Faith Expressions

This list contains the names of gospel characters who played a significant part in the gospel stories.

Main Character

Jesus Christ (with God the Father and the Holy Spirit) - He was the central figure of the gospel stories.

Supporting Characters

Mary - She was the mother of Jesus. She was the only gospel character who was with Jesus during his birth and death.

Joseph - He was the legal or foster father of Jesus. He was a carpenter, a learned man and a descendant of King David.

Gabriel - He was the angel of God who announced to Mary that she will be the mother of God.

Three Magi - Known also as the three kings, the three magi were learned men from the east who followed the celestial signal of a star that informed them a king will be born for the Jews and led them to Bethlehem.

Herod “the Great” - He was the king who ordered the massacre of male children aged two years and below in Bethlehem during the time of Jesus Christ’s birth.

Elizabeth - She was the cousin of Mary and the mother of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist - He was the prophet who “prepared the way” for the Lord Jesus. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan river and witnessed the physical manifestations of the Holy Trinity who were God the Father, God the Son or Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

Simeon - He was the devout man who presided over the purification ceremony of infant Jesus in the temple. He was a God-fearing man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel and who was given an assurance by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he sees the messiah.

Nicodemus - He was the Jewish leader to whom Jesus revealed the reason for God’s plan of salvation.

Peter - He was one of the first two disciples of Christ and the leader of the first twelve apostles of Christ. The name “Peter” was given by Jesus Christ to Simon, which meant “rock” – the rock upon which Christ built his church.

John - He was the beloved disciple who was described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

First Apostles of Christ - The first twelve apostles of Christ were made up of Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, James and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the patriot and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Mary and Martha - They were dear friends of Jesus whose dead brother named Lazarus was raised to life by Jesus.

Mary Magdalene - She was the faithful follower who witnessed the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Bartimaeus - He was the blind man whom Jesus healed because of his gut-level faith. Bartimaeus was pure repentance personified.

Zacchaeus - He was the tax collector with whom Jesus ate a meal in his house and, consequently, who became a repentant sinner and a true son Abraham.

Samaritan Woman - She was the woman near Jacob’s well with whom Jesus had a conversation which revealed that Jesus ignored the prejudices of his time in order to save people from sin since salvation was (and is) for all.

Roman Officer - He was the official who asked Jesus through a messenger to heal his servant but informed Jesus not to come to his house because he, the official, did not deserve such a visit. The officer asked Jesus to just “say the word and his servant will be healed,” which happened. The Roman officer was faith personified.

Caiaphas - He was the High Priest who planned the killing of Jesus.

Pharisees and Sadducees - They constitute the religious authorities during the time of Jesus. 

Pontius Pilate - He was the Roman governor of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus and gave in to the demand of a mob – led by the religious authorities – who wanted Jesus to be crucified.

Herod (Herod Antipas) - He was the king who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and who became a friend of Pilate after the latter gave the former the chance to interact with Jesus personally during the trial of Jesus.

Army Soldier - He was the soldier who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ and declared that Jesus was a good man and the Son of God.

People of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus