Agabus (Acts 11:28)

an early Christian prophet who predicts a famine that inspires a collection on behalf of believers in Jerusalem

Agabus (Acts 21:10)

an early Christian prophet who predicts Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, binding Paul symbolically with his own belt

Agrippa (actually Herod Agrippa II)

ruler of Galilee who hears Paul’s testimony while he is in prison in Caesarea under Festus

Ananias (Acts 5)

man who tries to cheat the church by holding back money (along with wife, Sapphira)

Ananias (Acts 9)

man sent by God to baptize Paul after his Damascus road experience

Ananias (Acts 22)

high priest in Jerusalem who presides over trial of Paul before Jewish council

Apollos

an elegant and powerful teacher who needs to be instructed by Aquila and Priscilla to know the faith “more accurately”

Aquila

a tentmaker who becomes a close friend of Paul, along with his wife, Priscilla; with her, instructs Apollos in the way of the faith “more accurately”

Barnabas

member of Jerusalem church who sells a field and gives money to the church; brings Paul to Antioch, where the two of them become leaders in the gentile mission; partner with Paul on his first missionary journey but later splits with Paul, going off on his own with John Mark as his companion

Cornelius

a gentile centurion baptized by Peter

Demetrius the silversmith

instigates a riot in Ephesus by claiming Paul’s evangelistic work is undermining the temple of Artemis

Dorcas

a woman known in the early church for her kindness to widows and who was raised from the dead by Peter (also called “Tabitha”)

Elymas

a magician who is struck temporarily blind when Paul curses him

Eutychus

young man who falls asleep while Paul is preaching and tumbles out a third-story window

Felix

governor in Caesarea who leaves Paul in prison for two years to please the Jews

Festus

governor in Caesarea (after Felix), under whom Paul appeals to Caesar

Gamaliel

member of the Jewish council who advises against persecution of the apostles

Herod (Herod Agrippa I)

kills James the disciple of Jesus; has Peter put in prison, but an angel lets him out; eaten by worms and dies after an angel strikes him for presenting himself as a god

James the brother of Jesus

leader of the church in Jerusalem who presides over the apostolic council called to discuss circumcision of gentiles

James the disciple of Jesus

killed by Herod Agrippa during early years of the Jerusalem church

John Mark

son of a leading woman in the Jerusalem church and nephew of Barnabas; accompanies Paul and Barnabas on first missionary journey, but turns back part way; he is the cause of a split between Paul and Barnabas before their second missionary journey

Lydia

a dealer of purple goods in Philippi who becomes host to Paul and his companions

Matthias

the new apostle, added to the group after Easter to replace Judas

Paul

also known as Saul; a persecutor of the early believers who has a vision of the risen Christ and becomes a missionary for the faith; leads three missionary journeys to areas in the west, evangelizing many gentiles; works many miracles, such that even his handkerchiefs heal all whom they touch; after a series of trials, is taken to Rome to stand before Caesar

Peter

preaches to multiethnic crowd on day of Pentecost, gaining 3,000 converts; baptizes the centurion Cornelius in a way that prefigures the gentile mission; becomes so filled with spiritual power that his shadow heals all on whom it falls; raises Dorcas (Tabitha) from the dead; imprisoned by Herod and then released by an angel

Philip

one of the seven men appointed to “wait tables” (serve as deacons?) in the Jerusalem church: evangelizes an Ethiopian eunuch; led by the Spirit to evangelize the Samaritans and baptize them; has four daughters who prophesy

Priscilla

one of Paul’s close friends, along with her husband, Aquila; with him, instructs Apollos in the way of the faith “more accurately”

Rhoda

servant at house belonging to John Mark’s mother in Jerusalem; is slow to admit Peter when he is released from prison by an angel

Sapphira (Acts 5)

woman who tries to cheat the church by holding back money (along with husband, Ananias).

Sceva

Jewish priest whose seven sons try to cast out demons in the name of the Jesus whom Paul proclaims

Silas

imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, where they sing hymns while in stocks

Simon Magus

a magician in Samaria who becomes a believer; offers Peter money to obtain the power of giving the Holy Spirit to people

Stephen

one of the seven men appointed to “wait tables” (serve as deacons?) in the Jerusalem church; the first martyr, stoned to death after speaking against the temple

Timothy

son of a Jewish mother and gentile father who joins Paul on his second missionary journey; circumcised by Paul so as not to offend the Jews