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General
General
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [Nathaniel]
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [Simon and Andrew]
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. [Thaddeus and Little James]
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. [John and Big James]
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. [Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. [Thomas and Ramah]
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. [Philip and Zee]
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [John the Baptizer]
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. [Matthew]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
— Jesus reciting the Beatitudes in "Beyond Mountains"
- Adaptation Expansion: Several disciples whose pasts are not elaborated on in Scripture get more focus here, with newly expanded backstories and personal interactions with Jesus and each other.
- Adaptational Comic Relief: While nothing in the source material explicitly says Jesus and company never cracked jokes, there's no record of them quipping or trying to make someone laugh, and there's only a handful of humorous moments at best (such as the disciples not getting what Jesus is talking about). Here, just about everyone snarks, banters with each other, and has funny scenes.
- Jesus in particular—often treated with utmost respect and reverence in adaptations—is the butt of a joke in Season Three when he tries to play a game while visiting Nazareth and fails miserably.
- Let's Split Up, Gang!: Temporarily separates into six companionships of two in Season 3, as determined by Jesus: Peter with Judas, John with Thaddeus, Big James with Little James, Andrew with Philip, Nathaniel with Thomas, and Matthew with Simon.
- Limited Wardrobe: Most have one outfit they tend to wear almost all the time. The most notable are Jesus' long-sleeved white shirt, Thomas' red jacket, and Nathaniel's yellow top.
- Nice Guy: A given with Jesus, and though the disciples aren't without their flaws (and some, like Simon and Nathaniel, can be rude or petty), they are good at heart. They all sacrifice home, comfort, and safety for their ministry, and frequently apologize for their mistakes and try to correct them.
- Sibling Team: Two sibling teams. Simon and Andrew; John and Big James.
- Touched by Vorlons: The twelve get authority from Jesus in Season Three to heal and cast out devils, and are just as astounded when the miracles happen as the people they're helping.
- Working-Class Hero: Every single one of them is from a modest background and worked for their living, though Matthew and Nathaniel were a bit more well-off than the others initially.
- World of Snark: Almost everyone quips at some point or another.
Jesus and the Apostles
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth
Click here to see Jesus as a child*
Portrayed by: Jonathan Roumie, Shayan Fazli and Darren Valinotti (young)
A Nazarene craftsman turned traveling preacher. He is also the Son of God and the prophesied Messiah to Israel, and he begins to develop quite a following.
- All-Loving Hero: Naturally. Treats Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, and priests and prostitutes with equal love and respect. This gets him into trouble with the Pharisees, but he's even willing to give them a chance, too.
- As the Good Book Says...: Unsurprisingly knows the Jewish scriptures front-to-back and frequently quotes them, often to set up or contrast with His teachings.
- Benevolent Boss: He's the leader of his ministry and has tons of followers and supporters, but he also treats his disciples very well, as he more than willing to listen to their suggestions and complaints and sympathize with any struggles and issues they may have, while also inspiring them and giving them hope. Though this doesn't mean he's afraid to chastise them or call them out on their sins when the time calls for it.
- Big Good: The Son of God, who brings important messages from His Father, and eventual Savior of mankind.
- Curbstomp Battle: Nicodemus fails to cast out Mary Magdalene's devils and Zee is overpowered by a possessed man in a fight, but Jesus effortlessly casts out the spirits in both cases.
- Deadpan Snarker: Shows a dry wit when necessary.
Pharisee: If that man was meant to be healed, God would have done it Himself!
Jesus: That’s an interesting point.
- Friend to All Children: He's great with kids and they adore him in turn. In the appropriately-named episode "Jesus Loves the Little Children", he spends a lot of time tutoring some children from a nearby village, while foreshadowing some of what he will later teach adults. He also lets them help with his carpentry project.
- Godly Sidestep: At one point Simon Peter asks Jesus if He knows everything that is going to happen before it does, and Jesus just says that's a conversation for another time.
- Handy Man: As a carpenter, this is kind of a prerequisite. In Season Two He goes missing for a good part of the day, causing the disciples to scramble trying to find Him... only for it to be revealed He was helping fix a man's cart all along.
- Heroic BSoD: Has one in season 4 when he sees Zebedee and friends making olive oil together, with the process reminding him of his upcoming death. Fortunately, Gaius comes to comfort him about it.
- Hope Bringer: Many of His followers were going through some sort of personal crisis before Jesus met them, and afterward they find renewed strength to carry on. People flock to Him in droves in hopes of getting healed.
- Jesus Was Way Cool: One day he's driving out demons; the next, he's having a good time at a wedding. He also shows a dry sense of humor and is a Friend to All Children.
- Magnetic Hero: Attracts a number of disciples during his travels. The series even explores the negatives of this, since all that attention (even if well-meaning) can cause problems; the episode "Matthew 4:24" shows so many sick people have come to see Jesus that He can only collapse into bed exhausted after healing them.
- Meaningful Look: Jesus knows what will happen to Him, though since He rarely tells specifics to others, His awareness is usually shown through significant looks, such as gazing at crucifixion victims outside of Jerusalem or the way He studies Judas during their first conversation.
- Momma's Boy: To a degree. He is shown to be quite close to his mother even as an adult.
- Nerves of Steel: Jesus manages to remain calm whenever He is threatened, insulted, or argued with, neither becoming afraid nor losing His temper. The biggest example thus far is Season 3, when the people of Nazarath try to execute Him by throwing him off a cliff and Jesus gets them to stand down by cooly telling them that this isn't how He will die.
- Never Accepted in His Hometown: As the Trope Namer, this happens when Jesus returns to Nazareth in Season 3 and declares Himself, with disastrous results. He is fully aware ahead of time that it's going to happen, too.
- Nice to the Waiter: As part of His All-Loving Hero nature, Jesus is polite and welcoming to people of all social standings, seems to know most everyone's name no matter how unimportant they are, and is careful to always thank people for whatever help they give Him or others.
- Omniglot: When Jesus meets Tamar, He demonstrates He can speak Egyptian fluently due to growing up there. Later, while getting arrested by Gaius, Jesus shows He can speak Latin as well. Considering who He is, He probably knows more than those.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Isn't afraid of giving these to those that need them, such as the Pharisees.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: To the Disciples. He calls Big James and John out on their racism and egos, then immediately forgives them when they are contrite and apologize. He also forgives Mary Magdalene when she goes astray, and is very gentle with Simon Peter when he's a brat.
- Shipper on Deck: One for Thomas and Ramah. In season 3, when Jesus sent each of the twelve apostles around Israel in groups of two, Thomas is sent to the region where Ramah's father lives specifically because Jesus knew that Thomas wanted to ask for Ramah's hand in marriage.
- Super-Empowering: Gives the twelve apostles the power to work miracles in Season Three.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Dishes these out on a regular basis to the depressed and doubting, even to apostles such as Little James.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter
Portrayed by: Shahar Isaac
A former fisherman and the brother of Andrew, who along with him becomes one of the first disciples of Jesus.
- Crazy Cultural Comparison: Spends some time with Gaius in Season 3 working on a broken cistern. The two marvel at the oddities of the others' culture.
- Crisis of Faith: He goes through one in the latter half of Season Three, wondering why Jesus didn't heal Eden so she wouldn't lose her baby. It gets resolved by the season finale, though there will be more moments of weakness to come.
- Deadpan Snarker: He's quite witty.
Andrew: (confused) Your face... you happy?
Simon: No, I'm handsome, I just happen to be wearing a happy face.
"Forgive me for not jumping out of my sandals because Creepy John pointed at a man!"
- Deuteragonist: After Jesus, he is the second-most important character of the story, and since Jesus is the Son of God, Peter's the person getting the most Character Development. Season 3 especially focuses on him overcoming (the first of) his doubts toward Jesus.
- Dislikes the New Guy: Initially does not get along with Matthew, who he remembers from the latter's previous line of work.
- Dramatic Irony: In season 1, he states to Jesus that he will follow him to the ends of the earth and that is fighting days are over. Those who read the gospels (or just knows the broad strokes by cultural osmosis) will know that later on, he denies the fact that he knows Jesus three times and cuts a servant’s ear off while Jesus is arrested at the garden of Gethsemane.
- Establishing Character Moment: Cheerfully brawling against Eden's brothers.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Seems to be heading in this direction with Matthew.
- Green-Eyed Monster: In season three, he's angry that Jesus is helping gentiles while seemingly ignoring his own turmoil. Jesus' response is to calmly assures Simon that he could have come to Him at any time.
- Happily Married: To Eden, though their marriage encounters some snarls in Season Three.
- Hot-Blooded: Oh, so much as seen in the source material.
- Hypocrite: Simon spends two seasons hating Matthew for being a tax collector for Rome, even though he himself also collaborated with Rome by agreeing to inform on illegal fishing activity. He tries to claim his situation was different, but Thomas isn't convinced.
- Meaningful Rename: Jesus officially changes his name to Peter in the first episode of Season Four.
- Number Two: To Jesus; somewhat self-appointed. He takes charge among the apostles and leads out in saying a group prayer when they're about to embark on their first preaching mission. If Jesus isn't around, the other apostles often go to him for direction.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: To say Simon gets along poorly with Eden's brothers would be an understatement. Averted with his mother-in-law, whom he's gentle towards.
- One-Steve Limit: Shares a name with Simon the Zealot.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red to Andrew's blue. Subverted for a bit in Season 2 when Simon plays a more reasonable and self-controlled part when Andrew's lashing out.
- Sleeves Are for Wimps: After being called by Jesus, Simon almost always wears a sleeveless top so the audience can see his well-muscled arms.
- Straight Man and Wise Guy: The two alternate, but usually Simon plays the Straight Man to Andrew's Wise Guy.
- Suppressed Rage: Simon seethes with anger every time Simon witnesses Jesus performing a miracle in the latter part of season three because Jesus did not prevent the miscarriage of his child.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He snaps at Matthew often enough, but completely loses it during one scene.
Matthew
Matthew
Portrayed by: Paras Patel
A tax collector in Capernaum, up until he is invited to follow Jesus.
- Adaptation Expansion: His conversion, as recounted in his Gospel, is covered over the course of a paragraph. Here, his Heel–Face Turn is a major arc in the first season.
- A Boy and His X: Befriended a stray dog, which he ultimately leaves as a guard dog for his parents when he joins the disciples (to his parents' great confusion, considering how dogs were seen in the Middle East at the time.)
- Brains and Brawn: When paired up with Simon the Zealot, Matthew is naturally the brains of the duo.
- Berserk Button: Though he willingly gives up his home to the ministry in Season Three, when he finds out Mary's been going through his personal belongings he snaps at her and storms off.
- Child Prodigy: Showed an incredible talent for math at an early age, apprenticed under a bookkeeper and eventually became a tax collector.
- Continuity Nod: Matthew helping Jesus prepare the Sermon on the Mount is a clear setup for how Matthew is the Gospel writer who most thoroughly covers it.
- Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: A rare inadvertent case: Matthew's utter ignorance of social norms means that he casually says things that might cause a person to take offense. Gaius is aghast when he does this to Quintus, convinced that the praetor will respond by having them executed on the spot. Fortunately, Quintus is amused rather than offended.
- Disinherited Child: His father literally tells him "I Have No Son!" after he becomes a tax collector. They reconcile after Matthew decides to follow Christ and make up for his past lifestyle.
- Don't Look At Me: Asks Thad to turn around while he puts on his tassel, leading to him getting Caught with Your Pants Down by Nathaniel.
- Evil Debt Collector: How many see him and tax collectors in general. Subverted in a Season Three episode where he encounters an old man who's taken on all his family's debt and Matthew tries everything he can to find a way to keep the old man from getting arrested.
- Expository Hairstyle Change: Matthew starts the series clean-shaven with Roman-style curls in his hair. After joining Jesus, he does his best to grow a beard and stops curling his hair.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Many of the disciples do not like him very much when he initially joins the group. Several of them had run-ins with him while he was a tax collector, and Thomas initially dislikes him due to a combination of thinking Matthew is interested in Ramah and the two of them just being Too Much Alike. This is surprisingly subverted with Simon, who despite being a former Zealot and thus being the person everyone most expected to dislike Matthew, is not shown lashing out at him when the two are deliberately made preaching companions by Jesus.
- Good with Numbers: How he became a tax collector in the first place.
- Hates Being Touched: Doesn't like being hugged or touched, so much so he doesn't let Thad help him put on his tassel.
- Jumped at the Call: Left his job mid-shift to join Jesus once he was asked.
- I'm Not Doing That Again: Due to his history as a publican Matthew gets nominated to take charge of the group's finances, but now that he's following Jesus he doesn't want to touch anything money-related anymore and proposes Judas as his replacement.
- Morality Pet: To Gaius. Gaius will occasionally have a Pet the Dog moment with regards to Matthew, but he'd rather die than be caught doing it. In light of those, his usual gruff manner comes across as Tough Love. It's clear that he's genuinely looking out for Matthew.
- Must Make Amends: Upon hearing Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Matthew's conscience is visibly pricked and he decides to go apologize to and make peace with his father.
- No Social Skills: Matthew is awkward and the least savvy member of Jesus' disciples, which—along with his past as a tax collector—means he has no real friends among them until Philip shows up. According to
Word of God (no pun intended), he's autistic in this series, which likely has somehting to do with his awkwardness. - Pet the Dog: Before he joins Jesus, one sign Matthew is good at heart is how he feeds and takes care of a black dog that started following him.
- Ship Tease: He's got a bit of a crush on Mary Magdalene.
- The Smart Guy: Shares the role with Thomas and Judas, though Matthew is the most obvious about it because he has No Social Skills.
- Time-Passage Beard: In the Flash Forward in "Thunder" he sports a huge beard, a far cry from the clean-shaven young man he starts as.
- Tragic Keepsake: In "Ears to Hear", Matthew reveals that he has a prayer tassel gifted to him from an old debtor he arrested. He kept them locked away out of shame at being a tax collector.
John
John
Portrayed by: George Harrison Xanthis
A fisherman in Capernaum, the son of Zebedee and the brother of Big James, alongside whom he becomes one of Jesus's first disciples.
- Call-Forward: When Matthew asks John what happened with Jairus' daughter, John irritably tells Matthew Jesus told him not to say at the moment, but he won't forget to tell Matthew about it later when he's allowed. Since Matthew records the raising of Jairus' daughter back to life in his Gospel, John indeed keeps his promise.
- Hot-Blooded: Isn't nicknamed a "son of thunder" for nothing. He has to be restrained by Jesus from getting into fights multiple times.
- One-Steve Limit: Averted, with John the Baptizer (aka "Creepy John").
- Politically Incorrect Hero: While the other disciples also question the visit to Samaria but pretty quickly get over it, John and James are by far the most blatantly racist towards the Samaritans. They do improve.
Big James
Big James
Portrayed by: Shayan Sobhian (season 1, episodes 1-4), Kian Kavousi (season 1, episodes 5-8), Abe Martell (season 2+)
A fisherman in Capernaum, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, alongside whom he becomes one of Jesus's first disciples.
- The Big Guy: As the nickname implies. He and Simon the Zealot are the physically strongest members of the Twelve (though James might have more brute strength, since he easily carries containers of sulfur in Season Three while Simon is out of breath). Invoked in-universe by Simon Peter, who gets the two to guard Jesus during sermons.
- Big Guy Fatality Syndrome: A Flash Forward in Season 2 indicates that, true to the source material, James is the first of the Twelve to be martyred.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: He becomes the big member of this kind of duo with Little James, who he's paired up with for his first preaching mission. Jesus points out that having the two Jameses together is funny and might work as an icebreaker while meeting new people.
- Dumbass No More: After returning from his first preaching mission, it appears James' attention span for spiritual things has gotten a huge boost. Zebedee is flabbergasted that he's listening intently in synagogue instead of getting bored.
- Hot-Blooded: Nicknamed a "son of thunder" together with his brother. He nearly fights both some Samaritans and later some people in the Decapolis when they insult Jesus.
- One-Steve Limit: Is nicknamed Big James because there is another James in the group.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: Along with John is the most openly racist of the disciples regarding the Samaritans. He does get taken to task over this, and has to reconsider his stance.
Andrew
Andrew
Portrayed by: Noah James
A former fisherman in Capernaum and the brother of Simon Peter.
- Deadpan Snarker: One of the biggest in the group. Also tends to be a Silent Snarker.
"Wow! Get the papyrus, Simon met a guy!"
"That was some soulful singing, my man."
"Good thing, considering how you run."
- Hypocrite: Complains about Mary Magdalene going off the rails and not trusting Jesus for help with her troubles, while simultaneously doing the same when afraid of what the Romans could do to Jesus.
- Must Make Amends: In Season 3, he goes to apologize to Mary for criticizing her in Season 2.
- Never My Fault: While Andrew is overall calm and easygoing, when he lashes out in Season 2 he points out the flaws of others but doesn't really acknowledge his own. However, he gets better.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to Simon's red, which is saying something because Andrew's pretty emotional himself. Subverted during Andrew's bout of anxiety in Season 2.
- Straight Man and Wise Guy: The two alternate, but usually Andrew plays the Wise Guy to Simon's Straight Man. To a lesser extent he also plays the Straight Man to Philip when they're paired together.
- Sucks at Dancing: Andrew is noted to have not just two but four left feet, in fact. His dancing is compared to "a donkey walking on hot coals." He's so bad that Jesus jokes that even He can't do anything for him. Peter even tests if two disciples of John the Baptist really know Andrew by seeing if they're aware of this.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He and Philip unintentionally cause riots in Decapolis with their preaching, then even more riots when they go back to try and fix it.
Thomas
Thomas
Portrayed by: Joey Vahedi
A caterer who takes up Jesus's invitation to follow him.
- Adaptation Origin Connection: The show depicts him assisting at the wedding at Cana, and Jesus recruiting him there.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: A downplayed version where Ramah is concerned. This drives some of his hostility toward Matthew, as he mistakes the latter's helping Mary Magdalene teach Ramah how to read as an attempt to get close to her (he's more interested in Mary).
- Red Is Heroic: Thomas is almost always seen wearing his red jacket, which makes him visually very distinct from the rest of Jesus' disciples. It also subtly indicates he's the only disciple actively pursuing a romantic relationship (with Ramah.)
- The Smart Guy: Alongside Matthew, is considered to be the smart one among the other disciples. This is presumably foreshadowing why he will later doubt Jesus' Resurrection.
- Too Much Alike: The other reason he doesn't like Matthew at first: Matthew challenges his position as The Smart Guy of the group. Though Thomas seems to pride himself on being more socially savvy than Matthew, they're more similar than he likes to admit, with both of them stopping to calculate the odds of Jesus getting caught in Jerusalem.
Thaddeus
Thaddeus
Portrayed by: Giavani Cairo
A former stonemason who becomes one of Jesus's followers.
- Call-Forward: Lots of his dialogue is questions, foreshadowing his role at Pentecost.
- The Generic Guy: Despite being the first disciple called by Jesus in the series' continuity, as of Season Three Thad is the least-developed member of the Twelve. His calling happened offscreen before the series began and he hasn't gotten any one-on-one scenes with Jesus since. Because he doesn't have major personality flaws to work out (like Simon, Andrew, Big James, or John), an interesting life pre-calling (like Matthew, Nathaniel, or Zee), a Love Interest (like Thomas), or a physical disability (like Little James), and isn't a CloudcuckooLander (like Philip) or a future traitor (like Judas), he doesn't really stand out. It seems Jesus Himself is even aware of this, as while coming up with the Beatitudes He classifies Thad as one of "the meek."
- Handy Man: Mentions that he met Jesus while they were both working on a construction job.
- Last-Name Basis: In the source material, Thaddeus' first name is Judas (or Jude). Presumably to keep the audience from confusing him with that Judas, he is referred to as Thad here.
- Lovable Coward: He's nice to Matthew, but whenever there's an argument Thaddeus noticeably doesn't defend him.
- Nice Guy: The only male disciple to be friendly towards Matthew of his own accord before Phillip arrives, and even helps him put on his tassels, putting up with Matthew's quirks all the way. He is also kind to Veronica despite her medical condition making her ritually unclean, unlike the other people in Capernaum.
- Parental Issues: Implied. He mentions he broke his dad's heart by becoming a stonemason instead of a smith. He also mentions that every man must leave his father's house.
- Those Two Guys: With Little James, whom he introduced to Jesus. In Seasons 1 and 2, they're not often seen apart.
Little James
Little James
Portrayed by: Jordan Walker Ross
A choir singer who planned to join the 288 choir in Jerusalem, but ended up meeting Jesus on the way there.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Was heading to join a choir in Jerusalem before joining Jesus.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: He becomes the little member of this kind of duo with Big James, who he's paired up with for his first preaching mission. Jesus points out that having the two Jameses together is funny and might work as an icebreaker while meeting new people.
- The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes:
- Despite clearly having some physical condition that Jesus could easily heal, he hasn't asked for said healing because he doesn't think it's the right time. Out-of-universe, it's a case of Real Life Writes the Plot: His actor suffered from scoliosis as a child and has had several surgeries, and present-day medical technology has not yet gotten to the level of Jesus's miraculous healings.
- This is taken even further after being empowered by Jesus to work miracles in Season Three, where Little James heals someone who is lame, but still can't (or won't) use that gift for himself.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Among the apostles, possibly only Matthew matches Little James when it comes to his insecurity at being in the group. His small stature and physical disability make him question his usefulness, requiring a You Are Better Than You Think You Are from Jesus to cheer him up.Jesus: "James, I love you. But I don't want to hear that ever again."
- Keeping the Handicap: As mentioned above, Jesus could easily heal his condition, but James opts not to ask, for now at least.
- One-Steve Limit: One of two Jameses in the group.
- Those Two Guys: With Thaddeus, who introduced him to Jesus. In Seasons 1 and 2, they're not often seen apart.
Philip
Philip
Portrayed by: Yoshi Barrigas (season 2-3), Reza Diako (season 4+)
A follower of John the Baptizer, who eventually begins following Jesus.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Has shades of this. Some of "Creepy John"'s eccentricity must have rubbed off on him.
- Experienced Protagonist: Unlike the other followers, who had trouble adjusting to their new lives, Philip was already prepared for it due to having previously followed John the Baptizer. Jesus even tells him as much. Philip later confesses he may have overestimated his experience, though.
- Ice-Cream Koan: Admits to Matthew that he sometimes gets a bit too esoteric with his explanations.
- Jumped at the Call: Philip didn't even let Jesus finish calling him before accepting.
- Nice Guy: An easy-going guy who is just about universally liked immediately after he arrives, and tries to nudge the others to be kinder towards Matthew as well. In particular, he's friends with the tactless Nathaniel before the latter ever meets Jesus, and by the time of Season Three, Matthew considers Philip his only friend.
- Sleepy Head: Can fall asleep at the drop of a hat in any setting or position.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He and Andrew unintentionally cause riots in Decapolis with their preaching, then even more riots when they go back to try and fix it.
Nathaniel
Nathaniel
Portrayed by: Austin Reed Alleman
A former architect who eventually joins his old friend Philip in following the Messiah.
- Break the Haughty: His ambitious pride got in the way of him achieving his dreams.
- The Gadfly: Nathaniel tells it like it is, but he also tells it to mess with people sometimes. Philip even mentions he can be mean sometimes.
- Lovable Coward: Downplayed; upon hearing his first preaching mission might be dangerous, he immediately wants to be paired up with Zee for protection. This sets up the reveal in a Season Two Flash Forward that Nathaniel is the second apostle to be martyred, after Big James, showing he eventually got over this fear.
- Pet the Dog: Surprisingly, he is the first member of the Twelve to really welcome and be nice to Judas.
- The Snack Is More Interesting: Nathaniel shows up at Simon's house when the latter had just reunited with Eden. He casually tells them to pretend he's not there, and underscores his insensitivity by munching on an apple.
- Will Not Tell a Lie:
- Prefers to tell it like he sees it, even if it makes him come across as blunt at times.
- Highlighted when he crashes at Simon's place in season 3 and, noticing that he wants a little alone time with his wife, says that he understands and will cover his head with a pillow. Cue Death Glare from Simon.
Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot
Click here to see Simon as a child and teenager *
Portrayed by: Alaa Safi, Joe Balanza (young)
A freedom fighter opposed to the Roman occupation.
- Adaptation Origin Connection: The paralyzed man in Bethesda is depicted here as Simon's brother Jesse, who points him to Jesus.
- The Big Guy: Along with Big James. Though James might have more brute strength (the two carry sulfur in Season Three, and Simon is slower and more winded at the end), his combat skills make the Twelve often want him around for protection, especially for Jesus. Invoked in-universe by Simon Peter, who gets the two to guard Jesus during sermons.
- Brains and Brawn: When paired up with Matthew, he provides the muscle of the companionship, taking down and holding in place a possessed man so Matthew can heal him.
- Combat Parkour: Apparently the show runners researched ancient Middle Eastern fighting styles. The result still looks a lot like parkour.
- Martial Pacifist: Becomes one after being called by Jesus. While still possessing combat training (and he's willing to use it to subdue a possessed man), he refuses to defend himself when members of his former order come to kill him, trusting that even if he is killed, he will be reunited with Jesus in heaven eventually.
- Nerves of Steel: As jumpy as he is about the prospect of former order members coming to kill him, once they actually do, he doesn't even attempt to resist or run and offers himself to be killed.
- One-Steve Limit: Shares a name with Simon (Peter). It's mentioned once when he joins the group, so they nickname him Zee. It comes up again in season four when the first Simon becomes Peter."Hey, since there's only one Simon in the group now, can I have my name back?"
- Pragmatic Hero:
- While he is ostensibly fighting to free his people from an oppressive regime, he is implied to be willing to kill non-combatants simply for being Roman or tax collectors.
- He refuses a demonically possessed man begging to be killed, on the logic that since the demon is unkillable, as long as the afflicted man maintains at least some lucidity its safer for everyone else that the demon remain tied to a single person instead of unleashed to harm others.
- He has no problem using his combat training to subdue and physically restrain a possessed man while paired up with Matthew.
- That Man Is Dead: It's pointed out by the order members sent to assassinate him that Simon's changed so much after joining Jesus that saying "Simon the Sicharius is dead" is Metaphorically True.
- The Worf Effect: He's big, strong, and the only one of Jesus' disciples with any real combat training, yet he's still subdued quickly by Belial, setting up how Jesus casts the devil out effortlessly to rescue him.
- Worf Had the Flu: For what it's worth, he wasn't wanting to kill the man possessed by Belial and was looking away to check on the other disciples when the man surprised and disarmed him. While paired up with Matthew in Season Three, he quickly subdues another possessed man with no real difficulty.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Inverted. A possessed man claims that his demon has a bad feeling about Simon the Zealot, and Simon thanks the man for this. He seems to realize that, if a minion of Hell considers him dangerous, then it must mean he's on the right path.
- Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: A member of the anti-Roman Zealots and trained for assassinations. The zealots see themselves as heroes, while Romans and non-zealot Jews see them as murderers.
Judas
Judas Iscariot
Portrayed by: Luke Diyman
A former business apprentice who shows some interest in learning more about the Messiah.
- Ambition Is Evil: According to his actor, while Judas does join Jesus out of a sincere belief and earnest desire to do good, he still wants a leadership position within the group. Whether this will end up directly tying into his betrayal of Jesus is still to be seen, but it does make him one of the few members of the Twelve who's concerned with his standing.
- Canon Character All Along: It doesn't last very long, but his introductory episode goes out of its way to withhold his name until the very end. It's easy to assume him an Adaptation Expansion character or Canon Foreigner like the series has done multiple times before this point, letting the audience grow attached to him before they find out who he is.
- The Conscience: He's introduced as an apprentice to a shady businessman, trying to help a customer get a better deal... only for it to be revealed this was all an act to help with the sale... only to be revealed even later he actually is uncomfortable with his employer's underhanded tactics.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: During a conversation with Simon the Zealot, he expresses frustration that Jesus is making them do mundane chores and busy work instead of being more efficient in establishing the Kingdom of Heaven. As Zee tries to point out to him, doing those mundane chores helps them stay humble and relatable to the very people they're trying to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to. Bonus points for Jesus endorsing that very humility at the Sermon on the Mount that inspired Judas to join in the first place.
- Dramatic Irony: Judas gets hit with this perhaps more than any other character. The series goes to great lengths to show his eagerness to be remembered for something beyond his lifetime. Thanks to Pop-Cultural Osmosis, the audience knows he definitely will.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: When Andrew and Philip return from the Decapolis and explain the violent reactions there to the Parable of the Banquet, Judas quickly realizes that every group that heard it would have had a different reason to take offense.
- Guile Hero: Has a shrewd mind for business and is quickly set up as the financial manager for the group once Matthew refuses the job. He uses his haggling skills to get a more favorable bargain for an olive garden that Zeb and Tamar want to buy.
- Innocent Blue Eyes: Judas' eyes are a striking blue, highlighting his eagerness to join Jesus early on.
- Last Episode, New Character: He makes his official debut in the Season 2 finale as an unnamed businessman's apprentice, and his name isn't even revealed until the last few minutes of the episode.
- Missing Mom: Season Three reveals his parents are dead and his only living relative is his sister.
-
Obvious Judas: Thus far subverted. As the series goes to great lengths to humanize the Twelve and thus give them various flaws and foibles, on the whole Judas seems no more or less likely to be the future betrayer of Jesus than any of his fellows. - Pet the Dog: He doesn't want his potted plant to die while he's off with Jesus and gives it to his sister to keep alive.
- Sixth Ranger: Is the last member of the Twelve to join Jesus in the series, and will inevitably end up a Sixth Ranger Traitor.
- The Smart Guy: Seems to definitely want to be seen as this. When Andrew and Philip explain what went wrong with their teaching in Decapolis, Judas quotes scripture and points out that as a former businessman, knowing things was important.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Is set up as a decent guy in his first few episodes. Unfortunately, anyone who has read the Gospels (or just knows the broad strokes by cultural osmosis) knows that it won't last.
- Wham Line: The reveal of his name is obviously meant to be this, as his introductory episode noticeably and suspiciously keeps from naming him until its final minutes.
Other Followers
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Click here to see Mary as a child*
Portrayed by: Elizabeth Tavish and Camila Carreon (young)
A woman from Magdala who was tormented by demons before Jesus drove them from her, and subsequently became one of his followers.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Losing her father at a young age, being assaulted by a Roman soldier, and then becoming possessed by demons.
- Demonic Possession: Suffered from this before being healed by Jesus.
- She suffers a headache when a Demoniac approaches the camp, due to her previous experience of being possessed, alerting her of his presence before the others hear him roaring.
- Disappeared Dad: She lost her father when she was a little girl. One of her flashbacks show him having an Incurable Cough of Death.
- Drowning My Sorrows: What she often did before Jesus heals her. Also does this during her relapse in Season 2.
- Freak Out: Has a temporary one in Season 2.
- Hiding Your Heritage: She hints at having done this for some time.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: When confronting the demon-possessed man in Season 2.
- Meaningful Rename/Do Not Call Me "Paul": After going by Lilith for years while possessed, she returns to her real name Mary Magdalene and dislikes being referred to otherwise.
- Never Learned to Read: Subverted. Although women are portrayed as commonly never learning to read, Mary says her father taught her when she was a child.
- One-Steve Limit: Shares her given name with Jesus's mother.
- Rape as Backstory: One of her flashbacks show her being assaulted by a Roman legionary.
- Socially Awkward Hero: Mary has shades of this.
- The Smurfette Principle: In the first season, she's the only full-time female follower.
- Voice of the Legion: She has a subtle version of this in the first episode when Nicodemus attempts to exorcise her. This, combined with her speaking in the first person plural, is what leads to him giving up in fear.
Ramah
Ramah
Portrayed by: Yasmine Al-Bustami
Thomas's onetime business partner, who later joins him in following Jesus.
- Canon Foreigner: Some what downplayed as although the character was invented for the show, there were female followers of Jesus.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: Zigzagged. Ramah's father wants Thomas to propose to her, but isn't happy that he is a follower of Jesus.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Dies in Thomas's arms in the end of Season 4 Episode 3.
- Never Learned to Read: Played straight. She begins learning when studying the scriptures with Mary Magdalene.
- Put on a Bus: Leaves in the beginning of Season 3 to go and witness to her unbelieving father.
- Back for the Dead: Comes back in the beginning of Season 4, and dies 3 episodes in.
Mother Mary
Mother Mary
Click here to see Mary as a teenager*
Portrayed by: Vanessa Benavente and Sara Anne (Young)
The mother of Jesus, whom He remains close with even as an adult.
- One-Steve Limit: Shares her given name with Mary Magdalene.
- Team Mom: To the delight of every Catholic watching.
- Teen Pregnancy: Was a pregnant teenager a few decades back.
Tamar
Tamar
Portrayed by Amber Shana Williams
An Ethiopian woman. She followed Jesus after seeing her paralytic friend healed in Capernaum.
- Canon Foreigner: Downplayed as she is a friend of the paralytic man heeled in Capernaum. There were also female followers of Jesus. However, there is no specific Ethiopian character in The Four Gospels.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Her entire village was massacred by a rival clan. She and her brother only survived because they were away on a business trip when the enemies attack.
- Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry: Tamar's jewelry, while muted by modern standards, are considered luxuries by the standards of first century Judea. She reveals that they're worn to honor her family and ancestors.
- Never Learned to Read: Like Ramah. Matthew offers to teach her, but so far she hasn't accepted.
- Token Minority: The only member of Jesus' disciples that isn't a Jew.
- Tragic Keepsake: The beads she wears were originally owned by her dead mother and still carry a bloodstain from when she was killed. Despite their personal meaning, Tamar says she is willing to part with the beads if need be, just not for something mundane like oats.
Joanna
Joanna
Portrayed by Amy Bailey
A noblewoman from King Herod's court, who makes a generous donation to Jesus' ministry and who helps Andrew visit John the Baptizer in prison.
- Hidden Depths: In one scene, Mary Magdeline, Tamar, and Ramah discuss this woman and conclude that she probably only saw the sermon on the mount as a distraction. The very next scene shows her and Andrew speaking to John the Baptizer, with the interaction making it clear she's one of the latter's students.
- Woman Scorned: Downplayed. When John the Baptizer marches into court and publicly condemns the King's incestuous marriage, Joanna is only upset that he didn't also condemn her own husband's infidelity.
Leander
Leander
- Portrayed by: Tom Connolly
- Bearer of Bad News: He is the one to tell the main cast that Andrew and Phillip have accidentally been causing riots.
- Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: Evil may be a strong word, but he clearly expects the Pharisees who arrive after the Sermon to be excited by the message Jesus has preached and is disheartened by Rabbi Ozem's outrage at the idea of Jews and Gentiles mixing.
- Honorary True Companion: While not a regular member of the ministry, he believes in their message, brings them important news, and helps organize and manage the gathering that precedes the feeding of the multitude.
- The Needs of the Many: He is sympathetic to the deaf Argo but is concerned that taking the time to heal him publicly will attract unwanted attention and divert Jesus from his mission to calm the riots and backlash against his ministry in Decapolis. However, once Jesus does heal Argo, Leander is happy with this outcome.
