1. At what point did you suspect the true culprit? What clues led you there, and which clues misled you?

2. Dionysius’s decision to follow Jesus threatened not only his lifestyle but also his relationships, reputation, and possibly his family’s inheritance. What changes did Dionysius make after his conversion that provoked anger, resentment, or fear in those closest to them?

3. Paris, the son, reacts to his father’s conversion with outrage and ultimately violence. Do you think his anger stemmed primarily from greed, betrayal, wounded pride, fear of change, or something else? What does this reveal about the human tendency to value justice, mercy, and forgiveness differently when we are personally affected?

4 Which character’s motives did you find most understandable, even if you disagreed with their actions?

5. Dionysius spent much of his life pursuing wealth, pleasure, and status before becoming a Christian. Why do you think his family and friends struggled to believe his conversion was genuine? Did you believe it?

6. What makes it difficult for us to accept that someone with a troubled past can truly change?

7. Do you believe people are more often driven by greed, fear, love, ambition, or revenge? Which motive played the largest role in this story?

8. Sabina had to overcome many obstacles to solve the crime. What qualities make Sabina an effective investigator in a society that expects women to remain silent or invisible?

9. Which of Sabina’s characteristics could be considered both a liability and a strength? Which of her weaknesses make her feel realistic?

10. Were Sabina’s actions believable knowing the culture she lived in? Why or why not?

11. Do you think that Cassandra the fortune teller could be Sabina’s abandoned sister? Or was Sabina fooling herself as Amisi said? Why or why not?

12. In ancient Rome, exposing unwanted infants to die in the elements was considered acceptable. Since anyone could rescue and raise these babies, was this a more humane alternative than society’s other options?

13. Slavery played a major role in this story. How was slavery different from that in the American South? How was it the same?

14. The Romans had a violent penchant for the gladiatorial games, slaughtering people and animals by the thousands, for entertainment. What would have changed over time that made the “games” unacceptable? Are there vestiges of our culture that mimic these spectacles?

15. How did learning about ancient Ephesus change your understanding of the world in which the earliest Christians lived?