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People of the Bible.
Key figures from Genesis to Acts, in the order of the story. Every fact on these pages comes with the passage it rests on.
Creation and the early world · Before recorded history
- AdamThe first man, formed from the dust of the ground and placed in the garden of Eden.
- EveThe first woman, made from Adam’s side; Adam named her Eve, “because she would be the mother of all the living.”
- NoahA righteous man who built the ark at God’s command and was preserved with his family through the flood.
The patriarchs · c. 2000–1700 BC
- AbrahamAlso: AbramCalled by God to leave his country for a land he would be shown; God promised that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed.
- SarahAlso: SaraiAbraham’s wife, who laughed at the promise of a son in her old age and then bore Isaac.
- IsaacThe son promised to Abraham and Sarah, father of Jacob and Esau.
- JacobAlso: IsraelSon of Isaac, renamed Israel; his twelve sons became the twelve tribes.
- Joseph (son of Jacob)Jacob’s son, sold into slavery by his brothers, who rose to rule in Egypt and preserved his family through famine.
Exodus and wilderness · c. 1450 or c. 1270 BC
The judges · c. 1350–1050 BC
The united kingdom · c. 1050–930 BC
- Saul (king)The first king of Israel, anointed by Samuel and later rejected for disobedience.
- DavidThe shepherd from Bethlehem who became king of Israel, made Jerusalem his capital, and is named as the author of many psalms.
- SolomonDavid’s son and successor, who asked God for wisdom and built the temple in Jerusalem.
The divided kingdom · c. 930–586 BC
Exile in Babylon · 586–539 BC
Return and rebuilding · 539–c. 430 BC
The life of Jesus · c. 5 BC – AD 30/33
- Mary (mother of Jesus)The young woman of Nazareth to whom the angel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus.
- Joseph (husband of Mary)A carpenter of Nazareth, descended from David, betrothed to Mary.
- John the BaptistThe prophet who preached repentance in the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the Jordan.
- JesusAlso: Jesus Christ, Jesus of NazarethBorn in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth; the four Gospels record his teaching, miracles, death and resurrection.
- PeterAlso: Simon Peter, CephasA Galilean fisherman called by Jesus, who became a leading apostle of the early church in Jerusalem.
- John (the apostle)A fisherman, son of Zebedee, called with his brother James to follow Jesus.