The New Testament covers a much shorter period than the Old — less than a century — but it is just as full of people. At the centre of it all is Jesus Christ. Around him we meet his family, his disciples, his opponents and the men and women who carried his message across the world.
Jesus Christ
Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the whole Bible. The New Testament presents him as the promised Messiah (Christ means "anointed one"), the Son of God who became human, lived a perfect life, taught about God's kingdom, healed the sick, died on the cross for the sins of the world and rose again on the third day. The four Gospels tell his story; the rest of the New Testament explains what it means. See the four Gospels explained.
Jesus' family
- Mary — the young woman from Nazareth chosen to be the mother of Jesus, who responded in faith: "be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38, KJV).
- Joseph — a carpenter from the family of David, who married Mary and cared for Jesus as his earthly father.
- John the Baptist — Jesus' relative and forerunner, who preached repentance in the wilderness and baptised Jesus in the Jordan.
- James — a brother of Jesus who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem and is traditionally regarded as the author of the letter of James.
The twelve apostles
Jesus chose twelve disciples to be with him and to be sent out as apostles (Mark 3:14). They were:
- Simon Peter — a fisherman, outspoken and impulsive; he denied Jesus three times but was restored and became a leading preacher (Acts 2).
- Andrew — Peter's brother, who brought others to Jesus.
- James, son of Zebedee — the first apostle to be martyred (Acts 12:2).
- John, son of Zebedee — "the disciple whom Jesus loved", traditionally the author of John's Gospel, three letters and Revelation.
- Philip
- Bartholomew (often identified with Nathanael)
- Thomas — known for his doubts, then his confession "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).
- Matthew (Levi) — a tax collector, traditionally the author of the first Gospel.
- James, son of Alphaeus
- Thaddaeus (also called Judas, son of James)
- Simon the Zealot
- Judas Iscariot — who betrayed Jesus. After his death, Matthias was chosen to replace him (Acts 1:26).
Women who followed Jesus
- Mary Magdalene — healed by Jesus, present at the cross and the first to see the risen Lord (John 20).
- Mary and Martha of Bethany — sisters of Lazarus and close friends of Jesus.
- Other women supported Jesus' ministry from their own resources (Luke 8:1–3).
Opponents and officials
- Herod the Great — king when Jesus was born.
- Herod Antipas — ruler of Galilee who executed John the Baptist.
- Caiaphas — the high priest at Jesus' trial.
- Pontius Pilate — the Roman governor who ordered Jesus' crucifixion.
- The Pharisees and Sadducees — Jewish religious groups who often opposed Jesus, though some, like Nicodemus, came to believe.
The early church
- Stephen — one of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr (Acts 6–7).
- Philip the evangelist — who preached in Samaria and explained Isaiah to an Ethiopian official (Acts 8).
- Paul (Saul of Tarsus) — once a persecutor of Christians, converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). He became the great missionary to the Gentiles and wrote thirteen New Testament letters.
- Barnabas — "son of encouragement", who supported Paul and travelled with him.
- Silas — Paul's companion on his second journey.
- Timothy — Paul's young co-worker, to whom he wrote two letters.
- Luke — doctor and historian, author of Luke and Acts.
- Mark — author of the second Gospel, who travelled with Paul and Peter.
- Priscilla and Aquila — a married couple who worked with Paul and taught others (Acts 18).
- Lydia — a businesswoman in Philippi and one of the first believers in Europe (Acts 16).
- Titus and Philemon — recipients of Paul's letters.
What we learn from them
Like the people of the Old Testament, these men and women were ordinary and imperfect: fishermen, tax collectors, a persecutor turned apostle. Yet through the Holy Spirit they "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Their stories remind us that God uses ordinary people who follow Jesus.
Continue with the book of Acts or key people of the Old Testament.