People From the Bible

Judas Iscariot is best known for betraying Jesus with 30 pieces of silver. This page looks more closely at who he was and what led him to do so.

Thaddeus (or Thaddaeus) is one of the more unique and obscure figures among Jesus Christ’s disciples in the New Testament. Though we know little about him from the Bible or tradition, we do know that he went by a few names, specifically Thaddeus, Lebbaeus, and Judas of James.

In the first book of the New Testament, we find the Gospel story from the perspective of Matthew. He was a Jewish tax collector from Capernaum in the first century AD, and he was likely despised by fellow Jews for choosing that profession.

Two of Jesus’ 12 disciples were named James. While more is known about James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, let’s see what there is to know about the other James, known as James the son of Alphaeus—also sometimes referred to as “James the Lesser.”

You might know him as “Doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection without first seeing Jesus.

James the son of Zebedee was a fisherman who became Jesus’ disciple. Discover how his decision to follow Jesus shaped his life and the beginnings of the early Church.

What does the Bible say about the apostle John? What is he known for today? Learn more about John’s life, ministry, and legacy here.

Bartholomew is a lesser-known character in the New Testament who is mentioned in each of the lists of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:14-19; Luke 6:13-16). He is most likely the same individual as Nathanael (see John 1), someone who was sincerely studying the Scriptures and waiting for the Messiah to come.

Andrew was Jesus Christ’s first disciple (John 1:37-40) and the first to recognize Him as the Messiah.

Simon Peter was a simple fisherman who became one of the most well-known disciples of Jesus Christ. He is perhaps best known for being part of Jesus’ inner circle of three disciples, walking on water, and proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God.

Philip was one of the 12 disciples called by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. He was originally from the city of Bethsaida and to this day is often known as the “practical disciple.”

War, bloodshed, murder, adultery—all of these crimes overshadowed the life of a biblical Old Testament man named David. Yet he was called a man after God’s own heart, not to mention one of Israel’s greatest heroes and kings.

A baby on death row, an outcast prince, a humble shepherd, and an unlikely deliverer. All these titles describe the individual that led Israel out of slavery in Egypt to the borders of the Promised Land.

Conspiracies, royal scandals, dictatorships—history is full of them. And Bible history is no different when we stop to look at the kings of ancient Israel in the Old Testament.

The Israelites in the Bible, also known as the children of Israel or ancient Israel, were a nation God called to represent Him to the world. As recorded in the book of Exodus, He delivered them from slavery in Egypt under Moses’s leadership and brought them to the Promised Land of Canaan (located in a similar area to present-day Israel).

Joshua was an iconic leader in the Old Testament of the Bible. As a successor to Moses, he was both a humble servant of God and a strong warrior. God called Him to lead the nation of Israel to take possession of Canaan, the Promised Land—a task he took on with faith and courage.

God communicated directly with Abraham and made a covenant with him that would provide land, protection, and fruitfulness for his descendants. And he indeed became the father of many nations, making him a foundational figure in three monotheistic world religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity (Genesis 17:5, 19-20; Genesis 25:1-6, 12-18).

Times of crisis call for men and women of action. The Israelites, newly settled in the Promised Land, found themselves in those times. As enemy nations attacked and oppressed the tribes, they cried out to God for help. He, in turn, sent them men and women of action—known as judges.

Joseph is one of the more well-known people from the Bible’s Old Testament. He showed remarkable strength, faith, and patience—even while facing great difficulty and injustice. All because he let God lead.