Andrew the Apostle

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). -John 1:35-42

The Brother of Peter (Simon) also an apostle, Andrew was a fisherman with his brother and the brothers James and John (sons of Zebedee). He was the frist disciple and originally a disciple of John the Baptizer. Tradition has it that after the resurrection he preached in Scythia (Ukraine and southern Russia). He is the patron saint of Russia. He was crucified spread Eagle in Achaia (southern Greece), where he also preached. That is why Scotland has the St. Andrew's cross.

Simon (the Zealot) the Apostle

Little is recorded of him aside from his name. Tradition has it that he Joined Thaddeus (Jude/Judas/Judah son of James) in Persia (Iran) where they were both martyred. He might have been either crucified or more likely hacked to death.

Thaddaeus (Judah/Jude/Judas, son of James) the Apostle

Tradition has it that he preached in Persia, where he joined Simon the Zealot and was killed with him.

Dorcas (Tabitha), Lydia, and Phoebe

Dorcas (Tabitha in Aramaic, means gazelle)Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him,“Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.-Acts 9:36-42
Lydia
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. -Acts 16:11-15

Then Paul and Silas were imprisoned and let go after their jailer was converted. "So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed." -Acts 16:40

PhoebeI commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. - Romans 16:1-3The word servant in verse 1 is deaconess.

James, Brother of Jesus

From the LCMS website:

"There are a number of "James" referred to in the New Testament, including one called "brother of the Lord." He is listed first among the brothers of Jesus, presumably as the oldest of them (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). Most scholars think that he is the same person as the one simply referred to as James in the book of Acts (12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Cor. 15:7) and in Galatians (2:9, 12). There has been some dispute regarding the relationship between Jesus and James, the natural interpretation being that James was the son of Mary and Joseph (thus a "half-brother" to Jesus). In the history of the Christian church, some believing in the perpetual virginity of Mary developed the view that Jesus and James were foster brothers, while others conjectured that they were cousins. LCMS theologians have found no difficulty with the view that Mary and Joseph themselves together had other children, including James."

Philip the Deacon/Evangelist

Philip is an evangelist who preached the Gospel to the people of Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (see Acts 8:4-8, 26-39 below).

"Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city....

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

"And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”* And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea."

*Note that there is no condition of faith first, before the baptism.

Abraham

God made a covenant with Abraham that his son with Sarah would be their heir.  And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.(Genesis 15). However, because Abraham was 86 years old and Sarah was 76 years old and without children, Sarah did not believe, so she gave her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child with. Hagar had a son name Ishmael. However, the promise did not go through Ishmael because the covenant had already been made. God did see that Hagar and Ishmael would be greatly blessed (Genesis 16).

The Arab nations of today are the descendants of Ishmael, so both the Jews and Arabs are descendants of Abraham. That has been cited as why they struggle so much in general, and especially over the "Tomb of The Patriarchs" in Hebron, in which Abraham is buried, right to this very day.

"Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My Covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (Genesis 17:19).

They did have their son, Isaac, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 21:5).  When Isaac was a kid, God tested Abraham by commanding him to "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." (Genesis 22:2). Abraham passed the test by following God's command, but God stopped it just in time, "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son." (Genesis 22:12). Abraham obeyed because he thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead to keep His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19).

Abraham had been willing to sacrifice his only son to God, just as God Himself would sacrifice His only Son. An interesting note is that Mount Moriah, is today known as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Therefore, Isaac would have been sacrificed very near the place that Jesus Christ was Crucified. This was a foreshadowing and a type of Jesus. After Abraham died, he was buried in the "Tomb of The Patriarchs" which is the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob/Israel and Leah. (Genesis 35:28-29, 49:31).

Abraham is mentioned the most of any old testament figure in the new testament. He is mentioned as the original Jewish patriarch, the father of the chosen people of God, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter. He also mentioned as have been justified by his faith, not works in Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, James.

Matthew (Levi son of Alphaeus) the Apostle

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. -Mark 2:14

Matthew was a 1st-century Galilean, the son of Alpheus. During the Roman occupation (which began in 63 BC with the conquest of Pompey), Matthew collected taxes from the Hebrew people for Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. His tax office was located in Capernaum. Jews who became rich doing that were despised and considered traitors. wrote the Gospel of Matthew. Don't know where he preached after Jesus.

Zacharias and Elizabeth (Parents of John the Baptizer)

Zachariah and Elizabeth were ‘righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord’ (Luke 1:6). Zechariah, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel who announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially Zechariah did not believe Gabriel’s announcement because of their old age. For his disbelieve, Zechariah became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth named her son John. Zechariah confirmed his wife’s choice and his ability to speak was restored. In response, he sang the Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God’s promises in the Old Testament and a prediction of John’s work as forerunner to Jesus (Luke 1:68-79). Zechariah and Elizabeth are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.

John the Baptizer

John was a forerunner of Christ, as we hear frequently, but why? Why did Jesus need a forerunner? Jesus himself says that John was the fulfillment of the old testament prophets (Matthew 3:4), by pointing directly to the Messiah, rather than forward to Him. Mark 1:3 explains how John was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness" prophesied in Isaiah 40:3. He was a kind of Elijah (Malachi 4:5) before Lord.

But, why and how did John prepare the way? John was like a triage diagnosis before seeing the doctor. Jesus brings medicine, but people need to know they are sick.

Also, John preaches and practices baptism, repentance, forgiveness of sins, just like in our liturgy. The whole ministry of John is essentially reproduced at beginning of service, followed by the service of the Holy Communion, just like Jesus dying and shedding his body and blood after John. At the end of John's ministry he states that he must decrease so that Jesus can increase. This is just like the Pastor's vestments, which covers him and why he stands behind a pulpit when preaching the gospel.

Bartholomew (Nathanael) the Apostle

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him,“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” -John 1:45-49

Tradition has it he was martyred either in Derbent, north of present day Badu on the Caspian sea, or in what is now India by being flayed or skinned alive and then beheaded.

Isaac

Isaac's birth was miraculous because his father Abraham was 100 years old when he was born and his mother Sarah was 90 years old (Genesis 21). His birth was also the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, that his descendants would be a great nation and God's chosen people. When Isaac was a young boy, God told Abraham to take him up to mountain to sacrifice him. Abraham obeyed thinking that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), but at the last minute God told him to stop and provided another sacrifice. (Genesis 22). I always wondered what Isaac thought of that. Did he resent his father for it or admire him?

At the age of 40, Isaac married Rebecca (Genesis 25:20). After they had been married for 20 years, they had twin sons, Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:23-26). Jacob eventually became the sole heir of the promise when Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34), and Jacob obtained the blessing through deception of the then nearly blind Isaac (Genesis 27:1-40).

Isaac lived a very long life before dying at Hebron. There, he was buried by Jacob and Esau in the "Tomb of The Patriarchs" which is the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob/Israel and Leah. (Genesis 35:28-29, 49:31).

In the New Testament, Isaac is commonly references as a Patriarch of the Jewish people.  In fact, he is listed in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews as such.

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary the Mother of Jesus lived from approximately 18BC - 41 AD. In Greek, she is known as the "Theotokos" or "God-bearer"? The English equivalent is Mother of God.

The Magnificat  (aka the "Song of Mary", the "Canticle of Mary", or the "Ode of the Theotokos") is from Luke 1:46-55 and is sung after she visits her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, John the Baptist jumps in her womb, and Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;

For He has regarded

the lowliness of His handmaiden.

For behold, from this day

all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things to me,

and holy is His name;

And His mercy is on those who fear Him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy

as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Joanna, Mary, Salome

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles -Luke 24:1-10

Bringing the myrrh, which was an embalming oil and symbol of death, completed the "bookends" of Jesus life along with the three wise men bringing myrrh at the epiphany.

Possible Myrrh-bearers
Mary Magdalene
Joanna, healed by Jesus, manager of Herad Antipas's Household
Salome (Mary), the mother of James and John, wife to Zebedee
Mary, the wife of Cleopas
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Mary of Bethany
Martha of Bethany
Susanna
Joseph of Arimathea
Nicodemus

Joseph of Arimathea

Mentioned in all four Gospels:

Matthew 27:57-60
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Mark 15:42-46
And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb

Luke 23:50-53
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

John 19:38-42
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.