Bible Content - Key NT People Flashcards
Herod the Great
(Matthew 2; Luke 1)
* King of the Jews during the time of Jesus’ birth
- Gave orders to kill all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity age two years and younger
- Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt because of him and returned after his death
Herod Antipas
(Matthew 14; Luke 3, 9, 13, 23; Mark 6)
* Divorced his first wife to marry Herodias, the wife of his half-brother; John the Baptist denounced this marriage, and it eventually led to his imprisonment and execution.
* Briefly encountered Jesus when he was sent by Pilate (Luke 23)
Pharisees
(All Gospels, esp. Matthew 23)
* Non-professional, small (6,000 adherents), and influential.
* Held in high esteem by the populace for their protection and adherence to the oral law of Moses.
* Beliefs: soul is imperishable, resurrection of the dead, balance human merit/law-keeping and grace.
Sadducees
(All Gospels, esp. Mark 12)
* Priestly, aristocratic, wealthy, and largely unpopular with the people.
* Governing part of the religious establishment but cooperated with the Romans.
* Beliefs: strong adherence to Scriptural authority, denied resurrection and angels.
The Apostles
(Matthew 10; Mark 3) J4-PPTT-BAMS
* James (Zealot), James (Zebedee), John, Judas; Peter, Philip, Thaddaeus, Thomas; Bartholomew, Andrew, Matthew, Simon (Zealot)
* Judas was later replaced by Matthias (Acts 1); Barnabas called Apostle with Paul (Luke 14:14)
* They were appointed and designated by Jesus that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and drive out demons.
* They provided leadership in the beginning of the church (all but Judas).
Peter
(All Gospels; Acts 2-5, 10-11; Petrine Epistles)
* Part of an inner circle of apostles who had special relationship with Jesus (along with James/John)
* Walked on water with Jesus; Betrayed Jesus and was restored.
* Preached at Pentecost and became the rock upon which the Church was built.
Cornelius
(Acts 10)
* Centurion who gave generously to needy and prayed regularly.
* From a God-given vision, he sent for Peter to come preach to his household and all were saved.
* This incident confirmed to the Jews that the gospel would go to the Gentiles.
Barnabas
(Acts 4, 11, 13-15)
* Levite who sold a field he owned and put the proceeds at the apostles’ feet.
* Name means “son of encouragement”
* Sent by the church of Jerusalem to Antioch, teamed up with Paul, then later split from Paul.
Stephen
(Acts 6-7)
* One of the ‘seven’ chosen deacons to provide for the physical needs of the Jerusalem church.
* First recorded martyr of the early church, stoned to death for testifying about Christ.
Paul
(Acts 7, 9, 13-28; Pauline Epistles)
* Born in Tarsus, was a Roman citizen.
* Educated in Jerusalem as a Pharisee under Gamaliel.
* Persecuted the Christian church until converted on the Road to Damascus.
* Sent as a missionary to the Gentiles by the Jerusalem church and went on three main journeys.
* Imprisoned and died in Rome.
Timothy
(Acts 16-18; 1 Corinthians 4, 16; Philippians 2; 1-2 Timothy)
* Paul’s true disciple in the faith, he joined Paul on his 2nd missionary journey and was circumcised.
* Carried on Paul’s ministry to the churches in Macedonia, Ephesus, and Corinth.
James
(All the Gospels (?); Acts 12, 15, 21; 1 Corinthians 15; Galatians 1-2; Epistle of James)
* Half-brother of Jesus – not the disciple
* Leader of the church in Jerusalem and presided over the Jerusalem council (Acts 15).
