The hit miniseries The Bible set records on cable television for the History Channel, with as many as 13 million viewers tuning in the first night of the blockbuster. But certain aspects of the filming were even more remarkable. Producer Mark Burnett reports highly unusual behind-the-scenes occurrences that he labels miracles.

The epic five-part series during the month of March was the most watched entertainment program on cable television, according to ABC’s Good Morning America.

The making of the TV miniseries was filled with strange happenings that Burnett can’t quite explain. When the actor who portrays Jesus told Nicodemus, “The Holy Spirit is like the wind,” a strong rushing wind that felt like the exhaust behind a 747 almost blew the set over and sustained for 20 seconds, Burnett told Entertainment Weekly.

“Everyone just looked at everyone like, ‘What just happened?’” Burnett said.

The production—filmed in Morocco—also hired a “snake wrangler” to make sure dangerous reptiles did not get near the actors. He usually found one or two snakes each day.

However, on the day the momentous crucifixion scene was filmed, the snake expert found an unprecedented 48 venomous snakes crawling around their recreated Golgotha—the place where Jesus defeated Satan. (Scripture often depicts Satan as a snake.)

When the baptism of Jesus was filmed in a reservoir, the producers were alarmed when part of the actor’s unique costume came off and floated away.

“Four days later, a kid showed up from many, many, many miles away, who had been seeking us through the desert to return this to us,” Burnett told Entertainment Weekly. “He didn’t know what it was or why he should seek us, but he felt he had to return it.”

Mark Burnett and his wife, Roma Downey, appeared before many Christian groups prior to the broadcast, inviting prayer for God to use it powerfully. The series aired its final installment on Easter Sunday.

Prayer Connect magazine