# People of the Bible

Sixteen people the Bible spends the most time with. Each page says who they were, walks through their life in order, and links every passage so you can read it yourself.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people.

## The beginnings

Genesis and Exodus: the flood, the promise to Abraham, and the way out of Egypt.

- [Noah](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/noah.md): Built the ark. God made the rainbow promise with him. Read Genesis 6–9.
- [Abraham](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/abraham.md): Left home at God’s call. Father of Isaac and of Israel. Read Genesis 11:27–25:11.
- [Sarah](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/sarah.md): Abraham’s wife. Laughed at the promise, then bore Isaac at 90. Read Genesis 11:29–23:20.
- [Joseph](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/joseph.md): Sold by his brothers. Rose to rule Egypt. Forgave them. Read Genesis 37–50.
- [Moses](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/moses.md): Led Israel out of Egypt. Received the law at Sinai. Read Exodus 1 to Deuteronomy 34.

## Israel’s story

From the days of the judges to the kings and prophets.

- [Ruth](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/ruth.md): A widow from Moab who would not leave Naomi. David’s great-grandmother. Read Ruth 1–4.
- [King David](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/david.md): Shepherd boy, giant killer, king, psalm writer. Read 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2.
- [Elijah](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/elijah.md): Prophet of fire on Mount Carmel. Taken up in a whirlwind. Read 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2.

## Exile and return

Jews living far from home, under Babylon and Persia.

- [Esther](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/esther.md): A Jewish queen of Persia who risked her life for her people. Read Esther 1–10.
- [Daniel](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/daniel.md): Taken to Babylon young. Served its kings. Kept praying. Read Daniel 1–12.

## Around Jesus

The people closest to Jesus in the Gospels.

- [Mary, the mother of Jesus](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/mary-mother-of-jesus.md): Said yes to God. Gave birth to Jesus. Stood at the cross. Read Luke 1–2, John 2 and 19, Acts 1.
- [Joseph of Nazareth](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/joseph-of-nazareth.md): Married Mary. Raised Jesus as his own. Never says a word. Read Matthew 1–2, Luke 2.
- [John the Baptist](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/john-the-baptist.md): Prepared the way. Baptized Jesus in the Jordan. Read Luke 1 and 3, Matthew 3, 11 and 14, John 1 and 3.
- [Mary Magdalene](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/mary-magdalene.md): Healed by Jesus. First to see him risen. Read Luke 8, Mark 15–16, John 19–20.

## The first church

The apostles who carried the news out from Jerusalem.

- [Peter](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/peter.md): Fisherman, apostle, denied Jesus, led the first church. Read The Gospels, Acts 1–12 and 15, 1 and 2 Peter.
- [Paul](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/paul.md): Persecutor turned apostle. Wrote much of the New Testament. Read Acts 7–28 and his letters, Romans to Philemon.