The B-Side Bible: The Hidden Tracks of the ancient world.
The B-Side Bible is a sharp, entertaining, and completely unvarnished dive into the hidden tracks, raw context, and overlooked history of the ancient world. The title is a nod to the mechanics of old vinyl records: while the A-sides are the polished, well-known mainstream hits that everyone recognises, the B-sides are the raw, experimental, and politically messy tracks that shaped the landscape of antiquity.
This podcast is a strict, objective post-mortem of ancient literature and cultural anthropology. We leave modern theology and moralising at the door to explore the original socio-historical context of the scriptures—examining why these texts were engineered, who they were actually written for, and what they meant to the people living under the shadows of the Babylonian and Roman empires. From bizarre prophetic performance art and fringe characters to strategic political propaganda and ancient text-editing battles, The B-Side Bible pulls back the curtain on the deep cuts of history.
### About the Host
Mark Kerrigan holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master’s degree in Theological Studies. With over twenty years of experience as an educator, Mark excels at breaking down complex, rigorous academic research into engaging, accessible, and fascinating narratives. He is a multi-disciplinary creator under the Narranimate Studios banner, hosting both The B-Side Bible and the Forgotten Urban Histories podcast. Mark is also a versatile author, having written two speculative fiction novels as well as two children's novels. Across all his projects, he combines his background in education, narrative world-building, and historical criticism to strip the varnish off the past—delivering it exactly as it was: loud, accurate, and completely off the record.
The B-Side Bible: The Hidden Tracks of the ancient world.
Witchcraft and Magic in the Roman Empire
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In chapter 19 of the Book of Acts of the Apostles, we encounter an unusual event that took place in the city of Ephesus.
According to the biblical account, the Apostle Paul had been preaching and performing miracles in Ephesus, which threatened the livelihood of those involved in the occult and magical practices. Many people who practiced magic arts and sorcery were deeply impacted by Paul's teachings and chose to renounce their previous practices.
As the newly converted believers turned away from their former practices, they brought together their books and scrolls on magic and sorcery. In Acts 19:19, it is stated, "A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. "
In this podcast we take a closer look at this episode in history and discover, not only was magic and witchcraft rife throughout the Roman Empire but that Christianity had a significant and lasting impact on its practice.
