Since its original release in 1995 by Visual Bible, The Gospel According to Matthew--featuring Bruce Marchiano, known as the "smiling Jesus" for his portrayal of Jesus in the "Visual Bible" series--has sold millions of copies worldwide, company officials said. The film features a word-for-word account of the book of Matthew, using the New International Version and showing the chapters and verses in the lower corner of the screen.

"As the apostle Paul writes, 'the gospel is the power of God unto salvation,' and that was the concept," Marchiano said. "The gospel would be put on film in the pureness of its power--and that means unaltered by any human script writer. These 15 years later, not a day goes by that I don't receive a testimony from some corner of the world, and that testimony is always the same, 'This film changed my life.' "

Retailing for $24.99, the new DVD includes bonus items and special features as well as a two-CD audiobook of Marchiano's In the Footsteps of Jesus--based on the Harvest House Publishers book, an Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion nominee.

Marchiano has also written other books, including Jesus Yesterday, Today & Forever (Harvest House) and Jesus Wept and Jesus, the Man Who Loved Women (both Howard Publishing, now Howard Books).

Marchiano is currently leading the production of a new word-for-word film based on the book of John titled Jesus ... No Greater Love. Click here for more information on The Gospel According to Matthew and here for details on Jesus ... No Greater Love.