People of the Bible

Apostle · Fisherman · Leader of the Twelve

A fisherman who became the rock — and whose greatest failure became the place of his restoration.

Apostle

Peter's brother, who brought him to Jesus (John 1:40–42).

Apostle

Fisherman, brother of John; the first of the Twelve to be martyred (Acts 12:2).

Apostle

Fisherman, brother of James; tradition identifies him with the Beloved Disciple.

Apostle

From Bethsaida; brought Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43–46).

Apostle

Named in the lists of the Twelve; often identified with Nathanael, though this is tradition, not stated in Scripture.

Apostle

Doubted the Resurrection, then confessed Jesus as Lord and God (John 20:28).

Apostle · Tax collector

A tax collector called from his booth (Matthew 9:9); tradition links him to the first Gospel.

Apostle

Named in every list of the Twelve; little else is recorded.

Apostle

Called Thaddeus in Matthew and Mark; Luke and Acts name him Jude (in Greek, Judas of James — translations differ on “son” or “brother”).

Apostle

Named in the lists of the Twelve; the meaning of “Zealot” is debated.

Apostle

One of the Twelve, who handed Jesus over.

Apostle

Chosen to replace Judas (Acts 1:21–26).

Disciple

One of the two disciples walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion; the risen Jesus walked with them unrecognised until the breaking of the bread.

Disciple · Supporter of Jesus' ministry

Wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; she followed Jesus, supported his ministry from her own means and was among the women at the empty tomb.

Disciple · Supporter of Jesus' ministry

One of the women Luke names as following Jesus and supporting him and the Twelve from their own resources. Almost nothing else is known about her.

Disciple

A follower of Jesus whom Mark names among the women at the crucifixion and at the tomb.

Disciple · Member of the Council

A rich and respected member of the Council who was a disciple of Jesus; he asked Pilate for the body and laid it in his own new tomb.

Pharisee · Member of the Council

A Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night; Jesus spoke to him of being born again of water and the Spirit. He later helped bury Jesus.

Friend of Jesus

Brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany and a close friend of Jesus, who raised him after four days in the tomb — one of the great signs of John's Gospel.

Disciple · Friend of Jesus

Sister of Mary and Lazarus. Remembered for being busy serving while Mary listened — and for one of the Gospel's great confessions of faith: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Disciple · Friend of Jesus

Sister of Martha and Lazarus. She sat at Jesus' feet listening to him and later anointed his feet with costly ointment.

Chief tax collector

A chief tax collector in Jericho who climbed a sycamore to see Jesus; after Jesus stayed at his house he promised to give half his goods to the poor and repay fourfold.

Mother of Jesus

The virgin of Nazareth who said yes to God at the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38).

Husband of Mary · Carpenter · Guardian of Jesus

A just man who took Mary as his wife and protected the child Jesus (Matthew 1–2).

Prophet · Forerunner · Martyr

The prophet who prepared the way and baptised Jesus in the Jordan.

Disciple · First witness of the Resurrection

Freed from seven demons (Luke 8:2), present at the Cross, first to meet the risen Jesus (John 20). Her later identification with the woman of Luke 7 is tradition, not Scripture.

Evangelist · Missionary

Not one of the Twelve. He took part in early missions with Paul and Barnabas and is linked by tradition to Peter and to the Gospel of Mark, generally considered the earliest Gospel.

Evangelist · Physician

A physician and companion of Paul. He did not witness most of Jesus' life, but says he carefully investigated the events and testimonies; tradition attributes to him the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

Apostle to the Gentiles · Missionary · Letter writer

A persecutor of the Church transformed on the road to Damascus (Acts 9); author of many New Testament letters.

Apostle · Missionary

One of the most important and least-known figures of Acts: he vouched for Paul when the community still feared him, and became his missionary companion.

Missionary · Prophet

A leader of the early Church and Paul's companion on his second missionary journey; the two were imprisoned together at Philippi.

Missionary · Church leader

A young disciple and co-worker of Paul, who treated him almost as a spiritual son and entrusted him with leadership of early communities. Two letters of the New Testament are addressed to him.

Missionary · Church leader

A close co-worker of Paul who helped organise and lead new communities, especially in Crete. One New Testament letter is addressed to him.

Missionary · Teacher

One of the most important women of the early Church. With her husband Aquila she worked with Paul, hosted Christian communities in their home and helped teach other preachers.

Missionary

Husband of Priscilla and co-worker of Paul. The couple shared Paul's trade and became essential in founding communities in several cities.

Preacher

A learned Jew from Alexandria, mighty in the Scriptures and a gifted preacher; Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God to him more fully, and he became an important evangelist.

Deacon · First martyr

One of the seven chosen to serve those in need, he was stoned for his faith — the first Christian martyr. Saul (later Paul) was present at his death.

Deacon · Evangelist

Not to be confused with Philip of the Twelve. One of the seven chosen with Stephen, he became an evangelist — famous for explaining the Scriptures to the Ethiopian official and baptising him.

Disciple

Almost unknown outside Paul's story, yet decisive: after Paul's experience on the road to Damascus, God sent Ananias to lay hands on the man who had been persecuting Christians.

Leader of the Church in Jerusalem

A central figure of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. Acts shows him as one of its main leaders.

Merchant · Host of the church

A seller of purple cloth whom Paul met at Philippi. She accepted the message, was baptised with her household and opened her home to the missionaries — among the first converts in Europe recorded in Acts.

Servant / deacon of the church at Cenchreae

A Christian of the church at Cenchreae whom Paul warmly commends to the Church in Rome, probably as bearer of his letter.

Patriarch · Father in faith

Called by God to leave his homeland; the father in faith (Genesis 12).

Prophet · Lawgiver · Leader of the Exodus

Led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law at Sinai (Exodus).

King · Psalmist · Shepherd

Shepherd, king, sinner and penitent; the Messiah is called the son of David.

King

David's son, who asked for wisdom and built the Temple (1 Kings 3–8).

Prophet

Prophet of Judah in the 8th century BC; the book bearing his name is often discussed by scholars as having several parts.

Prophet

Prophet before and during the fall of Jerusalem (587/586 BC); promised a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31).

Prophet

Priest and prophet among the exiles in Babylon; the vision of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37).

Prophet

A faithful Jew in the Babylonian court; the book's dating is debated by scholars.