Interestingly, the two people named Lazarus in the New Testament are both fairly well known. The first is a beggar in Jesus' often taught Lazarus and the Rich Man parable given to underscore the perils of a hard heart.
The second Lazarus in the New Testament is the man resurrected from the dead shortly before Jesus' crucifixion. This Lazarus, as well as his sisters Mary and Martha, lived in Bethany. He got deathly ill while Jesus was traveling with his disciples. The Lord, who knew of his sickness, allowed him to die so that the glory of God and His son could be manifested to the world (John 11:4, 15). Lazarus was brought back to life four days after his demise (verse 17).
Lebbaeus (Lebbeus)
Matthew 10:3
Lebbaeus is another name for Judas (not Iscariot) in the King James Bible. Other translations call him Lebbeus. He is also known as Thaddeus in the New Testament. See our listing for Judas (Lebbeus, Thaddeus).
Levi
Mark 2:14, Luke 3;24, 29, 5:27, 29
Levi is another name for Matthew in the King James and other translations. For more information please see our listing for Matthew.
Linus was a Christian who sent his greetings to Timothy through the last letter Paul would author before his death. Roman Catholic tradition states it believes Linus became the church's second "Pope" who ruled over God's people after the death of Peter.
Lois, a Jewess whose name means "better," was the mother of Eunice. Lois was the grandmother of Timothy, Paul's most trusted friend and fellow evangelist. Both of them began to teach Timothy the Old Testament Scriptures from an early age. The apostle commends the faith of the two women and their role in shaping the destiny of his beloved fellow laborer in the gospel.
There are two men named Lucius mentioned in Scripture. The first, Lucius of Cyrene, is labeled by Luke as one of several prophets and teachers in the Syrian Antioch church (Acts 13).
The second Lucius, found in the book of Romans written from Corinth, sent greetings to those Christians living in Rome. Evidence suggests Lucius may have been one of Paul's distant relatives.
Luke (Lucas)
Colossians 4:14, 2Timothy 4:11
Philemon 1:24
Luke, a Gentile convert to Christianity, is one of the four Gospel writers as well as authoring the book of Acts. In the endnote of 2Corinthians he is listed, along with Titus, as writing the epistle dictated by Paul. Although his role in the church's early history was important, he is only referenced by name three times in the New Testament. Interestingly, he never mentions his own name anywhere in Acts!
Luke was one of the most trusted and loved fellow laborers of Paul. He is affectionately referred to as "the beloved physician" in Colossians 4.
Luke traveled with Paul on part of his second and third missionary journeys. He also accompanied the apostle from Caesarea to Rome in 60 A.D. during what is called the Fourth Missionary Journey. Luke is again with Paul in 67 A.D. during his final imprisonment in Rome.
It is uncertain what happened to Luke later in his life. According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, he may have died as a martyr by being hanged on an olive tree in Greece. Another tradition states he died at the age of 84.
Lydia was a prosperous Thyatira-based businesswoman who sold purple dye. The dye's rarity in nature, along with the time and effort it took to collect it, made it a highly prized and expensive commodity sought by kings and rulers. Lydia's income was such that she could afford a home in both Thyatira and Philippi.
Lydia was visiting Philippi when Paul and Silas arrived in the city during his second missionary journey. After hearing the apostle preach, not only was she baptized but her entire household as well! She became Paul's first evangelistic convert on the continent of Europe.
Lydia was a generous and hospitable woman who insisted the two traveling evangelists stay in her Philippi residence. After the evangelistic duo were beaten, placed in prison and then miraculously released, they went to her home before leaving the city.
Lysias (Claudius Lysias)
Acts 21:31 - 33, 22:24 - 29, 23:26, 24:7, 22
Claudius Lysias was a Roman army chief captain stationed in Jerusalem. A Greek by birth, he had purchased his Roman citizenship for a hefty price.
It was Lysias who, when a riot broke out at the temple risking the life of Paul, rushed in with his troops to arrest (and save) the apostle from certain death. After discovering the apostle was a citizen of Rome, he withheld scourging him for information. Lysias then arranged for Paul to answer for himself before the Sanhedrin, a meeting that ultimately ended in chaos.
To protect Paul's life due to forty-man murder plot against him, Lysias commanded that a military escort of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen transport the apostle, at night, to Caesarea. Once in Caesarea the apostle was delivered to Roman governor Felix. Although Felix wanted Lysias to offer his testimony concerning the case, the Bible does not record him ever doing so in Caesarea.
Manaen is labeled by Luke as one of several prophets and teachers in the church at Syrian Antioch (Acts 13). Nothing more, biblically, is known about him except that he grew up with Herod the tetrarch.
Mark (John Mark, Marcus)
Acts 12:12, 25, 15:37 - 39, Colossians 4:10
Philemon 1:24, 1Peter 5:13, 2Timothy 4:11
John Mark, a Jewish convert to Christianity, was the cousin of Barnabas and writer of the Gospel named after him. His mother is recorded as maintaining a house church in Jerusalem.
Mark traveled with Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey but abandoned the pair when they reach Perga. Barnabas, at the start of the second journey, wanted to give Mark another chance and take him on another evangelistic tour. Paul, however, refused to do so. Their disagreement was so sharp that it caused a separation, with Barnabas and Mark journeying to Cyprus and Paul with Silas revisiting churches in Galatia and beyond.
Years later, we find Paul reconciled to Mark. While in Rome's prison the apostle sends a greeting from Mark to the church at Colosse (Colossians 4:10). He also writes his friend Philemon that he considers Mark a fellow laborer in the gospel (Philemon 1:24).
Around 64 to 65 A.D. the apostle Peter writes that Mark is with him during his evangelism of Babylon.
In the last letter to Timothy, written in 67 A.D., Mark is listed as one of the few remaining people loyal to the apostle. Paul encourages his friend to bring Mark to Rome "because he is profitable to me for the ministry of the Word" (2Timothy 4:11).
According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Mark died as a martyr when he was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Martha
John 11:1 - 5, 12:2
Luke 10:38 - 42
Martha is the sister of Lazarus and Mary. They all lived in the small village of Bethany.
Martha, when Jesus came by for a visit, busied herself with various tasks while her sister Mary intently listened to Christ. The Lord, when Martha pointed out that Mary was not helping her, gently corrected her misplaced priorities.
Martha was also involved in asking Jesus to visit Lazarus while he was sick. Her belief in the Messiah was confirmed when she, and many others, witnessed Lazarus coming out of his tomb alive!
Mary
John 11 - 12, 19:25, Matthew 27:56, Acts 12:12, Romans 16:6
Other than Jesus' mother and Mary Magdalene, there are at least five women named Mary mentioned in the New Testament.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha (John 11:1 - 2, 19), was the woman who intently listened to Jesus' teachings as Martha toiled to prepare food (Luke 10:39 - 42). Later, when Lazarus got deathly sick, she and her sister requested Jesus heal him (John 11:3). After her brother was allowed to die, she mourned losing him until the Lord resurrected him back to life (John 11:19 - 45).
Martha's sister Mary was also the woman who, six days before Jesus' last Passover, anointed his feet with an expensive ointment (John 12:1 - 8).
Mary, the wife of Cleopas (John 19:25), was one of several women who witnessed Jesus' crucifixion.
Mary, the mother of James and Joses (Matthew 27:56), was one of the women who viewed Jesus' crucifixion. She also witnessed his burial, prepared spices for his body, and came to his tomb early on a Sunday morning. She was one of several females who informed the apostles and many others that Christ had risen from the dead (Mark 15:47, 16:1 - 8, Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:10).
Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12), maintained one of the many house churches in Jerusalem for early Christian believers. The Apostle Peter, after his miraculous release from prison, went straight to her place to tell others what happened to him (verses 3 to 12).
Lastly, the Apostle Paul, writing from Corinth, greets a woman named Mary living in Rome (Romans 16:6). Nothing more is known about her except that she is commended for her hard work for the apostle.
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Matthew 1:16, 18, 20, 2:11, 13:55
Mark 6:3, Luke 1:27 - 56, 2:5 - 34
Acts 1:14
Mary, according to the New Testament, was a descendant of King David. God, while she was betrothed to Joseph, choose her to bear His son. After Jesus' birth Mary and Joseph would produce at least four boys and two girls (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3).
Surprisingly, Mary is only rarely mentioned in relation to Jesus' ministry. She was the person who spurred Christ's first public miracle at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1 - 11). During the Lord's second year of his ministry, she and her family sought to speak with him (Mathew 12:47 - 50). She was also, of course, present when the Lord was crucified. After Jesus' resurrection she gathered with 120 other believers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13 - 14).
Mary Magdalene
Matthew 27:56, 61, 28:1
Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1, 9
Luke 8:2, 24:10, John 19:25, 20:1, 20:18
Mary Magdalene received the last part of her name from her hometown of Magdala, which is located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Mary is arguably the most famous female follower of Christ during his ministry (next to his mother).
Magdalene not only traveled with Christ but also financially supported him after she had seven demons cast out of her (Luke 8:1 - 3). Please see our article on Mary Magdalene for more information.
Matthew (Levi)
Matthew 9:9 - 10, 10:3, Mark 2:14 - 15, 3:18
Luke 5:27 - 29, 6:15, Acts 1:13
Matthew, also referred to as Levi, is the seventh person called by Christ to be one of his twelve apostles (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27 - 29).
Matthew's vocation before meeting Jesus was as a tax collector (Matthew 9:9, 10:3). As such, He may have been a wealthy man since they were notorious for practicing extortion, stealing, and generally being dishonest (Luke 3:12 - 13, 19:7 - 8).
Matthew's gospel, written in 35 A.D., is the first of four gospels to be recorded. It is also the first book written that was included in the canonized New Testament.
According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs he preached the gospel both in Ethiopia and Parthia. It is believed he died a martyr. When God's builds his New Jerusalem, the gemstone that will be an everlasting memorial to Matthew's efforts will likely be a chrysolite stone.
Matthias was chosen to be one of the twelve apostles, through lot, to replace Judas Iscariot who committed suicide (Matthew 27:3 - 5, Acts 1:16 - 26). The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia believes Matthias was one of the seventy disciples Jesus personally trained during his ministry (Luke 10).
When God's builds his New Jerusalem, the gemstone that will be an everlasting memorial to Matthias' efforts will likely be an amethyst.
Toward the end of the third missionary journey Mnason accompanied Paul on his trip from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Mnason, a native of Cyprus, had been a Christian for many years when he traveled with him. Paul and company, upon their arrival in Jerusalem, stayed in Mnason's house.
Narcissus is greeted, as well as his entire household in Rome, in the book of Romans written from Corinth. Nothing more is known about this person.
Nathanael (Bartholomew)
Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18
Luke 6:14, John 1:45 - 49, 21:2
Acts 1:13
Nathanael is also referred to as Bartholomew in the New Testament (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13). He was the fifth person called to be a disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ.
Jesus jokingly commented on Nathanael's candor, moments before their first meeting, when he said, "Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no guile" (John 1:48).
Foxes' Book of Martyrs believes he preached the gospel in India, after which he brutally beaten and crucified. The Catholic Encyclopedia states he died at Albanopolis in Armenia.
When God's builds his New Jerusalem, the gemstone that will be an everlasting memorial to Nathanael's efforts will likely be a sardonyx stone.
Both Nereus and his sister, who live in Rome, are greeted in the last chapter of Romans. Nothing more is known about them except that they likely hosted a small house church.
Nero (Emperor)
Acts 17:7, 25:8, etc.
See our listing on Augustus Caesar.
Nicanor was one of the first seven men, selected by the early church, to handle the daily distribution of food to the poor saints in Jerusalem. These men (Nicanor, Nicolas, Parmenas, Philip, Prochorus, Stephen and Timon) are commonly referred to as the New Testament's first elected deacons (leaders). Nothing more is known about Nicanor.
Nicodemus
John 3:1 - 10, 7:50 - 53, 19:39
Nicodemus' name is only recorded in the gospel of John. He was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin who believed in Jesus. His first recorded visit with Christ was at night to inform him the Jews, based on his miracles, understood he was a teacher from God (John 3).
Nicodemus, to the great surprise of the Sanhedrin, later defended Christ before them (John 7:44 - 52). He also, at great risk to his standing among the Jews, aided Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus' body for burial in a new tomb (19:39 - 42).
Nicolas was one of the first seven men, selected by the early church, to handle the daily distribution of food to the poor saints in Jerusalem. These men are commonly referred to as the New Testament's first deacons.
Nicolas is the first recorded New Testament case where a proselyte (Gentile convert to Judaism), who then became a Christian, was given a position of responsibility within the early church. Nothing more is known about him.
Nymphas was a Christian woman who lived in Laodicea. Paul greets her, and those who gathered every Sabbath at her home to worship God, in the last chapter of Colossians.