Complete (but concise) list of major and minor

characters in the Bible

bibleblender.com/2014/biblical-lessons/biblical-history/complete-list-of-major-minor-characters-
in-bible
Bible BlenderDecember 4, 2014

There are literally hundreds of characters in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Here is a
complete list of important biblical characters along with a brief note regarding their
significance. Characters are grouped and categorized by their function in the biblical texts. Many of
these characters are also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

Old Testament Characters

Adam to David according to the Hebrew Bible
 Adam – first man
 Seth – third son of Adam and Eve
 Enos – son of Seth, grandson of Adam
 Kenan – son of Enosh, grandson of Asam
 Mahalalel – son of Kenan, descendant of Seth
 Jared – member of tribe of Judah, father of Enoch
 Enoch – son of Jared who was taken up to God without dying
 Methuselah – son of Enoch, grandfather of Noah
 Lamech – father of Noah
 Noah – last of the ten antediluvian Patriarchs and hero of the Flood
 Shem – Noah’s oldest son and original ancestor of Israel. Through his line came Abraham

Cain line

 Adam – first man

 Cain – firstborn son of Adam, murdered by Abel
 Enoch – son of Jared who was taken up to God without dying
 Irad – son of Enoch
 Mehujael – son of Irad
 Methusael – “man of God”, descendant of Cain
 Lamech – fifth descent from Cain, rude and ruffianly, with him the curtain falls on the race of Cain
 Tubal-cain – son of Lamech
 Patriarchs after Flood

 Arpachshad – third son of Shem, son of Noah, born two

years after the Flood
 Shelah – son of Judah, original ancestor of clan in tribe of
Judah
 Eber – descendant of Shem, ancestor of Abraham, original
ancestor of the people associated with the Assyrians
 Peleg – descendant of Shem, ancestor of Abraham (and
Jesus), recognized as the ancestor of all the Semitic
peoples of Mesopotamia
 Reu – descendant of Shem, possibly ancestor of tribe associated with Ra’ilu, an island in
the Euphrates below Anat
 Serug – ancestor of Abraham (and thus Jesus)
 Nahor – son of Serug, father of Terah, grandfather of Abraham
 Terah – father of Abraham, his religious practices are hotly debated
 Abraham – “father of multitude”, the first Hebrew patriarch, son of Terah, a descendant of Noah’s
son, Shem. Originally known as Abram.
 Isaac – only son of Abraham by Sarah and patriarch of the nation of Israel
 Jacob – original ancestor of the nation of Israel and father of the 12 ancestors of the 12 tribes of
Israel. Son of Isaac and Rebekah, younger twin brother of Esau, husband of Leah and
Rachel. God changed his name to “Israel” shortly after the signing of the historical treaty (which
split Israel from the East) with his father-in-law, Laban.

Nationhood to Kingship

 Judah – fourth son of Jacob and progenitor of the tribe of Judah; through Judah ran the
genealogical line that led to Jesus.
 Perez – one of the twins born through the illicit affair between Judah and his daughter-in-law,
Tamar; his descendants were called Perezites.
 Hezron – great grandson of Jacob and clan ancestor of the Hezronites through whom David was
born.
 Ram – ancestor of David and Jesus
 Amminadab – Father of Nahshon, who led the tribe of Judah in the wilderness; ancestor of David
and Jesus
 Nahshon – name means “serpent”; leader of the tribe of Judah during the wilderness years;
brother-in-law of Aaron
 Salmon – father of Boaz
 Boaz – hero of the book of Ruth; bargained with nearest relative who gave up right to marry Ruth,
Boaz married Ruth and became Obed’s father (David’s grandfather)
 Obed – son of Boaz and Ruth, father of Jesse, grandfather of King David
 Jesse – name means “manly”; father of King David, a Judahite who lived in Bethlehem; had eight
sons of whom David was the youngest, and two daughters
 David – name means “favorite” or “beloved”; first king to unite Israel and Judah and the first to
receive the promise of a royal messiah in his line; ruled from 1005 to 965 BC

Prophets in the Hebrew Bible

Pre-Patriarchal

 Abel – second son of Adam, murdered by Cain

 Kenan – grandson of Adam, son of Enosh
 Enoch – son of Jared and father of Methuselah
 Noah (in rabbinic literature) – last of the ten antediluvian
Patriarchs and hero of the Flood

Patriarchs / Matriarchs

 Abraham – “father of multitude”; the first Hebrew patriarch; son of Terah, a descendant of Noah’s
son, Shem; originally known as Abram.
 Isaac – only son of Abraham by Sarah and patriarch of the nation of Israel
 Jacob – original ancestor of the nation of Israel and father of the 12 ancestors of the 12 tribes of
Israel; son of Isaac and Rebekah, younger twin brother of Esau, husband of Leah and Rachel;
God changed his name to “Israel”
 Joseph – elder of two sons of Jacob and Rachel; sold as slave by jealous brothers; became
favored by Pharaoh and set over all the land of Egypt
 Sarah – wife and half-sister of Abraham, mother of the “promised child”; only instance in scripture
where age of a woman is recorded (127 years old)
 Rebecca (or Rebekah) – wife of Isaac, daughter of Bethuel, Abraham’s nephew; bore twins Esau
and Jacob
 Rachel – endowed with great beauty; second and favorite wife of Jacob, her first cousin, mother
of Jacob’s two youngest sons, Joseph and Benjamin
 Leah – elder daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob (Jacob asked for the younger Rachel’s hand
but was tricked into marrying Leah), mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
and Dinah

Israelite prophets in the Torah

 Moses (in rabbinic literature) – leader of the Israelites in their exodus from Egyptian slavery and
oppression; tribe of Levi (Israel’s tribe of priests); son or distant descendant of Amram
 Aaron – Moses’s brother; Israel’s first high priest.
 Miriam – sister of Moses and Aaron; after crossing the Red Sea, she assumed the role of
prophetess and led the women in the song of victory that was steeped in faith and gratitude
 Eldad and Medad – two of the 70 elders of Israel that God selected to help Moses
 Phinehas – grandson of Aaron and high priest who often aided Moses and Joshua

Mentioned in the Former Prophets

 Joshua – Moses’ general, leader of Israelites who first took control of the promised land
of Canaan, led the people into the promised land; member of the Ephraim tribe that later formed
the heart of the Northern Kingdom
 Deborah – prophetess, judge, and wife of Lapidoth; probably lived around 1,200 BC during a
period of Canaaniteoppression; described as “a mother in Israel” because of her role in delivering
God’s people
 Gideon – son of Joash, tribe of Manasseh; judge who delivered Israel from the Midianites
 Eli – father of Hophni and Phinehas; custodian of Samuel and largely responsible for his religious
and spiritual training; when Samuel mistook the voice of God for the voice of Eli, Eli instructed him
to ask the Lord to speak the next time he heard the voice
 Elkanah – father of Samuel, husband of Hannah who was infertile but eventually allowed by God
to bear a son
 Hannah – wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel; vowed to God that if allowed to give birth to a
son, she would dedicate the child to God
 Abigail – wife of David after the death of Nabal; praised for her wisdom; after the death of Nabal,
David married Abigail and thus secured new social position and a rich estate
 Samuel – grandson of Issachar; contemporary with Saul and David; considered the last judge;
anointed Saul as Israel’s first king
 Gad – seventh son of Jacob and progenitor of the tribe of Gad; mother was Leah’s maid Zilpah;
Jacob promised Gad’s descendants a troubled life but foretold that they would hit back
 Nathan – prophet in royal court during reign of King David and early years of King Solomon;
David consulted with Nathan about building the temple; told David he would have a great house,
great name, and a kingdom forever
 David – name means “favorite” or “beloved”; first king to unite Israel and Judah and the first to
receive the promise of a royal messiah in his line; ruled from 1005 to 965 BC
 Solomon – tenth son of David and second son of Bathsheba; became third king of Israel around
1,000 BC, ruled for 40 years, was crowned king after his mother and Nathan intervened and
ensured David’s decision to have Solomon succeed him
 Jeduthun – also known as Ethan; served King David; temple musician; was said to have
prophesied using musical instruments
 Ahijah – Priest of the family of Eli; brought ark of God to Saul; protested against the idolatry of
Solomon
 Elijah – called the grandest and most romantic character that Israel ever produced, complex
character; little know about his background; renowned for his miracles and prophetic role
 Elisha – ninth century BC prophet; son of Shaphat and Abel-meholah; prophetic powers of Elijah
bestowed upon him while plowing in a field
 Shemaiah – prophet in days of Rehoboam; his message from God prevented war between Israel
and Judah in 930 BC
 Iddo – common name in the Old Testament; seer and prophet cited as one of the sources of the
Chronicler; also the grandfather of the prophet Zechariah
 Hanani – another common name in the Old Testament; priest musician; temple musician and
descendant of Heman
 Jehu – son of Jehoshaphat and king of Israel from 841-814 BC; also seer who foresaw the end of
Baasha’s dynasty
 Micaiah – prophet who predicted death of Ahab; proclaimed Ahab’s 400 prophets were
possessed by a lying spirit; accused and imprisoned on a charge of false prophesy
 Jahaziel – Levite and son of Asaph; prophesied victory for Jehoshaphat and his people
 Eliezer – name scattered throughout the Old Testament; son of Dodavah who prophesied against
Jehoshaphat; also the second son of Moses
 Zechariah ben Jehoiada – chief priest of the Temple in Jerusalem who led coup during which
Queen Athaliah was slain and Joash (Jehoash) was enthroned; influenced the young king to
restore the temple
 Huldah – wife of Shallum; around 521 BC was consulted by King Josiah after the discovery of
“the book of the law in the house of the Lord”; prophesied judgment for the nation but a peaceful
death for Josiah the king

Major Prophets

 Isaiah (in rabbinic literature) – relatively little is known

about him despite the large book associated with him;
ministered primarily to the Southern Kingdom of Judah;
highly educated prophet during the reigns of the Judean
kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; author of the
biblical Book of Isaiah
 Jeremiah – name sometimes spelled Jeremias; son of
Hilkiah; belonged to tribe of Benjamin; prophet to Judah before its fall in 586 BC; known as the
weeping prophet because of this message of judgment and displays of emotion
 Ezekiel – son of Buzi (a Zadokite priest); Judaean priest and prophet taken into exile by the
Babylonians in 597 BC; characterized by his ecstatic visions and message of divine judgment and
restoration, possessed detailed knowledge of the Jerusalem Temple
 Daniel (in rabbinic literature) – hero of the book of Daniel; man of extraordinary wisdom
and righteousness; member of Judean nobility; carried off to Babylon in 597 BC

The Twelve Minor Prophets (each with an individual book in the Old Testament)

 Hosea – son of Beeri; prophetic ministry during period when Assyria emerged as a new world
regime (Assyria’s rise to power posed a constant threat to Israel’s national existence); oracles
were recorded in the book of Hosea; married Gomer who was apparently a harlot; often seen as
the “prophet of doom” but underneath the message of destruction is a promise of hope
 Joel – common name in Hebrew Bible; son of Pethuel; his preaching ministry produced the book
of Joel; probably lived in Jerusalem; mentioned by name only once in the Old Testament – in the
introduction to his own book
 Amos – prophet around 750 BC in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, from southern Kingdom of
Judah but preached in northern Kingdom of Israel; was a contemporary with Isaiah and Hosea;
was called to remind people of the law of God’s retributive justice and to call them to repent;
spoke against the disparity between the very wealthy and the very poor
 Obadiah – fourth of the minor prophets; probably a contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel; little
is known of his personal history; probably from Sychem (Shechem)
 Jonah (in rabbinic literature) – son of Amittai; prophet of the northern Kingdom of Israel around
800 BC; famous for being swallowed by a whale
 Micah – prophesied from approximately 737-696 BC in Judah; a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos,
and Hosea; was a native of Moresheth-Gath; may be the “unknown prophet” who condemned
King Ahab; prophesied the future destruction of Jerusalem and the future restoration of the
Judean state; prophesied that the Messiah would be born n Bethlehem
 Nahum – little is known about his personal history; was from Alqosh; wrote about the end of
the Assyrian Empire; possibly wrote his prophesies around 615 BC
 Habakkuk – believed to have lived in Jerusalem; probably a contemporary of Jeremiah and
Zephaniah but possibly earlier
 Zephaniah – prophesied in the days of Josiah, king of Judah (641-610 BC); a contemporary of
Jeremiah with whom he had much in common; spoke boldly against religious and moral corruption
 Haggai – Hebrew prophet during the building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem; the first of
three post-exile prophets; may have been one of the captives taken to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar; work on the rebuilding of the temple resumed through his and Zechariah’s
efforts
 Zechariah – son of grandson of Iddo; a contemporary with Haggai; no friend of the Samaritans;
played a significant part in the rebuilding of the Temple
 Malachi – author of the last prophetic book of the Old Testament about which nothing more is
known (some believe the book was actually written anonymously)

Noahide (based on Seven Laws of Noah)

 Beor – king of Edom, before Israel had a king; father of the prophet Balaam
 Balaam – non-Israelite prophet whom Balak; king of Moab; promised money if he would curse the
invading Israelites (he refused), later sabotaged the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land
 Job (in rabbinic literature) – wealthy and pious man from the land of Uz; beset with horrendous
disasters that take away all that he held dear, God rewarded Job’s obedience with riches and
restoration of his health

Other Prophets

 Amoz – father of the prophet Isaiah

 Beeri – father of the prophet Hosea
 Baruch – son of Neriah; scribe, attendant, and devoted friend of the prophet Jeremiah; wrote the
first and second editions of Jeremiah’s prophecies as they were dictated to him by the prophet;
despite the danger, read the prophecies of warning to the people gathered in the Temple in
Jerusalem; possibly carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II after the conquest of Egypt
 Agur – author of Proverbs 30:1-33; may not be a proper name
 Uriah – son of Shemaiah; prophet from Kiriath-jearim whose message supported his
contemporary, Jeremiah; fled into Egypt but was captured, beheaded, and his body “cast into the
graves of the common people”
 Buzi – priest mother or father of Ezekiel; probably a Zadokite and likely from a important priestly
family
 Mordecai – son of Jair and descendant of Kish; Jewish exile employed in the palace at Susa;
taken prisoner to Babylon by Nebuchadrezzar; succeeded Haman in office and used his position
to encourage the Jews to defend themselves against the massacre inspired by Haman
 Esther (in rabbinic literature)
 Oded – father of prophet Azariah; also a prophet in the time of Ahaz who urged the Israelites to
release the people of Judah that they had taken as prisoners of war
 Azariah – common name in the Old Testament; son of Oded; prophet who gave King Asa the
courage to restore proper worship in Judah

Rulers of Ancient Israel

Pre-dynastic

 Abimelech – king of Gerar who took Sarah for himself after thinking
she was Abraham’s sister rather than his wife; also King
of Philistines at Gerar who offered Isaac protection after he passed
Rebekah off as his sister (she was Isaac’s wife)

United monarchy (Israelite kingdom of Israel and Judah)

 Saul – first king of Israel; son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin;
anointed king by Samuel; reign generally dated from about 1020-1000
BC
 Ish-boseth – son of Saul and his successor as king of Israel; reigned
for only two years after his own captains murdered him; name means
“man of shame”
 David – the first king to unite Israel and Judah and the first to receive the promise of a royal
messiah in his line; ruled from about 1005-965 BC
 Solomon – tenth son of David and second son of Bathsheba; third king of Israel; reigned 40 years
around 1000 BC

Kingdom of Israel (Northern Kingdom)

 Jeroboam I – son of Nebat and Zeruah; member of the Tribe of Ephraim of Zereda; King
Solomon made him superintendent of public works; king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of Israel
after the revolt of the ten northern Israelite tribes against Rehoboam that put and end to
the United Monarchy; reigned for 22 years from about 922 to 901 BC.
 Nadab – son and successor of Jeroboam I; second king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of
Israel; reigned for two years from about 901 to 900 BC; slain by one of his own captains, Baasha,
who then slayed the rest of the royal family and made himself king of Israel
 Baasha – son of Ahijah of the Tribe of Issachar; reigned for 23 years from about 900 – 877 BC,
came into power by murdering previous king (Nadab); prophet Jehu foretold the destruction of his
dynasty which came to pass with the assassination of Baasha’s son Elah
 Elah – son of Baasha who succeeded him as the 4th king of Israel; reigned from about 877 – 876
BC; was murdered (along with the rest of his family) by his chariot commander Zimri who became
his successor
 Zimri – king of Israel for seven days around 876 BC; murdered king Elah at Tirzah as Elah was
drinking in the house of Arza; finding his position untenable, he set fire to the palace and was
burned alive
 Tibni – son of Ginath (a man of some position); reigned from about 876 – 871 BC; after the death
of Zimri a considerable number of people chose him as monarch and he contended with the
throne against Omri who also had many supporters; fought with Omri’s forces for several years
until Omri prevailed and Tibri died
 Omri – founder of the House of Omri an Israelite royal house which included other rulers such as
Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, and Athaliah; was “commander of the army” of king Elah when Zimri,
“commander of half the king’s chariots”, murdered Elah and made himself king; reigned for 12
years from about 876 – 869 BC
 Ahab – reigned for 22 years from about 869 – 850 BC; married Jezebel (daughter of the King of
Tyre) who was a dominant influence on him; strove to spread the worship of Baal in Isreal
 Ahaziah – son of Ahab and Jezebel; reigned from about 850 – 849 BC; historical documents
record that the Moabites revolted against him; died after falling from the roof-gallery of his palace,
having no son he was succeeded by his younger brother
 Jehoram – son of Ahab and Jezebel and brother to King Ahaziah; reigned for 12 years from
about 849 – 842 BC; worshipped Baal; attacked Mesha (King of Moab), suffered a disastrous
defeat at Ramoth-Gilead and was injured, was murdered by his general Jehu by an arrow through
the back; his death marked the end of the Omni Dynasty
 Jehu – son of Jehoshaphat, grandson of Nimshi; reigned from 842 – 815 BC after murdering
Jehoram; saw Jezebel (Jehoram’s mother) watching him from a palace window in contempt and
ordered her thrown from the window (Jehu then drove his chariot over her body), ordered Ahab’s
entire family be slain (70 heads were piled in two heaps outside the city gate), slaughtered
another 42 people related to Omrides, summoned all worshipers of Baal and killed them; little else
is known about his reign
 Jehoahaz – son of Jehu; reigned seventeen years from about 815 – 801 BC; was initially faithful
to God but his people followed the religious practices of the house of Jeroboam
 Jehoash – son of Jehoahaz; reigned for 16 years from about 801 – 786 BC; when he ascended
the throne, the Kingdom of Israel was suffering from the predations of the Arameans, whose king
Hazael was reducing the amount of land owned by Israel; was sinful and did evil in the eyes of
God for tolerating the worship of golden calves; advanced on Israel, broke down a portion of the
wall, and carried away the treasures of the Temple, died shortly after he defeated Amaziah at
Beth-shemesh
 Jeroboam II – son and successor of Jehoash; ruled for 41 years from about 786 –746 BC; was
victorious over they Syrians and conquered Damascus extending Israel to its former limits;
promoted the worship of golden calves; reigned during the period of the prophets Hosea, Joel,
Johan, and Amos all of whom condemned the materialism and selfishness of the Israelite elite of
the day
 Zechariah – son of Jeroboam II; reigned for 6 months from about 746 – 745 BC; murdered by
Shallum who took the throne; his death marked the end of the dynasty of Jehu fulfilling prophesy
in 2 Kings 10:30
 Shallum – originally a captain in the army of King Zechariah, he conspired against Zechariah and
slew him; reigned for “a month of days” before another captain from Zechariah’s army put him to
death and succeeded him
 Menahem – son of Gadi and founder of the House of Gadi or House of Menahem; reigned for 10
years from about 745 – 736 BC after murdering Shallum and taking the throne; destroyed the city
 of Tiphsah and put all of its inhabitants to death; rule described as one of cruelty and oppression;
believed to have died of natural causes and succeeded by his son Pekahiah
 Pekahiah – son of Menahem; second and last king from the House of Gadi; reigned for 2 years
from about 742 – 740 BC, ruled from the capital of Samaria; continued the practices of Jeroboam;
was assassinated in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria by Pekah, son of Remaliah, one of
his chief officers
 Pekah – son of Remaliah, captain in the army of king Pekahiah whom he killed to become king;
reigned for several years from about 737 – 732 BC (date and time of his reign is still debated);
was slain by Hoshea who took the throne
 Hoshea – son of Elah; last king of the Israelite Kingdom of Israel from about 732 – 721 BC;
served as a captain in Pekah’s army; was arrested by Shalmaneser and lost his land to the
Assyrians who deported all of the citizens of Israel beyond the Euphrates

Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom)

 Rehoboam – son of Solomon and Naamah the Ammonite,

grandson of David; initially king of the United Monarchy of
Israel but after the ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled in
932/931 BC to form the independent Kingdom of Israel he
was king of the Kingdom of Judah, or southern kingdom,
as the unified kingdom of David began to disintegrate;
reigned from about 932 – 915 BC
 Abijam – son of Rehoboam and Maacah (or Micaiah),
grandson of Solomon, great-grandson of David; fourth king of the House of David and second of
the Kingdom of Judah; had 22 sons and 16 daughters from 14 wives; battled with King Jeroboam I
(see above) in attempt to unite the two kingdoms, Jeroboam was soundly defeated and was said
to have lost 500,000 soldiers, thereafter Jeroboam posed no threat to Abijam; reigned from 915-
913 BC
 Asa – son of Abijam; reigned 41 years from 913-873 BC; became ill and made his son
Jehoshaphat coregent (Asa died two years later); was zealous in maintaining the traditional
worship of God and ridding the country of idolatry; long period of piece during his reign which was
finally broken in the 36th year of his reign by King Baasha of the northern kingdom.
 Jehoshaphat – also spelled Jehosaphat, Josaphat; son of Asa and Azubah; reigned for 25 years
from about 871 – 849 BC; sent priests out throughout the land to instruct people in the Old
Testament Law; joined Jehoram (northern kingdom) in war against Moabites but withdrew and
returned to his own land after seeing Mesha’s (king of Moabites) act of offering his own son as a
human sacrifice
 Jehoram – son of Jehoshaphat; reigned for 8 years from 849 – 842 BC; to secure his position he
killed his six brothers; formed alliance with northern kingdom by marrying the daughter of King
Ahab; several areas revolted against him and gained their independence from his kingdom; after
receiving a letter of warning from the Prophet Elijah, he suffered painful inflammation of the
abdomen and died
 Ahaziah – son of Jehoram and Athaliah; reigned for one year in 842 BC; was the youngest son of
Jehoram but became king after his older brothers were carried off in a Philistine and Arab raid;
under the influence of his mother (who was from the northern kingdom), he was introduced to
alternative forms of religion; killed by an arrow while attempting to flee a northern kingdom
meeting that had turned into a coup; with no heirs, his mother became queen consort
 Athaliah – daughter of northern kingdom’s King Ahab and Queen Jezebel; queen consort of
Judah as the wife of King Jehoram, reigned for 6 years from 842-837 BC; promoted the worship of
Baal in Judah, ordered the execution of all possible claimants to the throne but her sister
managed to rescue on of Athaliah’s grandsons who would eventually become the next king of the
southern kingdom; Athaliah was surprised when it was discovered that Jehoash had lived, he was
proclaimed king of Judah, Athaliah rushed to stop the rebellion but was captured and executed
 Jehoash – also known as Joash, Joas; sole surviving son of Ahaziah after the massacre of the
royal family ordered by his grandmother, Athaliah; first king to be descended from both the House
of David and the House of Omni; reign began when he was 7 years old, reigned for 40 years from
about 837 – 800 BC; Gospel of Matthew does not list him in the genealogy of Jesus (being one of
four kings of Judah so omitted) possibly because of his ancestry from the House of Omni, ordered
the destruction of all alters of Baal and executed Mattan, the priest of Baal; was assassinated by
his own servants (one an Ammonite and the other an offspring of a Moabite)
 Amaziah – son of Joash and Jehoaddan;took throne after assassination of his father at the age of
25; reigned for 29 yers from about 797-768 BC; upon taking the throne, ordered the execution of
the murderers of his father but contrary to custom, permitted their children to live; began to
worship Edomite idols; rushed into disastrous battle at Beth-shemesh where he was captured, the
wall of Jerusalem broken down, and the city, palace, and Temple looted; as a result of his poor
rule, he was assassinated at Lachish to which he had fled
 Uzziah – son of Amaziah; reigned for 52 years from about 783 – 742 BC; was faithful to God
during his early reign; was struck with leprosy for disobeying God; made unique machines for
shooting arrows and launching large stones, tablet discovered in 1931 dated to around 30-70 AD
with the inscription: “Hither were brought the bones of Uzziah, king of Juday. Not to be opened.”
 Jotham – son of Uzziah and Jerusha; took reign after father (Uzziah) was inflicted with leprosy,
reigned for 11 years from about 742 – 735 BC; built the Upper Gage of the Temple of Jerusalem,
defeated the Ammonites, contemporary with the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah whose
advice he heeded and benefited from
 Ahaz – son of Jotham; reigned for 16 years from about 732 – 729 BC; against the objections of
his advisors, began following alternative Gods and place their alters in the Temple; inherited a
strong government but veritably destroyed it through poor rule, died at the age of 36 and was
succeed by his son; Hezekiah, because of his wickedness, he was “not brought into the sepulchre
of the kings”, an insult to his rule
 Hezekiah – son of Ahaz and Abijah; reigned for 29 years from about 715 – 686 BC; upon taking
the throne, immediately commissioned priests and Levites to open and repair the doors of the
Temple (it had been closed by Ahaz) and to remove the defilements that Ahaz had placed therein
(a task which took 16 days); enacted sweeping religious reforms prohibiting alternative forms of
religion and resumed the Passover pilgrimage; contemporary with the prophets Isaiah and Micah;
died from natural causes at the age of 54 and was succeeded by his son Manasseh
 Manasseh – son of Hezekiah; took throne at age 12 and reigned for 55 years from about 687 –
643 BC; was the first king to have no experience with Kingdom of Israel which had been
destroyed by the Assyrians in 720 BC; reversed the reforms made by his father Hezekiah and re-
instituted pagan worship, prophets were “put to the sword” during his reign
 Amon – son of Manasseh and Meshullemeth; reigned for 2 years from about 642 – 640 BC; most
remembered for his idolatrous practices while king which led to a revolt against him and
eventually his assassination in 641 BC by his servants, his reign occurred in the midst of a
transitional period – Assyrian Empire was beginning to disintegrate while the Babylonian Empire
had not yet risen to replace it and Egypt was recovering from Assyrian occupation
 Josiah – son of Amon, took throne at 8 years old after assassination of his father and reigned
from 31 years from about 641 – 610 BC; instituted major religious reforms and is credited with the
 compilation of important Hebrew Scriptures during the Deuteronomic reform that occurred during
his rule; ordered the renovation of the Temple during which Hilkiah discovered the “Book of the
Law” or “the book of the law of Yahweh by the hand of Moses” while clearing the treasure room of
the Temple, many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy, finding of
the book prompted Josiah to renew the ancient covenant with God; destroyed pagan idols and
emblems of Baal and even burned bones of dead pagan priests, died during battle against
Egyptians
 Jehoahaz – son of King Josiah and Hamautal, his birth name was Shallum; disregarded the
reforms of his father; reigned for only 3 months in 609 BC before being disposed by Egyptian
Pharaoh Necho II, died in exile (the only king to have died in exile)
 Jehoiakim – son of King Josiah and Zebidah, birth name was Eliakim, reigned for 11 years from
about 608 – 597 BC after being appointed king by Necho II, King of Egypt; after Egyptians were
defeated by the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar II raided Jerusalem; known for burning the
manuscript of one of the prophecies of Jeremiah which insisted on repentance and adherence to
the Old Testament law; in 598 BC he died and his body was thrown out of the walls of the city
 Jeconiah – son of Jehoiakim; reigned 3 months and 10 days from December 9, 598 to March
15/16 597 BC, Jeremiah cursed him that none of his descendants would ever sit on the throne of
Israel; listed in Matthew as an ancestor of Joseph providing further support for the virgin birth of
Jesus; dethroned by Nebuchadnezzar II, the King of Babylon and his uncle Zedekiah put in his
place
 Zedekiah – the last king of Judah before the destruction of the kingdom by Babylon, Hebrew Bible
says he was made king by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC at the age of 21 which is supported by
the Babylonian chronicle; revolted against Babylon and switched alliances to Egypt, Babylon
invaded as a result capturing Jerusalem and Zedekiah, after watching his sons put to death, his
eyes were put out and he was carried to Babylon where he remained a prisoner until his death

Hasmonean Dynasty (the ruling dynasty during classical antiquity)

 Simon Maccabaeus – also known as Simon Thassi; second son of Mattathias and member of the
Hasmonean family line; reigned from 142 – 135 BC; Hasmonean Dynasty found by resolution at
large assembly of priests and citizens; assassinated (along with his two oldest sons) at the
instigation of his son-in-law Ptolemy during a ceremonial banquet
 John Hyrcanus I – son of Simon Maccabaeus; reigned from 134 – 104 BC, nephew of Judas
Maccabaeus and Jonathan Maccabaeus whose story is told in 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees,
the Talmud, and in Josephus; during his rule, Antiochus pillaged the countryside and laid siege on
Jerusalem, Hyrcanus had to loot King David’s tomb to pay Antiochus under his required terms;
after the death of Antiochus in battle, the relative military might of Hyrcanus increased greatly;
upon his death his wife, Aristobulus, took over government of the country
 Aristobulus I – eldest son of John Hyrcanus; reigned only one year from 104-103 BC; first ruler in
Hasmonean Dynasty to call himself “king”; use trickery and help from his brother (whom he later
had executed) to take control of the kingdom from his mother (whom he placed in prison and
allowed to starve to death); died in 103 BC from “internal bleeding” from a disease
 Alexander Jannaeus – son of John Hyrcanus, inherited the throne after his brother’s death and
reigned 27 years from 103 –76 BC; during his reign, the country remained in near-constant
military conflict including the six-year Judean Civil War in which 50,000 Judeans lost their lives
and left the country unhappy and in poverty; on his deathbed he entrusted the government, not to
his sons, but to his wife Salome; known to be supportive of the Sadducees
 Salome Alexandra – wife of Aristobulus I and later Alexander Jannaeus; reigned from 76 – 67 BC;
one of only two women to rule over Judea; increased the size of the army and provisioned
 numerous fortifications in the surrounding towns which bordered the Judean frontier; known to be
sympathetic to the Pharisees
 Hyrcanus II – eldest son of Alexander Jannaeus and Alexandra Salome, installed as High Preist
by his mother upon his father’s death, upon his mother’s death, she named him successor to the
Kingship as well; supported the Pharisees (in contrast to his father who supported the
Sadducees); first reign lasted only 3 months from 67 – 66 BC when his younger brother,
Aristobulus II, rose in rebellion, during a battle near Jericho, many of Hyrcanus II’s soldiers went
over to his younger brother giving him the victory and the kingship, Hyrcanus agreed to renounce
the throne in return for lifelong salary; second reign ran from 63 – 40 BC during which time he was
technically “High Priest” and not king
 Aristobulus II – son of Alexander Jannaeus and Alexandra Salome, took throne from older
brother Hyrcanus via a decisive victory near Jericho; was defeated and captured by Roman
military leader Pompey at which time the throne was handed back to Hyrcanus II (who was merely
a figurehead deprived of political authority)
 Antigonus II Mattathias – son of King Aristobulus II; with help from Parthians, led a fierce
struggle for independence against Rome and became king in 40 BC, by 37 BC he was defeated
and killed by the Herod the Great (his nephew) during the Roman siege against Jerusalem;
captured by Herod, taken to Antioch, and executed; last Hasmonean king of Judea

Herodian dynasty

 Herod the Great – son of Antipater the Idumaean; after defeating and capturing Antigonus II
Mattarthias (his nephew), Herod was appointed the Roman king of Judea; reigned from 37 – 4
BC; described as a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis; known for his
colossal building projects; married Antigonus’ niece in order to secure a legal claim to the throne
and to gain Jewish favor, converted to Judaism (his identification as a Jew was questioned by
many), no attempts to gain Jewish favor succeeded and he was hated by many, died an
excruciating death likely from kidney disease and gangrene
 Herod Archelaus – son of Herod the Great, after the death of Herod, the kingdom was divided
among three of Herod’s sons, Archelaus became ruler over the tetrarchy of Judea and reigned
from 4 BC – 6 AD, violation of Old Testament Law and his extreme cruelty caused the Jews to
complain to Augustus, as a result, Archelaus was deposed and banished to Vienne in Gaul
 Herod Antipas – son of Herod the Great, after the death of Herod, the kingdom was divided
among three of Herod’s sons, Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea and reigned from 6
AD – 39 AD; often portrayed as effeminate; known for his role in the events that led to the
execution of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth; divorce from his wife was condemned by
John the Baptist and believed to be the reason Antipas had him arrested and executed; accused
by his nephew Agrippa I of conspiracy against the new Roman emperor Caligula who sent him to
exile in Gaul
 Philip the Tetrarch – sometimes (mistakenly) called Herod Philip II; son of Herod the Great, after
the death of Herod, the kingdom was divided among three of Herod’s sons, Phillip became
tetrarch of territories east of the Jordan and reigned from 4 BC until his death in 34 AD; married
Salome who appears in the Bible in connection with the execution of John the Baptist, the
evangelists, Mark and Matthew, wrote that Philip was her father, which seems an odd mistake
until one realizes that the older half-brother of Philip the Tetrarch is also sometimes named Herod
Philip or Herod Philip I.
 Salome I (?) – kingdom governed by Prefect
 Agrippa I – also known as Herod Agrippa I; son of Aristobulus IV and Berenice; born Marcus
Julius Agrippa; released from prison by Caligula and made king of territories that comprised most
 of Israel including Judea, Galilee, Batanaea, and Perea, reigned from 41 until his death in 44 AD
(likely from a heart attack);
 Agrippa II – son of Herod Agrippa; reigned from 48 – 53 AD; last king of the family of Herod the
Great; contemporary with Josephus and supplied him with much information for his historical
work, Antiquities of the Jews

Post–Second Temple era

 Simon bar Kokhba – Jewish leader of what is known as the Bar Kokhba revolt against the
Roman Empire in 132 AD, established an independent Jewish state, reigned for 3 years before
being conquered by the Romans in 135 AD

Priests

 Aaron – son of Amram and Jochebed and brother of Moses (he was 3 years older than Moses);
because of his superior eloquence he was to be Moses’ spokesman to the Israelites and to
Pharaoh
 Eleazar – son of Aaron who he succeeded as chief priest; frequently mentioned alongside Moses
or Joshua as a leader of the Israelites
 Eli – the priest in the house of the Lord at Shiloh; likely a descendant of Ithamar, the youngest son
of Aaron (it is unknown how the priesthood passed from the line of Eleazar)
 Phinehas – son of Eleazar, also son of Eli described as “worthless men”, they abused their
privileges as priests claiming more than the proper share of the sacrifices

Twelve Tribes of Israel (sons of Jacob, aka Israel)

 Asher – eighth son of Jacob and Zilpah (Leah’s

handmaid), founder of the Tribe of Asher; formed part of
the rear guild in the wilderness marches
 Benjamin – twelfth and last born of Jacob’s sons; founder
of the Tribe of Benjamin; occupied the smallest territory of
all tribes but played an important role, Saul, Israel’s first
king, was a Benjamite. the city of Jerusalem was near the border between the territories of
Benjamin and Judah and may have been in Benjamin originally
 Dan – fifth son of Jacob and the first son born to Jacob by Rachel’s maid Bilhah, founder of the
Tribe of Dan; founded the city Dan which was originally the town of Laish; Samson was a Danite
 Gad – seventh son of Jacob and Zilpah and founder of the Tribe of Gad; known for their raising of
livestock in an area generally northeast of the Dead Sea; Jacob promised Gad’s descendants
they would have a troubled life but would hit back
 Issachar – ninth son of Jacob, fifth born by Leah; founder of the Tribe of Issachar; little is known
about his personal history
 Joseph, which was split into two tribes descended from his sons – eleventh son of Jacob, first by
his favorite wife Rachel, taken to Egypt as a slave, eventually became interpreter of the pharaoh’s
dreams
o Ephraim – second and youngest son of Joseph and Asenath and founder of the Tribe of
Ephraim; adopted by his grandfather Jacob and given precedence over his older brother
 Manasseh; occupied a region slightly to the northwest of the Dead Sea; Joshua, Samuel, and
Jeroboam I were Ephraimites
o Manasseh – son of Joseph and Asenath and founder of the Tribe of Menasheh; adopted by
Jacob; when the promised land was apportioned, half of the tribe of Manasseh settled on the
east bank of the Jordan and half on the west
 Judah – fourth son of Jacob and founder of the Tribe of Judah; was seduced by his daughter-in-
law Tamar; occupied territory west of the Dead Sea; city of Jerusalem was on the border between
Judah and Benjamin; David was from the Tribe of Judah
 Levi – third son of Jacob and Leah and original ancestor of Israel’s priests, was savage and
merciless, later Jacob spoke harshly of him, founder of the Tribe of Levi which was also
characterized as an instrument of wrath
 Naphtali – sixth son of Jacob by his concubine Bilhah, characterized as energetic (“a hind let
loose”), founder of the Tribe of Naphtali; occupied territory north of the Sea of Galilee; joined with
Asher and Manasseh to help drive the Midianites out of the land
 Reuben – first son of Jacob and Leah, founder of the Tribe of Reuben (Reubenites); felt
compassion for Joseph when his brothers wanted to kill the brash dreamer and was willing to be
responsible to his father for Benjamin’s wellbeing; the Reubenites held a place of honor among
the other tribes; occupied territory just east of the Dead Sea and was the first parcel of land to be
bestowed
 Simeon – second son of Jacob of Leah; rebuked by Jacob for their violent nature and were to be
divided and scattered
 Zebulun – tenth son of Jacob and sixth by Leah; occupied land between the Sea of Galilee and
Mount Carmel; possessed more of the allotted territory than most of the tribes

New Testament Characters

Jesus and his relatives
 Jesus – needs no introduction, the savior and central figure of the New Testament
 Mary – mother of Jesus, wife of Joseph, known as “the Virgin” because of her virginal conception
of Jesus, Gospel of James names her parents as Joachim and Anne, from the Tribe of Levi; her
death is not recorded in the Bible
 Joseph – son of Jacob or Heli, husband of Mary, a descendant of David; is last mentioned in the
Bible when Jesus was 12 years old and his absence in later events suggest he may have died,
was by trade a highly-skilled craftsman in wood, stone, or metal
 Brothers of Jesus (meaning of “brother” is debated by some who insist Mary remained a
perpetual virgin)
o James the Just – relationship to Jesus is debated, although apparently not followers of Jesus’
ministry, was present at critical events, referred to, along with Jude, as “brothers of the Lord”
which hints strongly to status as a sibling but could mean close friend or associates of Jesus;
reportedly put to death by priestly authorities in Jerusalem a few years before the destruction of
the Temple in 70 AD
o Jude – referred to, along with James, as “brothers of the Lord”, sometimes confused with
“Judas”, son or brother of James that was one of the twelve disciples
o Joses – also known as Joseph, mentioned in Mark as a brother of Jesus
o Simon – mentioned in Mark as a brother of Jesus
 Christian Apostles of Jesus

The Twelve
 Peter (aka Simon or Cephas) – son of John (or Jonah or
Jona); from village of Bethsaida in Galilee; brother Andrew
was also an apostle; originally a fisherman; thrice denied
Jesus; leader of early Christian Church, Catholic Church
considers him to be the first pope; crucified in Rome under
Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar, tradition holds that he
was crucified upside down per his request; Gospel of Mark traditionally thought to show the
influence of Peter’s preaching and eyewitness account of the events
 Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother) – born in village of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, fisherman by
trade, at the beginning of Jesus’ public life, he lived with him in the same house in Capernaum;
was also a disciple of John the Baptist; said to have been martyred by crucifixion in Patras in
Achaea; several relics of the Apostle Andrew are known to exist
 James, son of Zebedee – often identified as James the Greater, son of Zebedee and Salome,
brother of John; probably came from a family with some wealth; was with John and their father
when Jesus called them to follow; Herod Agrippa had James executed by sword and is the only
apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament
 John, son of Zebedee – son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James; tradition holds that he
outlived the other apostlesand that he was the only one not to die a martyr’s death; tradition is that
he authored several books of the New Testament (Gospel of John, the three Epistles of
John, Book of Revelation) but true authorship is uncertain
 Philip – Christian traditions describe Philip as the apostle who preached in Greece, Syria, and
Phrygia, possibly setting out on his own to spread the word; hailed from the city of Bethsaida
which may connect him to Andrew and Peter who were from the same town; was one of the men
around John the Baptist when John pointed Jesus out as the savior; legend proclaims he was
tortured and executed in Hierapolis (a tomb thought to be his was discovered in Hierapolis in
2011)
 Bartholomew – introduced to Jesus by Philip, mentioned several times in the company of Philip
so they may have been good friends; possibly also identified as Nathanial; legend says he went
on a missionary tour to India, Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and Lycaonia; legend holds he was
martyred in Albanopolis in Armenia, either beheaded or flayed alive and crucified
 Thomas also known as “Doubting Thomas” – tradition holds he travelled outside the Roman
Empire to preach the Gospel, traveling as far as India; called “Doubting Thomas” when after
Jesus had risen, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger
into the print, I will not believe.”, after which Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds; full name
may have been Judas Thomas; tradition holds Thomas was killed in 72 AD at Mylapore near
Chennai in India possibly by spears or arrow
 Matthew – mentioned as a tax collector (possibly for Herod Antipas); also called Levi, son of
Alpheus, believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew (as a tax collector, he would likely
have been literate and well-versed in several languages)
 James, son of Alphaeus – often identified as James the Less (probably due to short stature or
younger age), may have been a brother of Matthew, possibly the author of the Gospel of Mark
and/or the mysterious “Q” source
 Judas, son of James (aka Thaddeus or Lebbaeus) – not to be confused with Judas the traitor
(they are clearly distinguished in the Bible), may have been related to James; some lists of
 apostles omitted Jude but included “Thaddeus” hinting that possibly his nickname was Thaddeus
or that the name “Judas” had been tainted by Judas Iscariot (the traitor); opinion is divided
whether Jude the apostle is the same as Jude, the brother of Jesus; tradition holds that he
preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya; legend says
he was born into a Jewish family in Paneas, a town in Galilee; likely spoke Greek and Aramaic
and was a farmer by trade; tradition holds he suffered martyrdom in 65 AD in Beirut, in the Roman
province of Syria, together with the apostle Simon, possibly died by axe, body brought to Rome
and placed in a crypt in St. Peter’s Basilica
 Simon the Zealot – one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus; likely not Simon, the
brother of Jesus
 Judas Iscariot (the traitor) – son of Simon Iscariot, notorious for the kiss and betrayal of Jesus to
the Pontius Pilate for thirty silver coins; tradition holds that he hanged himself following his
betrayal, his place later filled by Matthias

Others
 Matthias – chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following Judas’
betrayal of Jesus and suicide; tradition holds that he planted the faith along the coasts of the
Caspian sea; possibly stoned to death
 Paul (Saul) – missionary, theologian, and writer of the early church; wrote 13 epistles that
comprise almost 1/4 of the New Testament; born in Jewish family in Tarsus of Cilicia probably
around 10 AD; from the tribe of Benjamin; probably came from a family of tentmakers or
leatherworkers who were moderately wealthy; born a Roman citizen which gave him important
legal rights that aided his missionary labors, probably carried a wax tablet that acted as a birth
certificate proving his citizenship; grew up in Jerusalem; recognized the threat that followers of
Jesus posed to traditional Jewish religion (as was later evidenced by authorization to imprison
believers in Christ); initially rejected Jesus as the Messiah; became a believer while travelling to
Damascus to arrest and imprison believers – Jesus appeared with “blinding radiance” and
commented on Saul’s resistance to believing – Saul’s blindness was healed and he became a
believer too; was known to have spent time with the disciples; became “wanted” by the Jews and
evaded capture for some time; first missionary journey occurred sometime around 47-48 AD;
arrested in Jerusalem in 57 AD; described by historians as small in stature, balding, and “full of
friendliness”
 Barnabas – Levite and native to Cyprus; birth name Joseph (or Joses); sold his property and
gave the proceeds to the Jerusalem church; cousin of “Mark”
 James, the Lord’s Brother – precise meaning of “the Lord’s brother” is debated, possibly brother,
stepbrother, cousin, or close friend; not a believer until after Jesus’ resurrection; in time he
assumed leadership of the Jerusalem church (originally held by Peter); death ordered by high
priest Ananus and was either by stoning or being cast down from the temple tower
 Jude, the Lord’s Brother – identified as one of the “brothers of the Lord” in Matthew, Mark, Acts,
and Corinthians; also called Judas (not to be confused with Judas the apostle); not a believer until
after Jesus’ resurrection

New Testament Priests

 Caiaphas, high priest – Joseph Caiaphas; high priest at the time of the trial and crucifixion of
Jesus (during Pilate’s administration), leader in the plot to arrest and execute Jesus, had no
power to inflict punishment of death so sent Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, so that he could
pronounce the sentence against him; son-in-law of Annas; served as high priest from about 18 –
 37 AD; attested in writings of Josephus; remains recovered in a ossuary discovered in Jerusalem;
was of the sect of Sadducees
 Annas, first high priest of Roman Judea – son of Seth, high priest at the time John the Baptist
began his preaching; served as high priest from 6 – 16 AD by Quirinius, governor of Syria; when
Jesus was arrested, he was taken before Annas who, although not high priest at the time, still
held considerable influence
 Zechariah, father of John the Baptist – priest in Jerusalem and father of John the Baptist; at an
elderly age, angel Gabrielappeared and announced that he and his wife (Elizabeth) would give
birth to a child

New Testament Prophets

 Agabus – “prophet” in the early church; possibly one of the 70 disciples of Christ; prophesied at
Antioch of the approaching famine (during the reign of Claudius, confirmed by historians); met
with Paul at Caesarea and warned him of the bonds that awaited him in Jerusalem
 Anna – daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, a “prophetess” who met the infant Jesus and
his parents in the temple and recognized him as the Messiah
 Simeon – prophet and teacher in the church at Antioch; also aged saint who visited the temple
when Jesus was presented and uttered lofty words of thanksgiving and prophecy
 John the Baptist – of priestly descent, son of Zacharias and Elizabeth (daughter or Aaron); birth
took place about six months before Jesus’; denounced Sadducees and Pharisees as a generation
of vipers; baptized Jesus; was cast into prison by Herod and beheaded

Other New Testament believers

 Apollos – eloquent, educated man well versed in the scriptures; was taught Christian doctrine by
Priscilla and Aquila; respected friend of Paul; wrote First Epistle to the Corinthians
 Aquila – married to Priscilla; came from Italy to Corinth after Claudius ordered Jews expelled from
Rome; became Christians and assisted Paul in his ministry; tentmakers by trade (as was Paul);
instructed Apollos in the Christian faith
 Dionysius the Areopagite – one of Paul’s converts at Athens; member of the Areopagus, an elite
and influential group of officials
 Epaphras – fellow prisoner of Paul; Christian preacher; native of Colossae; apparently held in
high regard by Paul
 Joseph of Arimathea – rich member of the Sanhedrin; after the crucifixion of Jesus, he boldly
requested the body of Pilate and along with Mary Magdalene, Mary (Jesus mother), Nicodemus,
and others, laid it in his own unused tomb; from Arimathea which is probably the same as
Ramathaim-zophim (Old Testament town of Ramah) northwest of Jerusalem
 Lazarus – brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, raised from the dead after he had lain for four
days in a tomb, this miracle so excited the Jews that they sought to put both Jesus and Lazarus to
death
 Luke – Gentile author of Third Gospel and book of Acts (possibly while in Rome with Paul during
his imprisonment), according to his statement, was not an “eye-witness and minister of the word
from the beginning”; close friend and travelling companion of Paul; possibly from Antioch;
identified as a physician by Paul
 Mark – sometimes called John; son of Mary, a woman of means and influence; cousin of
Barnabas; minister who accompanied several of the apostles in their travels
 Martha – close friend and follower of Jesus; sister of Mary and Lazarus; portrayed as a person in
charge who welcomed Jesus into her home
 Mary Magdalene – one of the early followers of Jesus, one of the first recipients of the news of
Jesus’ ressurrection, appeared at the cross and Jesus’ tomb, name implies that she was from
Magdala (town on western shore of the Sea of Galilee), Jesus cast seven demons from her.
 Mary – sister of Martha and Lazarus in Bethany
 Nicodemus – an influential Pharisee who showed an interest in Jesus’ teaching, mentioned as “a
secret disciple whose faith grew slowly”.
 Onesimus – a runaway slave belonging to Philemon (see below), the subject of the New
Testament Letter of Philemon, met the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment and became a
believer.
 Philemon – “friend and fellow-worker” of Paul and the recipient of the New Testament letter that
bears his name, importan member of the church at Colossae.
 Priscilla
 Silas
 Sopater
 Stephen, first martyr
 Timothy
 Titus

New Testament Secular rulers

 Herod the Great
 Herod Antipas, called “Herod the Tetrarch” or “Herod” in the Gospels and in Acts 4:27
 Pontius Pilate
 Agrippa I, called “King Herod” or “Herod” in Acts 12
 Felix governor of Judea who was present at the trial of Paul, and his wife Drusilla in Acts 24:24