New Testament: Disciples & Companions

Ananias

Name meaning: "YHWH is gracious"
Approximately 11 references

Multiple NT figures: (1) Ananias of Damascus — disciple who baptized Saul/Paul after receiving a vision (Acts 9:10-18). (2) Ananias the high priest — presided at Paul's trial (Acts 23:2). (3) Ananias husband of Sapphira — struck dead for lying about the price of his property (Acts 5:1-6).

Key references: Acts 5:1, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:5, Acts 9:10, Acts 9:12, Acts 9:13, Acts 9:17, Acts 22:12, Acts 23:2, Acts 24:1

Apollos

Name meaning: Short form of Apollonius
Approximately 10 references

An eloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria, "mighty in the Scriptures" (Acts 18:24), Apollos came to Ephesus where Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and instructed him more accurately in the faith. He became an influential teacher in Corinth, where some believers aligned themselves with him over against Paul — factions Paul addressed directly (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-6). Paul regarded him as a fellow worker, not a rival.

Key references: 1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 3:4, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 3:22, 1 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 16:12, Acts 18:24, Acts 19:1, Titus 3:13

Aquila

Name meaning: "Eagle" (Latin)
Approximately 6 references

Jewish tentmaker from Pontus, husband of Priscilla (Prisca). Expelled from Rome under Claudius, they settled in Corinth where they met Paul and worked alongside him (Acts 18:2-3). Together with Priscilla, Aquila helped instruct Apollos more accurately in the faith and hosted a house church in their home. Paul called them fellow workers who "risked their necks" for him (Romans 16:3-4).

Key references: 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19, Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:3

Joseph (NT)

Name meaning: "May he add"
Approximately 35 references

Multiple NT figures share this name: (1) Joseph the husband of Mary — a righteous man from David's line, Jesus' legal father, who received angelic warnings in dreams (Matthew 1–2, Luke 2). (2) Joseph of Arimathea — a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin who provided his own tomb for Jesus' burial (Matthew 27:57-60). (3) Joseph Barsabbas — nominated to replace Judas among the twelve (Acts 1:23). The reference count covers all NT occurrences; the OT patriarch Joseph appears separately under the patriarchs.

Key references: Acts 1:23, Acts 4:36, Acts 7:9, Acts 7:13, Acts 7:14, Acts 7:18, Hebrews 11:21, Hebrews 11:22, John 1:45, John 4:5 (and 24 more)

Joses

Name meaning: Variant of Joseph
Approximately 3 references

Name borne by at least two NT figures: (1) Joses, a brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3). (2) Joses, the son of Mary (not Jesus' mother) who witnessed the crucifixion and burial (Mark 15:40, 47). Some scholars identify these as the same person.

Key references: Mark 6:3, Mark 15:40, Mark 15:47

Judas

Also known as: Judah, Jude
Name meaning: "Praised"
Approximately 41 references

Multiple NT figures: (1) Judas Iscariot — the apostle who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and hanged himself. (2) Judas son of James (also called Thaddaeus) — one of the twelve. (3) Judas the brother of Jesus — traditionally the author of the Epistle of Jude. (4) Judas of Galilee — a rebel mentioned in Acts 5:37. (5) Judas Barsabbas — a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22). The reference count includes all.

Key references: Acts 1:13, Acts 1:16, Acts 1:25, Acts 5:37, Acts 9:11, Acts 15:22, Acts 15:27, Acts 15:32, Hebrews 7:14, Hebrews 8:8 (and 30 more)

Lazarus

Name meaning: Greek form of Eleazar ("God has helped")
Approximately 15 references

Two NT figures: (1) Lazarus of Bethany — brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days (John 11). This miracle was a pivotal event leading to Jesus' arrest. (2) Lazarus the beggar — character in Jesus' parable about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), illustrating the reversal of fortunes in the afterlife.

Key references: John 11:1, John 11:2, John 11:5, John 11:11, John 11:14, John 11:43, John 12:1, John 12:2, John 12:9, John 12:10 (and 5 more)

Levi

Name meaning: "Joined" or "attached"
Approximately 8 references

Multiple figures share this name: (1) Levi the patriarch — third son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of Israel's priestly tribe. (2) Levi the tax collector — called by Jesus to follow him (Mark 2:14), generally identified with Matthew. Both Matthean and Lukan genealogies also include ancestors named Levi.

Key references: Hebrews 7:5, Hebrews 7:9, Luke 3:24, Luke 3:29, Luke 5:27, Luke 5:29, Mark 2:14, Revelation 7:7

Mark

Also known as: John Mark
Name meaning: "Polite" or "shining" (Latin)
Approximately 8 references

Cousin of Barnabas and companion of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, from which he departed early (Acts 13:13), causing a rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). Later reconciled with Paul, who called him "useful to me for ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). Traditionally the author of the Gospel of Mark, based on Peter's testimony.

Key references: 1 Peter 5:13, 2 Timothy 4:11, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37, Acts 15:39, Colossians 4:10, Philemon 1:24

Onesimus

Name meaning: "Useful" (Greek)
Approximately 2 references

Runaway slave belonging to Philemon, who encountered Paul in prison and became a Christian. Paul's letter to Philemon appeals for Onesimus to be received back "no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother" (Philemon 1:16). Paul plays on his name, saying he was "formerly useless but now useful."

Key references: Colossians 4:9, Philemon 1:10

Philip

Name meaning: "Horse-lover" (Greek)
Approximately 36 references

Multiple NT figures: (1) Philip the Apostle — from Bethsaida, brought Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-46). (2) Philip the Evangelist — one of the Seven (Acts 6), who preached in Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8). (3) Philip the Tetrarch — son of Herod the Great. The reference count includes all.

Key references: Acts 1:13, Acts 6:5, Acts 8:5, Acts 8:6, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:13, Acts 8:26, Acts 8:29, Acts 8:30, Acts 8:31 (and 25 more)

Silas

Also known as: Silvanus
Name meaning: "Forest" (Latin) or "asked" (Aramaic)
Approximately 16 references

Leader in the Jerusalem church, prophet, and Paul's companion on the second missionary journey. Imprisoned with Paul at Philippi, where an earthquake opened the prison doors (Acts 16:25-34). Co-author of 1–2 Thessalonians. Also called Silvanus, possibly the same Silvanus who helped Peter write 1 Peter (1 Peter 5:12).

Key references: Acts 15:22, Acts 15:27, Acts 15:32, Acts 15:40, Acts 16:19, Acts 16:25, Acts 16:29, Acts 17:4, Acts 17:10, Acts 17:14 (and 6 more)

Simeon

Name meaning: "Hearing"
Approximately 7 references

Multiple figures share this name: (1) Simeon in the Temple — a devout man in Jerusalem to whom God had promised he would not die before seeing the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple, Simeon took the child in his arms, blessed the family, and proclaimed the Nunc Dimittis: "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace" (Luke 2:25-35). (2) Simeon called Niger — a prophet and teacher in the Antioch church (Acts 13:1). (3) The patriarch Simeon, son of Jacob.

Key references: 2 Peter 1:1, Acts 13:1, Acts 15:14, Luke 2:25, Luke 2:34, Luke 3:30, Revelation 7:7

Simon

Name meaning: "Hearing" or "he has heard"
Approximately 75 references

Several NT figures bear this name: Simon Peter (the apostle), Simon the Zealot (another apostle), Simon of Cyrene (who carried Jesus' cross), Simon the leper (who hosted Jesus), Simon the Pharisee (at whose house Jesus was anointed), Simon the tanner (who hosted Peter in Joppa), and Simon Magus (the sorcerer in Acts 8). The reference count includes all of them.

Key references: Acts 1:13, Acts 8:9, Acts 8:13, Acts 8:18, Acts 8:24, Acts 9:43, Acts 10:5, Acts 10:6, Acts 10:17, Acts 10:18 (and 59 more)

Theophilus

Name meaning: "Friend of God" or "loved by God" (Greek)
Approximately 2 references

The addressee of both Luke's Gospel and Acts (Luke 1:3, Acts 1:1). Luke's honorific "most excellent Theophilus" suggests a Roman official or patron of some standing. Some have proposed the name is symbolic — a literary address to any "lover of God" — but most scholars take Theophilus as a historical person.

Key references: Acts 1:1, Luke 1:3

Timothy

Name meaning: "Honoring God" (Greek)
Approximately 24 references

Paul's trusted young colleague, from Lystra, with a Jewish mother (Eunice) and Greek father. Circumcised by Paul for the sake of ministry to Jews. Co-author of several epistles. Recipient of 1–2 Timothy, where Paul addresses church leadership and encourages him not to let anyone look down on his youth (1 Timothy 4:12).

Key references: 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:18, 1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:19 (and 14 more)

Titus

Name meaning: Latin name
Approximately 13 references

Gentile Christian and trusted companion of Paul. Accompanied Paul to the Jerusalem Council as a test case for Gentile freedom from circumcision (Galatians 2:1-3). Sent to Corinth to resolve problems and collect the offering. Left in Crete to "set in order what remains and appoint elders" (Titus 1:5). Recipient of the Epistle to Titus.

Key references: 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Corinthians 7:13, 2 Corinthians 7:14, 2 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 8:16, 2 Corinthians 8:23, 2 Corinthians 12:18, 2 Timothy 4:10, Galatians 2:1 (and 2 more)

17 entries. Reference counts are approximate, based on morphological analysis of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (Hebrew) and Open Greek New Testament.