio drama, passion for electronic dance music, and love/hate relationship with Super Mario Smash Bros. Dig in and enjoy!

Instead of stabbing Jesus in the back, we like to imagine that Judas challenged Him to a friendly axe-throwing competition. And if he had, here’s how it might have gone down… You can see how the real story played out in Season 5, streaming now on Prime Video.

In this first episode of The Chosen Showdowns, Shmuel and Yussif meet face to face to settle their disagreements like civilized people—with a Hungry Hungry Hippos competition. Who’s got the bigger appetite for victory? And aren’t hippos unclean according to Torah? You’ll see a much more serious face-off between these characters when The Chosen Season 5 comes to Prime Video this June 15.

The Chosen cast has left the Last Supper table to gather at the ping pong table instead—and there’s no friendly communion here. Watch as Liz (Mary Magdalene) & Giavani (Thaddeus) paddle it out against Alaa (Simon Z) & Amber (Tamar) in this latest Showdown, then catch our Last Supper season when it hits Prime Video starting June 15.

If you’ve watched The Chosen, you know the disciples are kinda like balloons. They’re under pressure, sometimes full of hot air, and occasionally, they blow up. Did those similarities inspire this showdown? We have no idea, but it was fun to watch. The only thing we’d add: a little helium next time. ;)

What Judas did is well known. Why he did it, that’s the million-dollar question…or the 30-pieces- of-silver question. This episode of More To The Story explores the plausible motives behind the most infamous betrayal in history.

To understand the Last Supper, you’ve first got to understand the Passover—the Jewish holiday and meal that Jesus and his disciples were observing. This episode of More To The Story gives you a historical crash course on Passover and how Jesus was bringing new meaning to a very old tradition.

Wine was always flowing in the First Century—and once, Jesus even made it flow (see John 2 or Season 1, Episode 5.) While we know vino was a staple of the Mediterranean world, have you ever wondered why? And what it was actually like? This episode of More To The Story takes us on a First Century wine tasting and helps us understand the drink that was so central to the Last Supper meal.

With their belief in just one God, Messianic hopes, and fierce national identity, the Jewish people were notoriously difficult for Rome to rule. Only the threat and show of force kept the people in line…and only for a time. You can see a vivid example of Romans keeping the “peace” through violence in Season 5, Episode 5, now streaming on Prime Video.

To preserve their faith and identity while living in the Mediterranean melting pot, the Jewish people of Jesus’ day often walled themselves off (figuratively and literally) from their Gentile neighbors…but the Carpenter from Nazareth preferred building bridges. You can see these cultural tensions—and hopes—in Episode 4 and throughout Season 5 of The Chosen, now streaming on Prime Video.

Under Roman rule, the Great Sanhedrin was the supreme legislative and judicial body in First-Century Israel. With authority in all matters religious, social, and political, they didn’t take kindly to the Rabbi from Nazareth who openly broke their rules and publicly judged them. In this episode of More To The Story, Amber Shana Williams (Tamar) takes us into the power struggle between Jesus and the authorities in Season 5, Episode 3—and how His movement threatened to unseat them.

There’s only one time and place in all four Gospels where we see Jesus use physical force. He never attacked a Roman fort or burned down a pagan shrine, but He did strike a hard blow against the corruption at His people’s own Temple. And He did it during one of their most sacred holidays. In this episode of More to the Story, Amber Shana Williams (Tamar) walks us through the historical situation in Season 5, Episode 2—and why Jesus couldn’t stand what His Father’s house had become.

Rome knew the key to ruling the whole nation of Israel was to control the one man who represented them all. In this first episode of More To The Story—a new companion series to The Chosen—Amber Shana Williams (Tamar) helps us better understand the historical context of Season 5, Episode 1 and how the Roman governor, Pilate, kept the High Priest’s power under lock and key.

If you’ve ever wondered which Chosen scenes are the Chosen-est according to our director, Dallas, then here’s your answer. He gives you his top 10 favorites from Seasons 1-4, plus some honorable mentions. What do you think? How’s his list compare to yours?

When he first set out to make The Chosen, Dallas visited Israel to get a deeper understanding of the story in its original setting. What he discovered about the Garden of Gethsemane—the place where Jesus agonized right before His arrest—made a huge impact and gave new meaning to that story. And now, years later, you can see how that discovery affected the making of Gethsemane in Season 5.

Watch Making History right here on YouTube. #TheChosen

In Making History, we introduce you to the extraordinary artists whose primary mission is to transport you to the First-Century world of The Chosen. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes—quite literally—to see how we create the sets where our story plays out. From concept sketches to final construction, you get a crash course on what it takes to build a world and recreate some of the most famous historical locations like the Upper Room and Garden of Gethsemane in ancient Jerusalem.

In Making History, we introduce you to the extraordinary artists whose primary mission is to transport you to the First-Century world of The Chosen. In this episode, you hear what matters most to our writers: authenticity. That means having both historical accuracy and believable human characters—no floating in the clouds or stained-glass caricatures allowed. Support The Chosen by donating to the Come and See Foundation: https://www.comeandsee.net/donate

If you guessed our stealthiest disciple, you were right. ;)

Okay, let’s talk. I won’t sugarcoat it — I do have some unfortunate news about the Season 4 release. But I do ask for a little patience and some grace as I talk you through it, and I ask that you consider watching the whole video before you respond.

Finally! "Soon" is now. We not only have some great news for you about Season 4, but we also have some great and important news about our future. Thank you for your patience as we've had to navigate through this challenging legal situation. We've hated that you've had to wait, especially after the incredible response from those who saw Season 4 in theaters. Here Dallas gives you the WHEN and, most important, the HOW to watch these upcoming episodes. He also takes you through the truth of how we got here and why this delay was essential to our future. This is our most intense and impactful season yet, and we're so excited to bring it to you free and easy.

Do we believe we're as important as the Bible? Is The Chosen a replacement for scripture? Dallas's wife Amanda sums up our thoughts on the matter in two words:

Making The Chosen has been among the most challenging experiences of our lives. But clearly for a purpose. Come and see the three miracles that changed the landscape of Season 2 and created a new phrase we've embraced. When we debuted this video in a recent livestream, tens of thousands of people laughed and cried with us.

Do we believe Jesus rejects worship, acts like a rock star, isn't fully God, and that there are things he can't do? And do we really think the greatest prophet ever is "creepy" or disrespectful? If you've heard any of these from a friend, or been concerned yourself, we have the answers.

The Chosen's stance on faith, scripture, and writing.

What God told me about my failure that led to The Chosen

Production Designer, James Cunningham, takes us on a tour of one of the most elaborate and expansive Season 5 sets—the home of High Priest, Joseph ben Caiaphas. From this base of operations, he will set many people and plans in motion during Holy Week.

We saved the best for last—filming the Last Supper (plus Herod’s lunch?) during our final week of Season 5 production. We’ll give you just a small taste of that historic meal (no spoilers) and let you hear from the cast as they wrap and reflect back on the making of Holy Week.

This week, you meet Mandy Benton, our Make-Up Department Head—and truly a master of her art. Follow along for a look at all the hands-on, everyday work she and her team bring to the show.

Meet longtime Chosen crew member, Jeremy Guana, aka, “JP.” As part of our Locations team, he’s often first in and last out on set—securing sites in advance and making sure everything’s squared away afterwards. As we follow along with JP, you’ll learn a bit more about his role with The Chosen—plus, his acting roles on some different projects.

It’s a power struggle between church and state when the Jewish high priest and Roman governor come into conflict. Watch as we capture some of the very real historical tension between Joseph Ben Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate—and their mutual misunderstanding of Jesus.

This week, we introduce you to Leila Heise, whose work is literally woven into every scene. As our Costume Designer and head of the Wardrobe department, she handles thousands of clothing needs for our cast, our extras…and maybe even our Chosen Insiders.

From raiding a hideout to getting physical with one another, there’s no Pax Romana in this week’s recap. Watch as Atticus stops spying and starts taking action—even if that means threatening Pontius Pilate. As you’ll see, there are some very rough times ahead for the Romans in this next season of The Chosen.

This week, you get two tours for the price of…free. Follow along as our Set Designer, James Cunningham, shows us what’s in, around, and even underneath our Capernaum synagogue and Jerusalem Sanhedrin.

This week, we start with a fight—a 12-way debate between the disciples—but we end on a more affectionate note as our leading ladies wrap their Season 5 filming.

You can’t see Mark LeBlanc’s work, but you sure can hear it. He’s our production sound mixer—responsible for leading the team who captures all audio during filming. In this bonus recap, you’ll get to know Mark, his department, and their work a bit better.

In this week’s Season 5 filming recap, we’re bringing you a showdown in the Sanhedrin and a little friendly competition between the cast.

Chris and Jalein take you on a tour of the new sets in Texas and challenge you to figure which scenes are being filmed where.

After finishing phase one of filming in Utah, we headed home to Texas—but nothing looked the way we left it. Major construction and remodeling had transformed our film campus into first-century Jerusalem. Our cast and crew welcome you into these new (old) sets and give you a sneak peek of the first scenes filmed there.

The world's foremost sports competition is finally here—nope, not the Olympics. It's The Chosen's cast vs. crew football match. Brace yourself for an epic rivalry and unbelievable display of raw athletic prowess...

We had a whirlwind of a final week filming in Utah—racing against the clock and a huge dust storm. In this recap, we take you into the action on set, then we take shelter in the cast trailers to ride out the storm. Finally, as the storm and filming wrap up, we'll hear what the team will remember most from their time in Utah this season.

This week, we introduce you to Dani Taylor, our Additional 2nd 2nd Assistant Director. If you think her title is long, you should see her daily to-do list—all done to take good care of our cast. You’re gonna love getting to know Dani a little better and hearing the “marvelous” way she became part of The Chosen team.

Simon Peter goes down in history as a powerful preacher, but he’s off to a rocky start this week. Meanwhile, the religious leaders are shouting some words of their own at Jesus, and things get really heated.

The Chosen has the privilege of filming on a remarkably accurate partial reconstruction of the Jewish Second Temple complex. Join our Production Designer, James Cunningham, as we tour the Utah set and learn how it compares and contrasts with the real location in Jesus’ day.

This week, we’re taking you behind the scenes into the longest and one of the most complex scenes we’ve ever filmed. We’ve got more than 16 pages of script to cover, over 600 people involved, and even a show within the show as the disciples act out a parable.

Like the drummer in a band or the master scheduler in a factory, our Assistant Director, Adam Drake, is the timekeeper for production. Follow along as he keeps everyone in step and on beat.

Here’s what we’ve got for you in this week’s Season 5 filming recap: - Things get geeky as the Greeks and disciples face off in a little academic competition - Two of our actors invite you into their trailers and their personal “struggles” - Cast, crew, and 600 extras run for cover from a freak storm - And, oh yeah! We actually get some work done, too.

If you haven’t already, meet Mitch Hudson, our 2nd 2nd Assistant Director (yes, film crew titles can get confusing). In his role, Mitch directs our background extras, which means he’s been leading more than 600 of your fellow fans (maybe even you) as we film Holy Week. Enjoy this look into Mitch’s work to create a believable background environment where our story can unfold…and let us know if you’d like a video specifically on Mitch’s dance moves. ;)

More than 600 fans of The Chosen joined us to recreate one of the most significant moments in history—Jesus’ arrival to Jerusalem on the first day of Holy Week, aka “Palm Sunday.” Step into this epic scene with us and hear our cast and crew share what an emotional experience it was for them—and is going to be for you in Season 5. P.S. Also, let us know in the comments which you prefer: the real donkey or mechanical monstrosity.

Come along with The Chosen crew as we scout out all the Utah filming locations before cameras start rolling. And see if you can guess what we’re filming where.

Our cast and crew are back in the saddle (or sandals) again. We caught up with them during their first two days shooting Season 5 to see if everything was off to a smooth start. Check out what they had to say.

Now that we’re down to our last two weeks of filming, please join us in praying that we wrap up everything on time, with excellence…and without any more photobombing or throwing food at Chris.

Here's your latest prayer update from Chris and Jalein. We've had LOTS of answered requests, so thank you for continuing to remember us in your prayers.

Day after day, we’re seeing your prayers answered. Thank you for continuing to lift up our cast, crew, and the overall production as we work some long hours and on some intensely emotional scenes this week.

Jalein was out sick (don’t worry, nothing serious), so Chris is bringing you this week’s answered prayers and requests. Thanks again for remembering us in your prayers!

THANK YOU for keeping us in your prayers. Here are some answers to previous requests and a few new ones for this week.

Your prayers are being answered. Please keep ‘em coming.

As we finish up in Utah and head to Texas, we’d deeply appreciate your prayers for favorable weather, travel safety, and a smooth transition between locations.

Don’t pray for rain—at least, not in Goshen, UT. We could use fair weather and good health for the 600+ extras with us. Your prayers are much appreciated.

Dallas would love your prayers for a couple of key things.

Noah sends his greetings in the middle of a long week of shooting. Let's hope he got a nap in afterwards.

Wasim No'mani plays a meanie, but don’t worry, he’s actually very friendly and wants you to know about some of the drama you’ll see ramping up in Season 5.

Okay, okay, there's no cast in this video. They were focused on a scene, so Chris and Jalein checked in on their behalf.

Giavani sends you a midweek greeting while on break from a scene we started in Utah, but are finishing here in Texas.

Abe's doing a scene where Big James is hot and bothered, so for once, the Texas heat is helping him get into character.

He may play a high-strung Pharisee, but Brad hangs loose in real life. He’s excited for you to see what he’s filming right now…but maybe a little less excited about the Texas heat.

Catherine Lidstone (Mary of Bethany) tells you a little about the first day of filming in Texas. She had us at “brisket.”

Abe and Jordan, aka Big and Little James, send you greetings from Utah on their last day of shooting (as long as the weather behaves).

Giavani gives a shoutout for the silent stars of Season 5, then he’s gotta run—literally.

The guys update you on their preferred working hours, weird smells on set, and their “unique” vocal skills.

Most of what Little James is saying this season isn't coming out of his mouth—it's his expressions and body language that really speak. ;)

We filmed the outside and inside shots of this scene at two very different times and places. Will you be able to tell once the episode is finished?

Elijah (Atticus) got a big reaction from Andrew (Pilate). Maybe it’s because he’s only ever eaten food, not offered it to others. ;)

The ladies literally had dolly over for a meal. (In case you didn't know, a dolly shot is when the camera is mounted on a wheeled cart and then rolled through the scene.)

Yes, Alaa is kidding. But this is no joke: he speaks 7 languages. So if we needed an on-set translator, he'd be our go-to guy.

Mitch Hudson doesn't just direct our background extras. He entertains them—and us.

Every last speck of leaven must be cleaned out of a house before Passover—even if those specks are on your friend’s feet. ;)

We have to keep what's happening here hidden, but that doesn't stop you from guessing.

There are often minor day-to-day script revisions as scenes are filmed. Here, Dallas and Shahar sync up on few edits.

Catherine said her goodbyes to Dallas and the crew as she wrapped her shoot this season.

George (John) spies and gets surprised...

While practicing a walk-and-talk scene, Alaa jokes with Dallas about a previous misstep (or kick).

Shaan (Shmuel) has some fun with Dallas’ stage direction.

A discussion about how to deliver lines takes an unexpected musical turn.

In the middle of serious work, the team always finds ways to play.

Jonathan is so graceful.

Jesus and John are in this scene, but the 10 commandments are apparently nowhere to be found.

There's always more to a scene than the words on the page. Watch as Dallas and Joey think through Thomas' mindset and behavior—and what makes his character so interesting.

Austin (Nathanael) asks Dallas to clarify some stage direction in the script, then executes an eyebrow arch that would make his character proud.

The religious leaders are usually up for an argument, but they might regret starting one with Barnaby.

Don’t like their singing? The Pharisees don’t care. They come with their own fans.

A little standup comedy turns to lyrical parody as Luke gives his own spin to a pop classic.

When a gopher snake decided to make a guest appearance in Season 5, Production Assistant Gwendolyn, sprang into action. We think her impressive snake-handling skills ought to earn her a new nickname amongst the crew. What do you think? Snake charmer? Whisperer? Let us know in the comments.

Something (or someone) perilous comes knocking in Season 5.

Here's another little pregrame teaser for you from the cast vs. crew football game. You'll get to see the match itself this summer right here in the app—and we'll see if these acrobatic skills pay off.

Noah has a “bunch” of wisdom to share. Today’s lesson: pay attention to what they put in your smoothie.

Why are the disciples “stoning” one of their own in Season 5? Leave your theory in the comments.

It’s a sober reality in Season 5: The crowd begins to turn on Jesus.

Actually, it's pregame time here, but a little later this summer, you'll be able to watch the actual football match—cast vs. crew—right here in The Chosen app.

The disciples are headed somewhere in a hurry. Any guesses? Leave 'em in the comments.

Dallas shows Liz Tabish (Mary Mags) a new scene with Jonathan Roumie captured in one take. Based on her reaction, we're assuming it's not too shabby.

Grab your coffee and enjoy this look behind the scenes of a late-night shoot.

If you guessed our stealthiest disciple, you were right. ;)

Joey Vahedi turns his (imaginary) camera on our behind-the-scenes crew and does a slow dolly shot all the way to an extreme close-up.

Don’t worry, we’re still using our regular cameras, but our cinematographer, Akis, will often use his phone when he’s initially framing up a scene during a practice run like this. It’s especially quick and handy when everyone’s having to hussle because of an oncoming storm.

Dallas makes the rounds, hugging the guys goodnight as they wrap for the evening, but don’t expect him to read a bedtime story. ;)

The clothes make the…Matthew?

Amy Bailey (Joanna) finished her first walk-and-talk scene for Season 5. Because these scenes are physically challenging, completing one is kind of a rite of passage—and of course, no rite of passage is complete without a little razzing.

Two questions we’re all asking: 1. What’s happening here? 2. How many takes were required?

Here’s Alaa (Simon Z) stepping into his very first scene of the season. Anytime Zee is off on his own, you’ve gotta wonder what sort of covert activity he’s up to.

Dallas congratulates Shahar Isaac (Simon Peter) on his recent creative venture, "The Road Begins in Capernaum." As an avid photographer, Shahar has captured his Chosen journey in some stunning images. And he’s compiled them into a unique photo book that shows our set side by side with the real locations we’re depicting. You can learn more at Shahar’s book site: https://theroadbeginsincapernaum.com/

When you’re portraying Judas Iscariot, all mischief on set counts as “getting into character.” (Noah, if you’re watching this, pay closer attention to your costume.)

Dallas receives a friendly hello as he steps into a freshly-dressed Season 5 set. (Bonus points if you can count just how many individual background props our team has carefully assembled on set.)

The cast and crew welcome one another back to set with a round of hugs, and Jonathan Roumie is ready to go the extra mile with his Chosen-inspired sneakers.

As Passover pilgrims flood into Jerusalem, Andrew, Philip, and Tamar run into a few friends from the Feeding of the 5000. See if you can pick out who they are.

Before he joined us for Holy Week filming in Season 5, Tristian was part of our Feeding of the 5,000 scene in Season 3—but for him, it was a lot more than a scene.

If these girls and their dance don’t warm your heart, seek medical attention immediately.

Chosen Insider, Chris, speaks with a Jewish woman who knew her Old Testament scriptures, but wasn’t familiar with the New Testament at all—until she came across The Chosen.

Hear why Kevin was excited to wake up before dawn and join us for Holy Week filming.

From the moment they heard, "You are mine," in Episode One, Audrey and Gail were all in. They see themselves in the show...in more ways than one.

We had a multitude of Chosen fans on set for 5&2 Day (May 2nd) this year. While there, they sent you their greetings, shared some stories, and cracked a few jokes, too.