A shy, uncertain, mixed-race youth from Lystra watches in awe as an itinerant preacher heals a man lame from birth. A short time later, the healer, Paul, a brilliant man with a fiery spirit, and his coworker are almost killed by a rioting crowd. Thus begins the relationship between the two, which spans several decades as they travel endless miles preaching a stunning message that upends the Roman Empire and splits the calendar of time into two parts.
Timothy records the highs and lows of their ministry as they walk thousands of miles across the mountains and deserts of Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece and eventually to Rome, preaching the gospel and founding new churches. As he matures under Paul's guidance, Timothy gains confidence, learns to defend his youth against older believers and overcomes his deep fear of speaking before crowds. He continues to struggle, however, with frequent battles of self-doubt, especially when confronted with the turmoil they face. The early Christians endure physical and emotional abuse from natural disasters and human betrayal, including prejudice, hate, riots, beatings, injuries, imprisonment and loss of loved ones. They are often deprived of basic needs such as food, water and sleep.
Paul's execution in Rome plunges Timothy into a grief so intense he almost loses not only his faith but also his will to live. Only when he realizes how close he came to making Paul his idol rather than his beloved teacher is his faith restored.