Category: Biblical People

Short bios of people in the Bible

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Annas

Anna's Leadership

Annas is a priest, the father-in-law of another priest, Caiaphas. At various points they both serve as the high priest. As we read the narrative in the Bible, sometimes Annas is the high priest and other times Caiaphas is. 

Luke implies that the pair form an era of high-priesthood rule. Together they work as a leadership team that wields power when John the Baptist starts his ministry, exists when Jesus is executed, and is still around during the early church. 

In John’s biography of Jesus, he writes that after Jesus’s arrest, the mob drags him to stand before Annas, who is the high priest. After the officials abuse and mock Jesus, Annas sends Jesus to his son-in-law, Caiaphas.

John also identifies Caiaphas as the high priest at this point. This suggests they might have a co-reign in leading the Jewish religious institution and influencing the culture.

The final time we read of Annas is when Peter and John stand before the religious Council (the Sanhedrin). Again, Annas is the high priest. Caiaphas is there too, along with a couple other members of their family. Annas oversees the proceedings.

After Peter and John make their defense, which is really them sharing the good news about Jesus to the religious leaders, the Council doesn’t know what to do.

Under Annas’s leadership they command Peter and John to stop telling others about Jesus and issue threats if they do. However, the Council decides not to punish them because of the people’s astonishment over Peter’s healing of the disabled man.

Annas, along with his son-in-law, Caiaphas, wields control over the Jewish people and their faith. As leaders they could have embraced Jesus and his message. Instead they oppose it and try to squelch it. They abuse their power.

When we’re in charge of something, what do we do to make sure our decisions and actions align with God’s will?

[Discover more about Annas in Luke 3:1–2, John 18:12–14, John 18:24, and Acts 4:5–6.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Caiaphas

Caiaphas

We recognize Caiaphas as a central player in the unethical, corrupt, and self-seeking plot that results in the crucifixion of Jesus. Caiaphas’s name shows up in the writings of Matthew, Luke, and John. Though we don’t know much about him, here’s what we are aware of.

First, he’s the high priest—the main man—when the religious leaders railroad Jesus into a wrongful execution. 

Next, he’s the son-in-law of another high priest, Annas. 

Third, he’s most likely rich. Matthew writes that the religious leaders meet at Caiaphas’s palace to develop a scheme to do away with Jesus. We can suspect that Caiaphas, like other highly-placed, influential religious leaders, is well-off.

However, knowing he lives in a palace suggests just how financially lucrative the high priesthood is. 

Caiaphas and the other religious leaders see Jesus as a threat to the prestige, power, and possessions they’ve amassed through their religious positions. They want to stop Jesus—not so much because of his theology—but because they fear losing their wealth, influence, and public respect.

Jesus must die.

Given all this, it’s easy to see Caiaphas as a villain. And though he is, another passage lets us see him as a prophet, one supernaturally influenced.

After Jesus raises Lazarus (1) from the dead, the religious leaders hold an emergency meeting of the governing board, the Sanhedrin. Frustrated with Jesus, they wonder what to do.

Then Caiaphas speaks up. “You don’t get it!” he says. “Let’s have one man die for all the people, instead of putting the whole country at risk.” 

Caiaphas doesn’t say this on his own, John notes, but he prophesies of Jesus’s sacrificial death to save his people.

Are we willing to see good things in otherwise bad people?

[Discover more about Caiaphas in Matthew 26:3–5, Matthew 26:57, Luke 3:1–2, John 11:49–52, John 18:12–14, John 18:24, and Acts 4:5–6.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Barabbas

Barabbas appears in one scene in each of the Bible’s four biographies of Jesus. We know little about Barabbas except that he’s in prison for insurrection and murder. He’s certainly not one of the good guys.

Because he’s held on murder charges, he may face crucifixion. He’s probably on death row awaiting his execution, perhaps even as soon as Passover ends.

Then Jesus comes along. 

Isn’t this the pivotal moment in a lot of people’s lives?

Jesus has been arrested, and the Jewish leaders want to do away with him. But Pilate tries to bring about Jesus’s release. Pilate’s findings don’t matter to the mob, and his attempts to broker a less deadly solution get nowhere.

Whipped into a frenzy, the people don’t care about the law or about justice. They want blood.

Pilate’s custom each Passover is to release a prisoner, as requested by the people. This gives him an opportunity to earn some goodwill from the Jews who hate him and the Roman rule he represents.

Knowing that the Jewish leaders are railroading Jesus, Pilate offers to release him this year. The mob will have none of it. Instead they shout their request, “Barabbas!”

They don’t want Jesus—who came to heal and save—freed. Instead they want a murderer released back into society. This makes no sense, but mobs never do.

Unable to dissuade them and wanting to avoid a riot, Pilate releases Barabbas and hands Jesus over for crucifixion. Barabbas, who deserves death, is set free, and Jesus, who is without fault, dies instead.

We don’t hear anything more about Barabbas after this, so we’re left to wonder how he reacts to the second chance Jesus gives him by dying in his place.

Are we truly thankful that Jesus died for us? What do we do to let him know?

[Discover more about Barabbas in Matthew 27:15–26, Mark 15:6–15, Luke 23:18–19, and John 18:39–40.]

Read more about other people in the New Testament in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 700-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and numerous books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Malchus

Malchus

Each of the biographies of Jesus include the story of a mob coming up to Jesus to arrest him. In each account one of Jesus’s disciples whips out a sword and slashes at the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. 

Why is the high priest’s servant there? He could be acting on his own accord, though more likely the high priest ordered him to join the mob tasked with arresting Jesus. The bigger the crowd, the easier this will be.

This implicates the high priest in the conspiracy to arrest and execute Jesus.

By combining these four biblical accounts of this event, we discover that the high priest’s servant’s name is Malchus. We also learn that the assaulting disciple is Peter.

Given what we know about him this shouldn’t surprise us. He often speaks before thinking and sometimes acts just as fast.

What’s most delightful, however, is a detail that only Luke shares. After Jesus tells his disciples to not resist his arrest, he restores Malchus’s missing ear. Even when Jesus faces arrest, setting in motion the events that will lead to his death, he still cares about the needs of others. 

When we face difficulties, do we still notice the not-as-important needs of those around us?

[Discover more about Malchus in Matthew 26:47–52, Mark 14:43–50, Luke 22:49–51, and John 18:10–11.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Lazarus (1)

Lazarus

Lazarus is the brother of Martha and Mary (3). The Bible writers give more attention to Mary and Martha, but we can only speculate why. It may be that Lazarus is the younger brother, possibly not even an adult.

Maybe he just doesn’t do anything worth mentioning, but the one story about him in the Bible is a story that most people know. 

It starts with Lazarus getting sick. This isn’t a cold, flu, or eating too much of the wrong thing. This is a serious “go get Jesus because Lazarus might die” situation. 

Martha and Mary send word to Jesus: “The one you love is sick.”

Even though the Bible says that Jesus loves the three siblings, he doesn’t drop everything to pay them a visit and heal the ailing Lazarus. He waits two days. Then he heads out. 

By the time Jesus arrives, it’s too late—or is it? Lazarus has been dead four days and is already entombed.

Martha reaches Jesus first and criticizes him. “If only you’d been here, he wouldn’t have died.” Yet she clings to a glimmer of hope. “Even so, God will do whatever you ask.”

Jesus promises her that Lazarus will rise again. Though Jesus means now, Martha thinks he means at the end of time. Then Jesus says, “I am resurrection, and I am life. Do you believe?”

Martha affirms Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.

Then Mary shows up and criticizes Jesus, just like her sister.

“Where’s he buried?” Jesus asks.

As the sisters take Jesus to the tomb, he cries.

“Open the burial vault,” Jesus commands. 

After some debate about how bad the decaying body will smell, they do as Jesus requests.

Jesus gives a prayer of thanksgiving to Papa. Then he calls, “Lazarus. Come out!”

Lazarus does, still wrapped with burial cloths.

Thanks to Jesus, Lazarus has a second chance at life. 

Through Jesus, we all have second chances. What are we doing with ours?

[Discover more about Lazarus in John 11:1–44 and John 12:1.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Simon (5) the Pharisee

Simon 5

In Luke’s account of the woman who pours her perfume on Jesus, Luke says it happens at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. Luke also records the interesting exchange between Simon and Jesus that isn’t in the other three biographies of Jesus.

In this account, Luke writes that it’s Simon who levies the criticism, but it’s not directed at the woman who pours her perfume on Jesus, it’s against Jesus. Simon doesn’t denounce Jesus out loud. He merely thinks it. He feels Jesus should have known the woman is a sinner and stopped her from touching him.

Perceiving Simon’s thoughts, Jesus turns to him. “Suppose two people owe money to a moneylender. One owes a couple hundred bucks and the other only twenty. Neither one can pay him back, so the lender writes off both loans. Which of the two people will be more appreciative?”

“The one with the larger debt,” Simon says.

“You’re right.” Then Jesus turns to the woman. “See her,” Jesus says. “When I came into your home you didn’t wash my feet as is the custom, greet me with a kiss, or anoint my head with oil, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears, not stopped kissing my feet, and anointed them with perfume. Though she has done many wrong things in her life, she’s most grateful for having been forgiven.”

As the people murmur about Jesus forgiving her sins, he has one more thing to say to her, “By your faith, you’re saved. Now go in peace.”

How grateful are we to Jesus? Should we be more grateful than we are?

[Discover more about Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7:36–47.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Theophilus

theophilus

As mentioned in the previous chapter on Luke, we know he writes twice to Theophilus and that these letters are part of the Bible in the books of Luke and Acts. 

Though the Bible tells us nothing about Theophilus, Luke addresses both his letters to this mysterious person. The reason is significant. Luke wants Theophilus to know for certain the things he had been taught about Jesus. 

Think about this.

Someone tells Theophilus about Jesus. Perhaps Theophilus believes, but maybe he isn’t fully convinced. He might carry a tinge of doubt about this Jesus, the man who changed religion into a relationship.

It’s so countercultural that it’s revolutionary. Regardless, Luke feels it’s worth his time to help Theophilus know Jesus for sure.

This is a huge undertaking for Luke. He spends a great deal of time researching the subject and more time writing his findings—all for Theophilus. 

Luke’s biography of Jesus is the longest book in the New Testament, at just under 20,000 words. His sequel, the book of Acts, is the second longest. Together they’re almost the length of a short novel. That’s a lot of words, a lot of writing, and a lot of research.

Though Luke writes this book for one person, Theophilus, it’s available for us two thousand years later. Like Theophilus, we too can read Luke’s account of Jesus so that we can know for certain the things we’ve been taught.

How much effort will we make to help one person know Jesus for sure?

[Discover more about Theophilus in Luke 1:1–4 and Acts 1:1–2.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Luke

Luke, the only non-Jewish author in the New Testament, writes as an outsider looking in. This gives his writing a perspective that most non-Jewish Christians embrace, because we, too, are outsiders.

Luke writes the two longest books in the New Testament. They make up about 25 percent of the New Testament’s content. Only Paul is more prolific.

The first book Luke writes is his biography of Jesus, called The Gospel of Luke or simply Luke. Luke researches his subject and interviews eyewitnesses. He records his findings for Theophilus.

In Luke’s second piece, he continues his investigation, chronicling the early church. We call this book The Acts of the Apostles, the book of Acts, or simply Acts.

Again Luke documents his findings for Theophilus. At some points in the narrative, Luke participates in the events he covers. We see this when he switches from third person to first person, using the pronouns I and we.

Many people appreciate Luke’s writing style for the details he mentions that aren’t in the other three biographies of Jesus. Aside from this, we know little about Luke. His name only appears three times in the Bible, each time toward the end of one of Paul’s letters.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he calls Doctor Luke a dear friend who sends greetings to the Colossians. It’s likely that Luke is with Paul when he writes that letter.

Next, in Paul’s personal letter to his protégé Timothy, Paul dips into a bit of despair, writing that “Only Luke is still with me.” 

Then, in Paul’s letter to Philemon, he calls Luke a fellow worker for the cause of Jesus.

From these we see Luke as a dear friend, loyal companion, and faithful missionary.

Luke does much to help us better understand Jesus, but he receives little credit. Are we willing to do the same?

[Discover more about Luke in Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 1:24.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Nicodemus

Nicodemus

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish Council, appears in three passages in the Bible. John writes all three. Clearly John wants us to know about Nicodemus. This is the only book that Nicodemus shows up in.

We first hear about Nicodemus when he comes to Jesus at night. This suggests he doesn’t want his Pharisee friends and fellow Council members to know he’s talking to a man that most religious leaders despise. They view Jesus as a heretic, an irritant, and a threat to their religion.

Though Nicodemus desperately wants to talk to Jesus, he’s afraid of the repercussions if the religious hierarchy finds out. That’s why he sneaks through the dark to find Jesus.

After Nicodemus commends Jesus for who he is and what he does, Jesus answers a question Nicodemus hasn’t asked. Jesus says, “You must be born again if you hope to see the kingdom of God.”

“What! How can a person be born a second time? Impossible.”

Jesus launches into an intriguing explanation about being born of water and the spirit, about flesh birthing flesh and spirit birthing spirit. He talks about earthly things and heavenly things, about Moses lifting the bronze snake in the wilderness to save the people, and the Son of Man (Jesus) being lifted as well. “Everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.” 

Jesus ends by talking about truth and light, implying that Nicodemus needs to stop sneaking around in the dark. John doesn’t record Nicodemus’s response.

Later Jesus is arrested and brought before the Council. Nicodemus suggests that Jesus deserves a fair trial. Instead of following Nicodemus’s wise advice, they verbally attack him. 

A few days later, we see Nicodemus going with Joseph (from Arimathea) to give Jesus’s body a proper burial. 

These actions present risk for Nicodemus, physically and vocationally. Surely this suggests that Nicodemus supports Jesus and embraces his teaching.

What risks are we willing to take for Jesus?

[Discover more about Nicodemus in John 3:1–21, John 7:45–52, and John 19:38–42. Learn about the bronze snake in Numbers 21:9.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Bartimaeus

Bartimaeus

Jesus heals many people who can’t see, but we usually don’t know their names. Bartimaeus is one exception. He lives in Jericho and is the son of Timaeus. That’s all we know about him, except for the story of Jesus healing him.

Bartimaeus sits by the road begging for money, so he can get something to eat, else he might starve. Jesus and his entourage approach. Someone tells Bartimaeus who it is. “Jesus,” Bartimaeus yells. “Help me!”

The crowd tries to hush him. He’s annoying them.

But he just yells louder. “Jesus!”

Jesus stops and tells the crowd to fetch this blind beggar.

“It’s your lucky day,” they tell Bartimaeus. “Jesus is asking for you.” Bartimaeus jumps up and comes to Jesus.

“What do you want?” 

Bartimaeus states the obvious. “I want to see.”

“Okay,” Jesus says. “By your faith you are healed.”

Then Bartimaeus can see. He follows Jesus down the road.

We don’t hear of Bartimaeus again, so we don’t know if he continues following Jesus for real. But we can revere God for the miracle Jesus performs for this once blind man.

Do we follow Jesus now like we once did? Do we still revere him? 

[Discover more about Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46–52.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.