Lesson Twelve
Character Studies
Although Peter and Paul are the two main characters in the history of the early church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, there are a great many people who took a prominent part. The student of this book should be well acquainted with the main characters, the part they took in this history, and where to find the references. He should be so familiar with this book that he can turn immediately to the story involving them. Some of the main characters are listed in this lesson.
AGABUS: Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10, 11. He was a prophet of Jerusalem. A famine predicted by him occurred in the reign of Claudius. He warned Paul about what would happen to him in Jerusalem.
AGRIPPA: Acts 25:13-27 & Acts 26:1-32. He was Herod Agrippa II, the last of the Herods. Paul preached to King Agrippa and he was almost persuaded to become a Christian.
ANANIAS: Acts 5:1-11. Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, were Christian Jews of Jerusalem. They lied to the Holy Ghost and were smitten with death. This showed that Ananias was hypocritical.
ANANIAS: Acts 9:10-18. He was a Jewish Christian who lived at Damascus. God used him in laying hands upon Saul of Tarsus. He undoubtedly was the one who baptized Saul. He was a devout man with a good reputation (Acts 22:12). He showed some caution in approaching the persecutor, but he obeyed God showing dedication to the of will God, also obedience and courage.
APOLLOS: Acts 18:24-28. He was a learned and eloquent Jew of Alexandria. He was a disciple of John the Baptist. He showed humility in being taught by Aquila. Afterwards his ministry had great success in Corinth and throughout Achaia.
AQUILA: Acts 18:1-3, 18, 19, 26. He was a Christian Jew and tentmaker who, with his wife Priscilla, entertained Paul at Corinth. He accompanied Paul to Ephesus he where instructed Apollos in the true gospel.
BARNABAS: Acts 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:22-26; 15:1,2,12. He was a Levite from Cypress. He revealed a beautiful Christian character by selling his property, by helping Paul by bringing Paul to Antioch, by being the first missionary sent out by the church, by giving John Mark a second chance. His whole life and ministry was dedicated to the preaching of the gospel and the encouragement of others.
BERNICE: Acts 25:23; Acts 26:30. She was the sister of Agrippa II. She had a notorious reputation and was with Agrippa when Paul preached to him.
CLAUDIUS LYSIAS: Acts 22:24 through Acts 23:35. A Roman officer at Jerusalem who protected Paul from the Jewish mob and sent him to Caesarea under guard.
CORNELIUS: Acts 10:1-48. He was a devout Roman centurion at Caesarea. He and his household were the first Gentile converts to Christ.

CRISPUS: Acts 18:8. He was the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth who was saved through the preaching of Paul.
DEMETRIUS: Acts 19:24-41. He was a silversmith at Ephesus who stirred up a riot because his business was being hurt by Paul's preaching.
ELYMAS: Acts 13:6-12. He was a Jew, Bar-jesus, who tried to prevent the conversion of the Roman deputy at Paphos. He was smitten with blindness for a time.
FELIX: Acts 24:24-27. He was the governor of Judea who had married a Jewish wife, Jursilla. He trembled under the preaching of Paul. He showed his weakness of character by wanting to please the Jews and to receive a bribe. He left Paul in prison.
FESTUS: Acts chapter 25 & 26. He was the successor of Felix. He listened to Paul's defense and was satisfied that Paul was innocent.
GALLIO: Acts 18:12-17. He was the proconsul of Achaia. He refused to listen to the accusations
of the Jews against Paul. He took a stand for separation of church and state in his dealings.
GAMALIEL: Acts 5:34-39. He was a doctorof the law, a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin. He was Paul's teacher. He showed his wisdom by opposing the persecution of the apostles.
JAMES: Acts 12:2. He was one of the twelve apostles, and a brother of the Apostle John. He was the first apostle to be martyred under the persecution of Herod.
JAMES: Acts 15:13. He was the son of Joseph and Mary, a half brother of Jesus. He became the Bishop of Jerusalem and presided over the first church council. He wrote the Epistle of James.
JASON: Acts 17:5-9. He was a Christian at Thessalonica who entertained Paul, and because of this was persecuted.
JULIUS: Acts 27:1, 42-43. He was a centurion who took Paul as a prisoner to Rome.
JUSTUS: Acts 1:23. He was also called Barsabas. He was one of the men considered to fill the place of Judas Iscariot.
LUKE: Acts 16:10. He was the writer of the Acts of the Apostles. He was the beloved physician and companion of Paul. He joined Paul's company at Troas.
LYDIA: Acts 16:14-15. She was a woman of Thyatira who lived in Philippi. She sold the dyed
garments of Thyatira. She was the first European convert and entertained Paul in her home.
MARK: Acts 13:5, 13 & Acts 15:37-39. John Mark was the son of Mary, the sister of Barnabas. He accompanied the apostles on their first missionary journey but turned back at Perga. Later Barnabas parted company with Paul in order to give him a second chance. Mark became a profitable minister and wrote the second Gospel.
MARY: Acts 12:12. She was Mark's mother. The Christians met for prayer at her home during the imprisonment of Peter. It is believed that her home was one of the meeting places for the early Christians. She apparently was a prosperous woman.
MATTHIAS: Acts 1:21-26. He was chosen to take the place of Judas as of on the twelve apostles.

PAUL: Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Chapters 9 through 28. He was the great apostle to the Gentiles. His Hebrew name was Saul and a native of Tarsus. He was highly educated. His greatest characteristic was that of complete dedication to the will of "As God. much as in me is, I am ready" (Romans 1:15)expressed this dedication. He showed this in his ministry on many occasions.
PETER: Acts chapters 1 through 12. He was the apostle that Jesus chose to be the first preacher of the gospel and thus unlocking the door of the kingdom. He was a man of great earnestness, impulsive, and had qualities of leadership.
PHILIP: Acts 6:5; 8:4-8; 8:26-39; 21:8, 9. He was one of the first deacons and became a powerful evangelist. He was the first to preach the gospel in Samaria; he baptized the eunuch, and went on to Caesarea. He had four daughters who had the gift of prophecy.
RHODA: Acts 12:13-16. She was a servant of Mark's mother and identified Peterat the gate knocking.
SCEVA: Acts 19:14-16. He was a Jewish chief priest whose seven sons tried to use the name of Jesus in casting out a demon.
SERGIUS PAULUS: Acts 13:7-12. He was the Roman proconsul of Cyprus.
SILAS: Acts 15:22, 27, 32; 15:40; 16:19, 25; 18:5. He was a member of the church at Jerusalem and was commissioned to report the decision of the church council at Antioch. He became Paul's companion on the second journey. In the epistles he is called Silvanus.
SIMON: Acts 8:9-24. He was a magician of Samaria who was severely rebuked by Peter when he tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.
SOSTHENES: Acts 18:17. He was the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth. He was seized and beaten by the Greeks.
STEPHEN: Acts chapter 6 & 7. He was one of the first deacons and became the first Christian martyr. He was a man of great faith and was a very powerful preacher.
TERTULLUS: Acts 24:1-8. He was an orator employed by the Jews to make the accusation against Paul.
TIMOTHY: Acts 16:1, 3. He was a native of Lystra. His mother was Jewish and his father was Greek. To avoid criticism from the Jews, Paul caused to him be circumcised. He was a companion of Paul and became a very successful minister of the Gospel.
TITUS: Acts 15:2 & Galatians 2:1-3. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem to attend the first church council, which considered whether or not circumcision was necessary for the Gentiles. Titus was a Greek but was not required to be circumcised. He became a minister of the gospel and companion of Paul.
TYRANNUS: Acts 19:9. He had a school in Ephesus which he permitted Paul to use after Paul no longer had the use of the synagogue.

Lesson Twelve
Self Help Test

Place these names in the correct blanks:
Rhoda	Jason	Lysias	Philip	Tyrannus
Bernice	Lydia	Stephen	Titus	Demetrius
Aquila	Gallio	James	Luke	Julius
Crispus	Tertullus	Matthias	Timothy	Mark

1.	_________________ Half brother of Jesus.
2.	_________________A tent maker.
3.	_________________Ruler of the synagogue at Corinth.
4.	_________________Took the place of Judas.
5.	_________________His mother a Jew, his father a Greek.
6.	_________________Proconsul of Achaia.
7.	_________________King Agrippa's sister.
8.	_________________Had four daughters who prophesied.
9.	_________________Had a school at Ephesus.
10.	_________________A young uncircumcised Greek.
11.	_________________Turned back at Perga.
12.	_________________A silversmith at Ephesus.
13.	_________________Captain who rescued Paul.
14.	_________________First European convert.
15.	_________________Author of Acts of the Apostles.
16.	_________________Centurion who took Paul to Rome.
17.	_________________A Christian at Thessalonica.
18.	_________________Orator who accused Paul.
19.	_________________Servant girl of Mark's mother.
20.	_________________First Church martyr.