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PEOPLE OF ACTS
© Carlos
Padilla, March 2018
We all remember those people who have been relevant to the world with their
messages, like Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous “I have a dream” from the
stairs of the monument to President Lincoln in Washington DC on the 28th
of August of 1963. The place was not by chance, for one century earlier, on the
19th of November 1863, Lincoln himself would give his famous speech
of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania), a speech that could be defined as for the end of
independence war, in memory of those fallen and as a call to what, since then
would be called the United States of America, and leaving a famous sentence that
became foundation of the present democracy “government of the people, by the
people, and for the people” because this nation, Lincoln was saying, is based in
the principle that all men are created equal. The Courts of Cadiz, in 1812
followed the example of Lincoln, initiating in Spain the first separation of
powers that the next king derogated. The connection between Lincoln and King is
evident regarding human rights, but they were also connected as men who served
God based on the Bible.
Also the apostle Paul starred a message after he was at the agora, in the
Areopagus of Athens before the year 63 and his message about the “unknown God”
to whom the Athenians had crafted a statue to avoid having any god without
worship, and whom Paul wisely connected with Jesus Christ, Creator of the
universe (John 1:3 – Colossians 1:17), and Sustainer of all things, who did not
need any image because is everywhere. Apart from the Athenians, a multitude of
people who are the main characters of the story of the book of Acts of the
Apostles were receivers of a message that has changed history for ever, which
was for all the people, no matter their social status, race or cultural origin:
that Jesus Christ – Yahshua, came to the world and became a man to save us from
condemnation and from hell, giving His life on a cross as the “Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world” raising and defeating death, so that those who
are called through faith in His name and in His work, have access to the eternal
Kingdom of God, where there is justice, healing, happiness and eternal love by
His side, after resurrection. Yahshua, the great Master of preaching, before,
had preached His famous “Beatitudes” of Sermon Mount. Yahshua fulfils all the
expectations about the dream of King, of the Justice of Lincoln and of the
Gospel preached by Paul.
We today, are also people that can receive the Gospel though faith as God’s
Salvation to go to the new world of the eternal Kingdom, and preach that
message, make justice and love our neighbour. But when we read the book of Acts
of the Apostles, it is not easy to be aware of the amount of different people,
of different social status, of government, politicians, of power, religious, or
ordinary people who were impacted by the Great Commission of the Message of
messages that the Apostles carried to many strategic nations and cities, from
Jerusalem to Damascus, to Alexandria, to Athens and to Rome, that would take the
Words of the Lord Jesus Christ – Yahshua, to the world. In this compilation of
names of all the people that appear in the book of Acts of the Apostles, each
person is mentioned only the first time it appears in the book. Also once Jesus,
and with Him we include the Persons of God the Father and the Holy Spirit. On
the other hand, and due to the fact that they are relevant, it includes other
real people who are called by their title or description, such as Pharaoh,
Cesar, the jailer, the healed, or the Ethiopian. I have omitted pagan gods, who
are imaginary beings and therefore not real people or characters of this story.
PEOPLE OF ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Chapter 1
Theophilus, “loved by God”, receiver of the book of Acts and of the “first
treaty”, the Gospel of Luke, in which Luke called him “excellent”. 1:1. Jesus,
Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ – Yahshua, the promised Messiah, our Lord and
main character of the story that Luke is telling Theophilus; what He did and
taught until He was received above, after His death expiatory of sin and His
resurrection, and having given commandments to the Apostles through the Holy
Spirit, for the Kingdom of God. 1:1. John, the Baptist, who preceded and
announced the coming of the Messiah, and who baptises with water, as the
anteroom of the promise. 1:5. Peter, “Simon” apostle to the Jews and first
leader of the Church who guided in prayer to choose the substitute of Judas
Iscariot, and explained to the people the event of Pentecost. Author of the two
epistles under his name. One of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Jacob, son of Zebedee
and brother of John apostle, killed with a sward by Herod Agrippa I and first
apostle martyr of the Church 12:2. One of the eleven apostles. 1:13. John,
apostle with ten others in the Upper Room, pillar of the Church and colleague of
Peter when starting the Great Commission. Author of the Gospel under his name,
the three epistles and Revelation. One of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Andrew, the
brother of Peter apostle, to whom he said he had found the Messiah (John 1:41)
and one of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Philip, who asked the Lord to show him the
Father (John 14:8-12). One of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Thomas, “Didymus” the
unbeliever who asked the Lord to put his hand in the wounds, but when He saw Him
raised clamed “My Lord, My God” (John 20:27) and bowed before Him. One of the
eleven apostles. 1:13. Bartholomew, one of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Mathew,
Levi, tax collector, author of the first of the four Gospels, at whose house a
banquet was celebrated with publicans, in which before the indignation of the
Pharisees, Jesus said “I have not come to call just, but sinners to repent (Lu.
5:29-32). One of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Jacob, son of Alphaeus, one of the
eleven apostles. 1:13. Simon the Zealot, one of the eleven apostles. 1:13.
Judas, brother of Jacob, one of the eleven apostles. 1:13. Mary, the mother of
Jesus, our Lord. 1:14. David, famous king of Israel, son of Jesse, man under the
heard of God, prophet about the resurrection of Christ, 1:16. Judas Iscariot,
deceiver of Jesus; would be replaced by Matthias. 1:16. Joseph, Barsaba, “just”
with Matthias, a candidate to take the place of Judas Iscariot. 1:23. Matthias,
who took the place of Judas Iscariot. 1:26.
Chapter 2
Joel, prophet who foretells the day of Pentecost. 2:16.
Chapter 3
The lame man healed by Peter. 3:2. Abraham, father of the faith. 3:13. Isaac,
patriarch, son of Abraham. 3:13. Jacob, patriarch, son of Isaac, and grandson of
Abraham. 3:13. Pilate, Pontius, governor of Judea, who judged Jesus. 3:13.
Moses, prophet and receiver of God’s Law. 3:22.
Chapter 4
Annas, high Priest. 4:6. Caiaphas, son in law of Annas and Jewish dignitary,
elder or scribe. 4:6. John, Jewish dignitary, elder or scribe. Family to some of
the high priests. 4:6. Alexander, Jewish dignitary, elder or scribe. Family to
some of the high priests. 4:6. Joseph “Barnabas” (Son of Encouragement), Levite,
of the country of Cyprus who sold his inheritance and brought the price to the
feet of the apostles. The man with the greatest heart in the Church. 4:36.
Chapter 5
Ananias, died with his wife Sapphira, for lying to the Holy Spirit. 5:1.
Sapphira, wife of Ananias, died with his husband for lying to the Holy Spirit.
5:1. Satan, the deceiver. 5:3. Solomon, king of Israel who built the Jewish
Temple. 5:12. Gamaliel, intercessor in favour of the work of God, teacher of the
Law and wise man venerated by all the people of the Jews and teacher of Saul or
Tarsus; Paul. 5:34. Theudas, false leader of the Jewish people. 5:36. Judas the
Galilean, as well as Theudas, false leader of the Jewish people. 5:37.
Chapter 6
Stephen, first martyr of the Church, man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
elected within the 7 deacons. 6:5. Philip, the evangelist, one of the seven
chosen with Stephen to serve the widows. 6:5. Prochorus, one of the seven chosen
with Stephen to serve the widows. 6:5. Nicanor, one of the seven chosen with
Stephen to serve the widows. 6:5. Timor, one of the seven chosen with Stephen to
serve the widows. 6:5. Parmenas, one of the seven chosen with Stephen to serve
the widows. 6:5.and Nicolas a proselyte from Antioch chosen with Stephen to
serve the widows. 6:5.
Chapter 7
Joseph, with whom God was with. Leader of Israel and governor of Egypt, son of
Jacob, one of the 12 sons. 7:9. Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 7:10. Hamor of Shechem,
from whom Abraham bought the tomb for Sarah. 7:16. The daughter of Pharaoh, the
one that brought up Moses as if he was his son and avoided his death. 7:22.
Midian, son of Abraham, in whose land Moses lived. 7:29. Aaron, brother of
Moses, to whom the people asked to craft gods: the golden calf. 7:40. Joshua,
successor of Moses and who took possession of the land of the gentiles. 7:45.
Saul, of Tarsus, who began as a persecutor of the Church, but called by
Jesus-Yahshua to become the great apostle Paul, the apostle to the gentiles.
7:58.
Chapter 8
Simon, the magician who wanted to buy the gift of the Spirit. 8:9. The
Ethiopian, eunuch, of great authority under Candace, who was over all her
treasures, who confessed that Jesus Christ was the son of God. 8:27. Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians. 8:27. Isaiah, prophet of the O.T. who prophesises about
the suffering Messiah. 8:28.
Chapter 9
Ananias, disciple from Damascus who returned the site to Saul and baptised him.
9:10. Aeneas, bedridden from Lydda, healed by Peter in the name of Jesus Christ,
after eight years paralyzed who arose immediately. 9:33. Tabitha, Dorcas, from
Joppa, who abounded in good deeds and in charity, raised by Peter. 9:36. Simon,
tanner from Joppa with whom Peter had stayed. 9:43.
Chapter 10
Cornelius of Caesarea, centurion of the called Italian Regiment, first gentile
converted. 10:1.
Chapter 11
Agabus, prophesised from Antioch, hanger on all the inhabited land. 11:28.
Claudius, roman emperor who through all the Jews from Rome. 11:28 –Priscilla and
Aquila to Corinth- and in whose time the prophesised hunger by Agabus came.
11:28.
Chapter 12
Herod Agrippa I, king who killed Jacob brother of John with a sword and caught
Peter. 12:1. Mary, mother of John Mark, in whose house Christians gathered.
12:12. Rhoda, yang Christian who comes to the door when Peter calls, set free
from prison. 12:13. Jacob “James”, the brother of the Lord and leader of the
first Church of Jerusalem, who ruled first Council of Jerusalem. 12:17. Blastus,
the king´s chamberlain that counselled against him. 12:20. Mark “John”,
Evangelist, companion of Barnabas who departed of them in Pamphili, whom Paul
did not want to take, and for whose cause he separated from Barnabas. 12:25.
Chapter 13
Simon “Black”, prophet and teacher of the Church of Antioch. 13:1. Lucius
Cyreneus, prophet and teacher of the Church of Antioch. 13:1. Manaen (foster
brother of Herod tetrarch): prophet and teacher of the Church of Antioch. 13:1.
Barjesus or Elymas, false Jewish prophet. 13:6. Sergius Paulus, roman proconsul,
prudent man who wanted to hear the Word. 13:7. Samuel, prominent prophet of
Israel who ruled after the judges. 13:20. Saul son of Cis, king of Israel, man
of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 13:21.
Chapter 14
The sick in the feet from Lystra, that Paul healed because he had faith. 14:8.
Chapter 15
Judas, Barnabas, prophet sent to the apostles after the first Council of
Jerusalem to confirm the letter and words of Paul and Barnabas to the churches.
15:23. Silas, prophet sent to the apostles after the first Council of Jerusalem
to confirm the letter and words of Paul and Barnabas to the churches. 15:23. And
companion of Paul in his second missionary journeys. 15:40.
Chapter 16
Timothy, disciple, son of Jewish mother who believed, but of Greek father,
companion of Paul and Silas. 16:1. Lydia, a woman seller of purple from
Thyatira, who worshiped God, who believed and was baptised with those of her
house, and hosted Paul and his companions. 16:14. The slave girl with spirit of
divination, from whom Paul exorcised that spirit in the name of Yahshua – Jesus
Christ. 16:16. The jailer of Philippos, who trembling came to the feet of Paul
and Silas when the prison was opened after an earthquake, hosted them, washed
their stripes and was baptised with his household. 16:23.
Chapter 17
Jason, owner of the house where the apostles lived in Thessalonica. 17:5.
Caesar, emperor whose decrees were not kept saying there is another king- Jesus.
17:7. Damaris, woman who believed in Christ by the preaching of Paul in the
Areopagus. 17:34. Dionysius, the Areopagite who believed in Christ by the
preaching of Paul in the Areopagus. 17:34.
Chapter 18
Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, recently arrived from Italy, whose profession was
tent maker, like Paul. 18:2. Priscilla, wife of Aquila, who shaved her head
under bow. 18:2. Crispus, the ruler of the Synagogue, believed in the Lord with
his household. 18:8. Gallio, proconsul of Achaia who refused to accept the
accusation of the Jews against Paul because they were religious matters between
them, driving them out of the judgment seat. 18:12-16. Sosthenes, the ruler of
the Synagogue, to whom all the Greek, took and beat before the judgment seat.
18:17. Apollos, a Jew born at Alexandria, who preached in Ephesus, eloquent man,
mighty in the Scriptures but who only knew the baptism of John. 18:24.
Chapter 19
Tyrannus, one who had a school. 19:9. Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who had
seven sons itinerant exorcists who used the name of Jesus, the one who Paul
preached, trying to cast evil spirits. 19:14. Erastus, helper of Paul together
with Timothy. 19:22. Demetrius, silversmith of shrines of Diana. 19:24. Gaius,
Macedonian, companion of Paul. 19:20. Aristarchus, Macedonian, companion of
Paul. 19:29. Alexander, a Jew taken out of the multitude, put forward by the
Jews, who wanted to make his defence before the people. 19:33.
Chapter 20
Sopater of Berea, disciple companion of Paul and Timothy. 20:4. Aristarchus,
disciple companion of Paul and Timothy. 20:4. Secundus of Thessalonica, disciple
companion of Paul and Timothy. 20:4. Gaius of Derbe, disciple companion of Paul
and Timothy. 20:4. Tychicus of Asia, disciple companion of Paul and Timothy.
20:4. Trophimus of Asia, disciple companion of Paul and Timothy. 20:4. Eutychus,
the young man sat on the window who died when he fell from the third floor
asleep, due to the long desertion of Paul, and raised by Paul. 20:9.
Chapter 21
Agabus, prophet of Jerusalem, who prophesised to Paul about his tribulations in
Jerusalem. 21:10. Mnason, of Cyprus, old disciple, with whom they would be
hosted. 21:16. Trophimus, of Ephesus, whom they thought Paul had introduced in
the Temple. 21:29.
Chapter 22
The tribune commander Claudius Lysias, who sent Paul to Felix, 23:26, who
ordered to take Paul into the barracks examined with scourging, not knowing he
was a Roman citizen, questioning Paul, why he was. 22:24. The centurion to whom
Paul asks if it was lawful for them to scourge a Roman citizen without previous
judgment, warning the tribune. 22:26.
Chapter 23
Ananias, the high priest who ordered those next to Paul to hit him in the mouth.
23:2. The son of Paul´s sister, who informed him of the plot against him to kill
him. 23:16. Felix, the governor. 23:24.
Chapter 24
Tertullus, certain speaker who went to accuse Paul before the Jews, 24:1.
Drusilla, wife of Felix, Jewish woman who listened to Paul about the faith in
Jesus Christ. 24:24. Porcius Festus, successor to Felix as governor. 24:27.
Chapter 25
Agrippa II, king before whom Paul makes his defence and whom he almost convinces
into the faith. 25:13. Bernice, Jewish princess, sister and mate to Agrippa II.
25:13. Augustus, Caesar, Nero. 25:21.
Chapter 27
Julius, centurion of the August company to whom Paul was delivered to be taken
to Rome. 27:1. Aristarchus, Macedonian of Thessalonica who voluntarily shared
with Paul is captivity. 27:2.
Chapter 28
Publius, principal man of the island of Malta, hosted Paul and the shipwreck
survivors, whose father was sick in bed and was healed by Paul. 28:7. The
captain to whom Julius delivered Paul and the prisoners. 28:16. The soldier who
guarded Paul so he could dwell by himself. 28:16.
CONCLUSION
Only the preaching of the apostle Peter after the Day of Pentecost reached so
many nations that we could say that the impact was greater than the one of those
speeches done today by the representatives of the, near 200 nations, members of
United Nations. In Jerusalem, about three thousand people received Christ
through the words of Peter (Acts 3:41). Peter, the apostles, the fathers of the
Church where good pupils of the Master of masters, taking the Word of God to all
nations, like nowadays many missionaries to the most hidden places of
civilization, translating the Bible to forgotten tongs, so that not one soul who
is called by God is lost. They have all been people of acts who have impacted
many, starting with the people of Acts. The question that remains with ourselves
is, if we are heirs of the faith that the first messengers spread, if we are
also, whether by inheritance or by reading the Bible, people of Acts: Are we
also people of acts that carry the Word of God every day to those around us?
Yahshua – Jesus Christ lives!. HalleluYah! Maranatha! Amen!
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