1. The Advocate
    Randy Singer
    Tyndale House / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$12.49 Retail Price$15.99 Save 22% ($3.50)
    4.8 out of 5 stars for The Advocate. View reviews of this product. 34 Reviews
4.8 Stars Out Of 5
4.8 out of 5
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Quality:
4.7 out Of 5
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4.7 out Of 5
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4.7 out Of 5
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94%
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Displaying items 16-20 of 34
  1. Doc Hilton
    Horseshoe Bend, AR
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Life-Changing Fiction From Randy Singer
    July 9, 2014
    Doc Hilton
    Horseshoe Bend, AR
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Luke, a Greek physician, Christian, and companion of the Apostle Paul, compiled the first 2-volume history of the Christian church. We know them, respectively, as The Gospel Of Luke and The Book Of Acts. You can find them in the New Testament portion of the Bible.

    These books were each addressed to an enigmatic personage, Theophilus. Whether Theophilus was an historical figure, or whether this was a play on words (Theophilus literally means, "Lover of God") is still being debated. Acclaimed author Randy Singer has taken the character of Theophilus and crafted an excellent book that centers around this young man's training and subsequent career as a lawyer in the courts of Rome during the time of Christ.

    As assessore for Pontius Pilate, Theophilus has a ring-side seat as the greatest story ever told unfolds before his very eyes. He is the one who suggested that Pilate offer the release of Barabbas, certain that the crowd would release the innocent man, Jesus, instead.

    The plan backfired, and Theophilus would forever live with the thought that he was instrumental in the death of an innocent man.

    Many years, and two Caesars later, Theophilus is once again tasked with the defense of an innocent man, the Apostle Paul. However, with age comes wisdom, and this time Theophilus can no longer be a disinterested bystander. It's not just Paul's life that hangs in the balance.

    Rich with historical and cultural detail, and passionate with the mental, emotional, and philosophical forces of the day, The Advocate is a book that will help you understand the context of Christianity, and cause you to re-examine your own beliefs concerning the Jesus of history.

    Reviewer's disclaimer: Randy Singer pulls no punches. There are scenes that may be considered too graphic for the younger reader.

    5 stars for life-changing fiction by Randy Singer
  2. Cassandra
    Maine
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    July 7, 2014
    Cassandra
    Maine
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    What a book! I think this is one of my favorites. It was very detailed and fairly historically accurate as far as I could tell. The characters were very real: they had weaknesses and things they regretted doing or saying just like we all do. Despite the suffering the characters endured throughout the course of the book, overall the message is one of hope and victory in Jesus.
  3. RuthSophia
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Exceeded expectations
    June 11, 2014
    RuthSophia
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I've only read one other Singer book, and, to be honest, I wasn't that thrilled with it. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't *great*. That experience almost kept me from reading The Advocate, and I'm glad I gave Singer another chance.

    The Advocate drew me in and kept me interested - nothing hokey in it either. Everything in this book could have happened (and some of it did). This is storytelling near its best.

    I appreciate that Singer includes a list in the front of the book letting you know which characters are fictional, which ones are historical (but about whom little is known), which are based on a historical figure whose name is unknown, and which ones are solid historical figures.

    The book isn't preachy, which is a feat when dealing with the beginnings of Christianity. No trite prayers - just lives realistically portrayed ... whether or not those people are believers in Jesus.

    Excellent read. Highly recommend.
  4. luvs to cook
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Unusual Legal Thriller
    June 11, 2014
    luvs to cook
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This is an unusual legal thriller by Randy Singer because it involves the historical details of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus as well as the growth of Christianity even as people faced incredible torture for their faith. It opens with two boys who are part of a small group of boys being privately tutored around the time of Christ's birth. One boy Nero who would become Emperor acted cruelly toward his classmate and the classmate was left tied to a cross until strangers on the road helped him escape. Years later that boy who knew how bad the cross was would be standing beside Pilate when Pilate sentenced Jesus to die. Later he would return to Rome where Nero was emperor, Christianity was spreading, and he'd have to decide what he believed. It is fiction mixed with some true facts and is truly an interesting book to read.
  5. Rebecca
    Western Canada
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Great historical fiction!
    June 3, 2014
    Rebecca
    Western Canada
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Advocate - eBook.
    Every so often I pick up historical fiction, and I wonder why I don't read it more. The Advocate has confirmed that I need to do so, and it was such a good experience reading the book that I'm ready to scour Wikipedia for information about the time period before I dig into another era. I wouldn't want to live in that time, especially as a Christian ruled by Roman emperors, but Singer's presentation of the times was compelling.

    Singer also does a good job introducing and maintaining his characters so that I wanted to join them on their journey through the storylines, and I cared what happened to them even when their choices or motivation veered from what I think I would do in a similar situation (or rather, what I hope I would do in such a political minefield where lives are at stake).

    I'm going to be on the lookout for another Singer novel, at least one per year until I've tracked them all down. Thanks, Randy, for your excellent writing!
Displaying items 16-20 of 34