Category: Biblical People

Short bios of people in the Bible

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Matthew (Levi)

Matthew Levi

Matthew is seventh on our list of Jesus’s disciples, though he may be one of the earlier ones that Jesus calls. Mark and Luke both refer to him as Levi, the fifth person in the Bible with that name, Levi (5).

The one thing we know about Matthew is that he collects taxes. Often when the Bible mentions tax collectors it’s part of the phrase “tax collectors and sinners.”

Though this doesn’t imply that being a tax collector is a sinful job, it makes it clear that people don’t think much of tax collectors. Nor do the Pharisees—a group of religious devotees who pursue righteous behavior with legalistic fervor.

(Note that Jesus often criticizes Pharisees for not seeing what God’s doing.)

Jesus, while making a point that the people society looks down upon will have their place in heaven—ahead of the religious elite—uses the phrase “tax collectors and prostitutes.”

That’s another disparaging pairing of two less-than-honorable professions. Last, in one of Jesus’s parables, he lumps tax collectors in with thieves, evil people, and adulterers.

Matthew’s occupation certainly carries a stigma. From a human standpoint we wouldn’t want someone like Matthew on our team, but Jesus has a different perspective. He wants someone like Matthew on his squad. Jesus invites Matthew to be part of his posse. 

When Jesus invites Matthew to “follow me,” Matthew does so right away.

Then Jesus parties with Matthew and his friends—other tax collectors and “sinners.” The religious leaders, of course, criticize Jesus for who he’s hanging out with. But these people are exactly who Jesus wants to be with.

By making Matthew part of his team he gives us a fresh perspective of who’s in and who’s out in his kingdom. Most people believe that Matthew later wrote a biography of Jesus, which we call the book of Matthew.

We all have a past. Do we let our past define us or do we accept God’s mercy and move into something greater?

[Discover more about Matthew, also called Levi, in Matthew 9:9–13, Mark 2:13–17, and Luke 5:27–32. Read verses about tax collectors in Matthew 21:31–32 and Luke 7:34.]

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: Thomas (Didymus)

Thomas

The sixth of Jesus’s disciples is Thomas, also known as Didymus. Though Matthew, Mark, and Luke only mention Thomas once, and that’s in their list of Jesus’s disciples, John gives us more insight into his character. John shares three stories about Thomas. 

First, as Jesus wraps up his time on earth, before his execution, he tells his disciples what to expect. After encouraging them to believe in God and in him, he says that Papa’s house has many rooms.

“I’ll go there and get ready for you. Then I’ll come back and get you, so we can hang out.” Then Jesus adds, “You know the way there.”

Thomas is confused and reacts as I imagine I would. He wants more info. “We don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know how to get there?”

Jesus responds with a familiar passage. “I’m the way, the truth, and the life. To get to Papa, you must go through me.” Frankly this explanation wouldn’t have helped me too much. We don’t know if Thomas gets it or not, but he says nothing more.

The second story is what we most know about Thomas. It’s the source of the phrase doubting Thomas. 

When Jesus rises from the dead and first appears to his disciples, Thomas isn’t there. When his buddies insist Jesus is alive, Thomas doesn’t believe them. He demands proof. That sounds reasonable.

Third, a week later, the disciples hunker behind locked doors, and Jesus appears in the room. He goes to Thomas and shows him the nail scars in his hand. He encourages Thomas to touch his side where the soldier’s spear impaled him. “Stop doubting,” Jesus says, “and believe.”

Thomas does. “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus blesses Thomas because he sees and believes. But we’re even more blessed because we haven’t seen and believe anyway.

How should we deal with the struggle of faith versus doubt?

[Discover more about Thomas in John 14:3–7, John 20:24–29, and John 21:1–3.]

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: Philip (1)

Philip

The day after Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow him, Jesus sees Philip and tells him to “follow me.” Then Philip goes and finds his buddy, Nathanael, and tells him about Jesus. 

The next time we see Philip is at the miracle feeding of 5,000 men (plus women and children), and then he’s in the story about the Greeks who want to see Jesus. We already covered these when we talked about Andrew.

Later Jesus says, “I’m the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to Papa except through me. If you know me, you know my father.”

To this Philip replies, “Show us the father, and that’ll be good enough.”

Jesus scolds Philip. “After all this time, you still don’t know me? If you see me, you’ve seen Papa.” 

Philip may wish he hadn’t opened his mouth. His words just proved that he doesn’t know Jesus as well as he thought he did. Ouch!

How well do we know Jesus? What would be Jesus’s answer to that question?

[Discover more about Philp in John 1:43–46, John 6:5–7, John 12:20–22, and John 14:6–11.]

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:John (2), the Disciple

John the disciple

The fourth of Jesus’s disciples that we’ll cover is John (not to be confused with John the Baptist). John the disciple is the younger brother of James and is part of Jesus’s inner circle, along with Peter and James. 

However, John may have an even higher standing. Though John never mentions himself by name in his biography of Jesus, five times he refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Consider that Jesus has many disciples and even more followers. He picks twelve of them to be the disciples and three of them to be in his inner circle, but John surpasses them all. He’s the disciple Jesus loves.

Later, in the book of Acts, we see John in tandem with Peter telling others about Jesus, healing people, and getting arrested as a result. When they’re released from jail, they visit the believers in Samaria and lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

After that we don’t hear much more about John in the Bible’s narrative, but he does write a lot. During the writing of his last book, Revelation, he’s exiled on the island of Patmos.

John contributes much to the New Testament of the Bible. Only Paul and Luke write more. John pens one of the four biographies about Jesus in the Bible.

It’s called the Gospel of John or John for short. Many people cite this biography of Jesus as their favorite for its poetic language and unique content.

John also writes three letters, called 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. His fifth book is an epic vision of the future, called Revelation. Together these five books make up about 20 percent of the content in the New Testament.

We may want to do amazing things for Jesus just like John, but are we willing to suffer exile like he did?

[Discover more about John in John 21:20–24, Acts 4:1–22, Acts 8:14–17, and Revelation 1:9. Explore the five books of the Bible that John wrote: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation.]

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: James (1)

James

Just like Peter and Andrew, James and his brother, John, are disciples of Jesus. Since the Bible usually lists James first and John second, we can assume James is older. Peter, James, and John make up Jesus’s inner circle. 

Mark records an interesting nickname that Jesus gives the brothers. He calls them “the Sons of Thunder.” This suggests the boys might be loud when they talk, perhaps like their dad. 

Though once James and John ask Jesus if they can call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village who rejected them—Jesus says, “No”—the Bible doesn’t give any other examples of brazen behavior by the boys. Yet calling them the Sons of Thunder suggests otherwise.

This might be a family characteristic, too, because James’s mom does something bold for her boys. She goes to Jesus and asks him to honor her sons by letting them sit on Jesus’s right and left when he rules his kingdom. Again, Jesus says, “No.”

Like Andrew, whom the Bible usually mentions along with brother Peter, the same occurs for James, who’s usually paired with brother John. Even though James is part of Jesus’s inner circle, he doesn’t seem to play a vital role in Jesus’s ministry or in the early church.

In the book of Acts, we read that King Herod (2) arrests some of Jesus’s followers to harass them. This includes James, whom Herod executes. James becomes an early martyr of the church (after Stephen).

Though Jesus selects James to be his disciple and includes him in his inner circle of confidants, it seems James doesn’t live up to the promise Jesus sees in him—or perhaps his premature death keeps him from reaching his potential.

We each have potential to serve God and help others. Do we live up to what God sees in us or fall short? Are we doing all we can today, in case we’re not around tomorrow?

[Discover more about James in Matthew 20:20–24, Mark 3:17, Luke 9:52–55, and Acts 12:1–2.]

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: Andrew

Andrew

Andrew, another of Jesus’s disciples, is Peter’s brother, presumably his younger brother. They’re fishermen. When Jesus asks them to be his disciples, he tells them that going forward, they’ll fish for people.

While the Bible talks about Peter a lot, Andrew receives only a few mentions. And when his name does occur, it’s usually along with his brother. It seems Andrew is destined to be forever connected with his more outgoing sibling.

However, the Bible has two stories about Andrew.

Once, when a huge crowd (the Bible says 5,000 men, plus women and children) gathers to listen to Jesus, he wants to give them something to eat. Though he already knows what he’s going to do, he uses this as a teaching moment for his disciples. 

After Philip, another of the disciples, realizes they don’t have enough money to buy food, Andrew offers a hopeful suggestion. He brings them a boy with five small loaves of bread and two tiny fish. It’s not enough, but it’s a start. 

Yet with Jesus this is more than enough. He supernaturally multiplies this small amount of food, feeds everyone gathered, and has leftovers. Though Andrew’s part in this miracle is small, he is the catalyst to make it happen.

Another time, some people from Greece want to meet Jesus. They approach Philip and ask for an introduction. What does Philip do? He tells Andrew. (It’s interesting that Philip and Andrew appear together in both stories.) Together Philip and Andrew go tell Jesus about the people who want to see him. Though we don’t know why Philip doesn’t do this himself, we can surmise that he looks to Andrew as someone who can help make it happen. Even though we have no hint of Andrew being a leader among the twelve disciples, Philip must have looked up to him.

How do we react when we find ourselves in someone’s shadow? What do we do when a friend asks for help?

[Discover more about Andrew in John 6:8–9 and John 12:20–22.]

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 Peter (Cephas)

SImon Peter Cephas

Simon, whom Jesus calls Peter (Cephas), is one of Jesus’s twelve disciples. He’s also part of Jesus’s inner circle of three, along with James and John.

Peter often receives criticism and even ridicule for his behavior.

He sometimes speaks before he thinks, his doubt causes him to sink when he tries to walk on water, and he denies even knowing Jesus. During Jesus’s arrest, Peter whips out a sword and slashes at someone, but all he gets is an ear. 

But let’s not focus on these things. Let’s look at the positive.

Peter is the only one of the twelve disciples who walks on water. Though his journey is short before his faith falters, remember that he’s the only one to leave the safety of the boat. The other eleven don’t even dare to try. Peter does, and his faith is rewarded.

Later when Jesus asks his disciples, “What do people say about me?” they give various answers. Then Jesus gets direct. “What do you say?”

Not surprisingly, Peter speaks first. He states with boldness, “You’re the Christ, the son of the living God.”

Jesus blesses Peter for his spot-on answer. This truth sets the foundation for Jesus’s church.

After Jesus rises from the dead and returns to heaven, Peter emerges as the church’s first leader—effectively the first Pope. 

Then, Peter speaks on Pentecost under Holy Spirit power, and 3,000 people believe.

Later people lay the sick on the streets so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them as he walks by. The Bible never says these folks are healed, but with their friends positioning them this way, there must be a good reason to do so.

In addition, Peter later writes two books of the New Testament: 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

Like all of us, Peter has his strengths and his weaknesses. May we seek to emulate the positive parts of Peter’s example and avoid the negative.

Do we choose to focus on people’s admirable traits or their faults?

[Discover more about Peter in Matthew 16:13–18, Acts 2:14–41, and Acts 5:15. Read Peter’s two letters: 1 Peter and 2 Peter.]

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: Simeon (2)

Simeon

Simeon’s a good guy. He’s serious about following God and obeying all the religious rules. He believes the prophecies that say God will send someone to save them. Even though his people have waited for centuries, Simeon lives in expectation that God will rescue them as he promised long ago.

The Holy Spirit reveals to Simeon that this coming savior will arrive in his lifetime. God promises Simeon that he will see Jesus with his own eyes. 

Throughout the centuries, people lived their whole lives with faith-filled expectation that they would see God’s promised Messiah, only to die before they realized their hope. Yet, God promises that Simeon will witness this firsthand. But God doesn’t say when. 

Then one day the Holy Spirit prompts Simeon to go to the temple courts. Is today the day? He goes. He waits. His pulse no doubt quickens as he looks around, scanning the people milling about. Which one is the Messiah?

Then baby Jesus arrives with his parents. They come to fulfill the religious rituals commanded long ago by Moses. Simeon walks up. He takes baby Jesus in his arms and praises God. What must Jesus’s parents think?

Simeon affirms Jesus as the promised Savior for Israel—and for the entire world. His words shock Joseph and Mary. Then Simeon blesses them and prophesies.

Now, having seen Jesus firsthand, Simeon’s life is complete. He gives it over to God, knowing that he can now die in peace, with the knowledge that Jesus has arrived.

A lifetime of anticipation has now been fulfilled for Simeon. But what if he had ignored the Holy Spirit’s nudge and stayed home that day?

How well do we do at listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying his prompting?

[Discover more about Simeon in Luke 2:25–35.]

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: The Magi

the magi

The story of the magi intersects with King Herod (1). We’ve already covered this from Herod’s point of view. Now we’ll look at it from the magi’s perspective. But first, know that the Bible doesn’t say there are three of them, only that they give three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The magi, aka wise men, travel from the East searching for a baby born to be king of the Jews. They’ve come to worship him. 

They make their journey, based on a new star they spot in the sky, following it west until they reach Jerusalem. They assume he’ll be born to Herod in the palace. After all, this baby will be king.

This is news to Herod—bad news. A baby who could one day become king threatens Herod’s rule. He must squash this danger, but he doesn’t let the magi know his plans.

He pretends he wants to worship the baby king too. He feigns interest and requests they report their findings back to him. Then, based on a tip from the religious leaders who know what the Scriptures say about the coming Messiah, Herod sends the magi to Bethlehem.

They continue their journey, using the star to home in on their destination. It stops over Bethlehem where Jesus and his parents are. The magi enter the place and bow down to Jesus in reverent worship. Then they give him the gifts they brought, gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Having finished their mission, they’re ready to return home, but an angel warns them in a dream to not report their findings to Herod. So they sneak out of town and take a different route home. They’re long gone—and so are Mary, Joseph, and Jesus—before Herod realizes he was duped.

God sent the magi a message in a dream and they obeyed, thereby saving Jesus.

Does God ever communicate to us in dreams? How do we react when he does?

[Discover more about the magi in Matthew 2:1–16.]

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: King Herod

King Herod

After the birth of Jesus, King Herod’s in a tizzy. Here’s why.

Visitors from the Far East, magi, have shown up unannounced. They’re searching for a new king who has been born, the king of the Jews. They’ve seen his star in the sky and have come to worship him.

This is news to Herod. 

He knows nothing about a star or a baby who will be king. He is the king. 

This news threatens his reign and his power. He must squash this menace child, lest the baby seize his throne.

Yet Herod plays it cool with the magi. “Go and find the baby,” he says, “and then update me, so I can worship him too.”

Yet the magi don’t report back to Herod. An angel warns them of his deception. By the time Herod realizes this, the magi have already left the country.

Herod is furious.

He intended to kill baby Jesus. But since he doesn’t know which baby Jesus is, he gives orders to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem. Now many babies die instead of just one.

What anguish this causes the families of these babies. Their young sons, innocent and having done nothing wrong, are executed by a power-hungry king who wants to ensure his ongoing rule.

What Herod doesn’t know is that his heinous scheme is too late. Before he gives the order, Joseph already whisked Mary and Jesus away and fled into Egypt. There, they are safe from Herod’s reach.

Herod has immense power and is corrupted by it. To hold onto his reign as king, he slaughters many innocent babies. But God is more powerful than this evil king and thwarts his plan.

We all have a degree of power. Do we use the power we have for good or for evil? Do we help others or serve ourselves?

[Discover more about King Herod in Mathew 2:1–23.]

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.