The Passion Week

Tiberius

Second Roman emperor whose fifteenth regnal year marks the beginning of Christ's ministry

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus was the second Roman Emperor, whose reign spanned the public ministry and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Alexander, Son of Simon of Cyrene

Son of Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the cross of Jesus

The son of Simon of Cyrene and brother of Rufus, mentioned in the Gospel of Mark as a relative of the man forced to carry the cross of Jesus.

Alphaeus

Father of James the Less and possibly Matthew the tax collector

Alphaeus was a 1st-century Jewish man from the tribe of Judah, best known as the father of James the Apostle and possibly the father of Matthew the tax collector.

Annas

High Priest who led the preliminary trial of Jesus and daughter's husband was Caiaphas

Annas was a powerful Jewish High Priest of the first century who exerted significant influence over the Sanhedrin during the trials of Jesus and the early apostles.

Barabbas

Prisoner released by Pontius Pilate in the place of Jesus Christ during the Passion

A convicted insurrectionist and murderer who was historically pardoned by Pontius Pilate in the place of Jesus Christ during the Passover trial.

Caiaphas

High Priest who presided over the Sanhedrin during the trial of Jesus

The influential Jewish High Priest during the reign of Tiberius Caesar who presided over the trial of Jesus of Nazareth.

Daughter of Annas

Daughter of Annas and wife of Caiaphas who linked the two high priests together

The daughter of the high priest Annas and the wife of the high priest Caiaphas during the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

David

King of Israel who defeated Goliath and established the Davidic dynasty

The second king of the United Monarchy of Israel, a shepherd-warrior and psalmist known as a man after God's own heart.

Elijah the Tishbite

Prophet who called down fire from heaven and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind

A foundational prophet of the Divided Monarchy known for his confrontation with Baal worship and his departure from earth in a whirlwind.

Hebrews

Covenant people of God descended from Abraham

The Hebrews represent the covenant people descended from Abraham, serving as the primary ethnic and spiritual identity of God’s chosen nation throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Herod the Tetrarch

Tetrarch of Galilee who executed John the Baptist and mocked Jesus Christ

The regional ruler of Galilee and Perea who beheaded John the Baptist and participated in the trial of Jesus Christ.

Israel

Patriarch who wrestled with God and fathered the twelve tribes

The third patriarch of the covenant, formerly known as Jacob, who received his name after wrestling with God and became the father of the twelve tribes.

James son of Alphaeus, Apostle

Apostle of Jesus Christ known as the son of Alphaeus

One of the twelve original apostles of Jesus Christ, distinguished by his parentage to Alphaeus and often identified as 'James the Less' or 'the younger.'

James son of Zebedee, Apostle

Apostle and brother of John who was the first of the Twelve to be martyred

One of the twelve apostles and part of Jesus' inner circle, James was a fisherman by trade and the first of the apostles to suffer martyrdom for the Christian faith.

Jeremiah, Son of Hilkiah

Prophet who predicted the seventy-year Babylonian exile and the New Covenant

A major prophet of the Divided Monarchy who predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the 70-year Babylonian exile while suffering intense persecution for his message.

Jesus

Messiah and central figure of the New Testament whose life, death, and resurrection form the basis of the Christian faith

The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem, performed numerous miracles, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate before rising from the dead.

John, Son of Zebedee and Apostle

Apostle and brother of James who received the visions of Revelation

One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a son of Zebedee, and a key leader in the early Church who received the vision recorded in Revelation.

Joseph of Arimathea

Council member who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and provided his own tomb for burial

A wealthy and righteous Council member from Arimathea who, as a secret disciple of Jesus, petitioned Pilate for Christ's body and provided a clean tomb for His burial.

Joses, Son of Mary

son of Mary and brother of James the Younger who is mentioned in the crucifixion narrative

Joses was the son of Mary (a follower of Jesus) and the brother of James the Younger, mentioned in the context of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ.

Judah, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who received the blessing of the scepter and whose lineage produced King David and Jesus Christ

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Judah and the Davidic line, known for his leadership and pivotal role in the preservation of his family.

Judas Iscariot, Betrayer of Jesus

Apostle who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver

One of the twelve original apostles of Jesus who famously betrayed him to the Jewish authorities for thirty pieces of silver.

Lazarus of Bethany

Subject of the miracle where Jesus raised him from the dead four days after his burial

A close friend of Jesus Christ who was famously raised from the dead four days after his burial in the village of Bethany.

Malchus

The high priest's servant whose ear Peter severed and Jesus healed

Malchus was the high priest's servant whose ear was severed by Simon Peter and subsequently healed by Jesus during the arrest in Gethsemane.

Mary Magdalene

Primary witness to the Resurrection of Jesus

A faithful disciple of Jesus from whom seven demons were cast out, later becoming the first witness to the Resurrection.

Mary, Mother of James and Joses

mother of James and Joses who witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus

A dedicated follower of Jesus who witnessed His crucifixion, prepared for His burial, and was among the first to witness the empty tomb.

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mother of Jesus who conceived by the Holy Spirit

A woman of the tribe of Levi who, while a virgin, was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus

Pharisee who visited Jesus by night and provided spices for his burial

A prominent member of the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee who transitioned from a cautious inquirer of Jesus to a courageous disciple following the crucifixion.

Peter

Apostle who served as the spokesman for the Twelve and the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem

The leader of the twelve apostles, known for his confession of Christ, his denial and restoration, and his foundational role in the early Christian church.

Pilate

Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered His crucifixion

The Roman governor of Judea during the reign of Tiberius Caesar who presided over the trial of Jesus Christ and ordered His crucifixion.

Rufus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Salome, Mother of the Sons of Zebedee

Mother of the apostles James and John who witnessed the crucifixion and visited the empty tomb

A devoted follower of Jesus and the mother of the apostles James and John, present at both the crucifixion and the empty tomb.

Simon of Cyrene

Man who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus during the walk to Golgotha

A man from North Africa who was forced by Roman soldiers to carry the cross of Jesus during the procession to Golgotha.

Simon the Leper

Host of the dinner in Bethany where Jesus was anointed by a woman with an alabaster jar

A resident of Bethany and host to Jesus, Simon the Leper is famous for the dinner where a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume shortly before the Passion.

Zebedee

Father of the apostles James and John who was left in his boat when they followed Jesus

A Galilean fisherman and the father of the apostles James and John, whose departure to follow Jesus left him to manage the family business.