New Testament: Other Figures
Alexander
Approximately 6 references
The name Alexander appears several times in the New Testament, almost certainly referring to different men. The most vivid is the son of Simon of Cyrene, identified in Mark's Gospel as the father of Alexander and Rufus — names that suggest these men were known to Mark's original readers (Mark 15:21). A second Alexander appears among the Jerusalem authorities who interrogated Peter and John (Acts 4:6). Paul names two others in his letters: one handed over to Satan along with Hymenaeus for rejecting faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:20), and "Alexander the coppersmith," who did Paul great harm at his trial (2 Timothy 4:14).
Key references: 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 4:14, Acts 4:6, Acts 19:33, Mark 15:21
Alphaeus
Approximately 5 references
Alphaeus is named as the father of James (called "James son of Alphaeus" in the apostle lists) and possibly also the father of Levi the tax collector, whom Jesus called from his booth (Mark 2:14). Whether these two sons of Alphaeus are the same man's children is debated; the identical patronym has led some to identify them as brothers, though the apostle lists treat James son of Alphaeus as distinct from James son of Zebedee.
Key references: Acts 1:13, Luke 6:15, Mark 2:14, Mark 3:18, Matthew 10:3
Aristarchus
Approximately 5 references
A Macedonian from Thessalonica and one of Paul's loyal companions. He was swept up in the riot at Ephesus when the crowd seized Paul's travel companions (Acts 19:29), later joined Paul's journey to Rome (Acts 27:2), and is described in Colossians as Paul's "fellow prisoner" — a title suggesting he shared the apostle's captivity (Colossians 4:10).
Key references: Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Acts 27:2, Colossians 4:10, Philemon 1:24
Barabbas
Name meaning: "Son of the father" (Aramaic) Approximately 11 references
Prisoner released by Pilate instead of Jesus at the crowd's demand during the Passover custom. Mark describes him as a man who had committed murder in an insurrection, and John calls him a robber (Mark 15:7, John 18:40). The irony of his name — "son of the father" — released while the true Son of the Father was condemned — has often been noted.
Key references: John 18:40, Luke 23:18, Mark 15:7, Mark 15:11, Mark 15:15, Matthew 27:16, Matthew 27:17, Matthew 27:20, Matthew 27:21, Matthew 27:26
Bernice
Approximately 3 references
Daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II, she appears alongside her brother at Caesarea when Paul makes his defense before Festus (Acts 25:13, Acts 26:30). Ancient sources, including the Jewish historian Josephus, record persistent rumors of an incestuous relationship between Bernice and her brother — a scandal that would have colored how Roman readers heard her name. She later became the mistress of the emperor Titus.
Key references: Acts 25:13, Acts 25:23, Acts 26:30
Claudius
Approximately 3 references
Roman emperor from 41 to 54 AD. He appears in Acts as the emperor whose reign saw a severe famine throughout the empire (Acts 11:28) and who expelled the Jews from Rome — an edict that drove Aquila and Priscilla to Corinth, where they met Paul (Acts 18:2). His full name also appears on the letter sent by the Roman commander Lysias to Felix (Acts 23:26).
Key references: Acts 11:28, Acts 18:2, Acts 23:26
Demas
Approximately 3 references
A co-worker of Paul during his imprisonment, named warmly alongside Luke and others in letters to Colossae and Philemon (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24). His story ends on a somber note: in Paul's final letter, the apostle writes simply that "Demas has deserted me, having loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica" (2 Timothy 4:10). The shift from his earlier warm mentions is notable.
Key references: 2 Timothy 4:10, Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24
Demetrius
Approximately 3 references
Two men bear this name in the New Testament. The first is the silversmith at Ephesus who made shrines to Artemis and led the riot against Paul, fearing that his trade would be ruined if people turned from idols (Acts 19:24). The second is commended in 3 John as a man who has a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself — a brief portrait that stands in sharp contrast to the Ephesian troublemaker (3 John 1:12).
Key references: 3 John 1:12, Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38
Epaphras
Approximately 3 references
A native of Colossae who apparently founded the church there, having learned the gospel from Paul during the Ephesian mission. Paul calls him "our dear fellow servant" and a "faithful minister of Christ" who brought Paul news of the Colossian congregation (Colossians 1:7). He is remembered especially for his prayer life: Paul writes that Epaphras was "always wrestling in prayer" for the Colossians, striving for their maturity and fullness in Christ (Colossians 4:12).
Key references: Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:12, Philemon 1:23
Erastus
Approximately 3 references
Paul mentions Erastus as "the city's director of public works" who sends greetings from Corinth (Romans 16:23) — a surprisingly high civic office for an early Christian. An ancient paving inscription discovered near Corinth reads "Erastus, in return for his aedileship, laid this pavement at his own expense," and many scholars believe this refers to the same man. He is also mentioned as one of Paul's co-workers sent on mission (Acts 19:22).
Key references: 2 Timothy 4:20, Acts 19:22, Romans 16:23
Gaius
Approximately 5 references
A common Roman name shared by several men in the New Testament. Paul baptized a Gaius in Corinth who served as host to Paul and the whole church there (Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14). A Gaius from Macedonia was seized in the Ephesus riot (Acts 19:29), while a Gaius from Derbe accompanied Paul on his final journey (Acts 20:4). The third letter of John is addressed to a beloved Gaius, praised for his hospitality to traveling missionaries (3 John 1:1).
Key references: 1 Corinthians 1:14, 3 John 1:1, Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23
Gallio
Approximately 3 references
Roman proconsul of Achaia before whom Paul was brought on charges of unlawful religious teaching. Gallio dismissed the case, ruling it a matter of Jewish religious dispute rather than Roman law, and drove the accusers from his court (Acts 18:12-17). His refusal to act set an important precedent and may have offered Paul some protection in the region. He was the brother of the philosopher Seneca, and an inscription found at Delphi has helped scholars date Paul's Corinthian ministry to around 51–52 AD.
Key references: Acts 18:12, Acts 18:14, Acts 18:17
Jason
Approximately 5 references
Paul's host in Thessalonica who bore the brunt of the mob's anger when agitators could not find Paul himself. The crowd dragged Jason before the city officials, accused him of harboring men who were "turning the world upside down," and forced him to post bond before he was released (Acts 17:5-9). A Jason — possibly the same man — is mentioned among Paul's kinsmen who send greetings in Romans (Romans 16:21).
Key references: Acts 17:5, Acts 17:6, Acts 17:7, Acts 17:9, Romans 16:21
Justus
Approximately 3 references
Three different men go by this name in the New Testament. Joseph Barsabbas Justus was the other candidate, alongside Matthias, chosen to replace Judas among the Twelve — the one the lot did not fall on (Acts 1:23). Titius Justus was a Gentile God-fearer in Corinth whose house was next door to the synagogue and became Paul's base of operations after the synagogue rejected him (Acts 18:7). Jesus Justus was a Jewish co-worker who sent greetings in Colossians, described as one of Paul's few Jewish companions who was "a comfort to him" (Colossians 4:11).
Key references: Acts 1:23, Acts 18:7, Colossians 4:11
Luke
Approximately 3 references
Though named only three times in the epistles, Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, together the longest single contribution to the NT canon. Paul calls him "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), and his presence in the "we" passages of Acts suggests he traveled with Paul on portions of his missionary journeys. In Paul's final letter, he writes simply: "Only Luke is with me" (2 Timothy 4:11).
Key references: 2 Timothy 4:11, Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24
Stephanas
Approximately 3 references
Paul describes the household of Stephanas as "the firstfruits of Achaia" — among the earliest converts in the region — and notes that he himself baptized them, an exception to his usual practice (1 Corinthians 1:16). He commends Stephanas and his companions warmly when they visit Paul at Ephesus, urging the Corinthian church to submit to such people and to give recognition to those who work and labor for the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:15-17).
Key references: 1 Corinthians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 16:15, 1 Corinthians 16:17
Trophimus
Approximately 3 references
A Gentile Christian from Ephesus who accompanied Paul on his final journey to Jerusalem. His presence at Paul's side caused trouble: Jewish opponents in the city assumed Paul had brought him into the Temple, violating its barrier against Gentiles, and this accusation sparked the riot that ended in Paul's arrest (Acts 21:29). He appears once more in Paul's last letter, left ill at Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20) — a small detail that underscores how much Paul's final journey cost those who traveled with him.
Key references: 2 Timothy 4:20, Acts 20:4, Acts 21:29
Tychicus
Approximately 5 references
One of Paul's regular messengers, described as "a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord" (Colossians 4:7). Paul sent him to deliver the letters to Ephesus and Colossae and to bring those churches news of the apostle's situation (Ephesians 6:21). He is also mentioned as a possible replacement for Titus in Crete and is named among those who accompanied Paul through Asia — a reliable figure who appears consistently at the edges of Paul's correspondence.
Key references: 2 Timothy 4:12, Acts 20:4, Colossians 4:7, Ephesians 6:21, Titus 3:12
Zacchaeus
Approximately 3 references
A chief tax collector in Jericho — wealthy enough that his occupation made him doubly despised — who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd. Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name, announcing he would stay at his house. The crowd grumbled. Zacchaeus stood and pledged to give half his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had defrauded. Jesus declared that salvation had come to that house: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:2-10).
Key references: Luke 19:2, Luke 19:5, Luke 19:8
Zebedee
Name meaning: "Gift of God" Approximately 12 references
Father of the apostles James and John. A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee whose sons left him in the boat to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:21-22). His wife — traditionally identified as Salome — later came to Jesus asking that her sons be seated at his right and left in his kingdom, a request that prompted Jesus to speak about suffering as the path to greatness (Matthew 20:20-21).
Key references: John 21:2, Luke 5:10, Mark 1:19, Mark 1:20, Mark 3:17, Mark 10:35, Matthew 4:21, Matthew 10:2, Matthew 20:20, Matthew 26:37 (and 1 more)
20 entries. Reference counts are approximate, based on morphological analysis of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (Hebrew) and Open Greek New Testament.