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← Circles and connections

John the Baptist's Circle

Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and the disciples who moved from John to Jesus.

A priestly coupleMary and Elizabeth are relativesJohn and Jesus as cousinsJohn baptizes JesusAndrew: a disciple of John who followed JesusAndrew: a disciple of John who followed JesusAndrew: a disciple of John who followed JesusAndrew and Simon PeterThe unnamed second disciple in John 1The unnamed second disciple in John 1The unnamed second disciple in John 1Andrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaAndrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaAndrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaAndrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaAndrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaAndrew, Peter, and Philip of BethsaidaNathanael and BartholomewNathanael and BartholomewNathanael and BartholomewJohn's baptism still alive in EphesusZechariahPriest, father of John the BaptistElizabethThe wife of Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist.MaryMother of Jesus; wife of Joseph.John — The Baptist, a prophet…The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for JesusJesusThe Son of God and Savior of the world.AndrewApostle, brother of Simon PeterPeterApostle of Jesus, leader in the early churchJohn — Apostle and son of Zeb…Apostle and son of ZebedeePhilipOne of the twelve apostles of JesusBethsaidaTown where Jesus performed miracles, home of several disciplesNathanaelDisciple of Jesus, from Cana in Galilee.BartholomewOne of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.ApollosEloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria, co-worker with Paul
Links shared by the whole circle are listed below rather than drawn.FamilyRoleTeacher & studentFriendsHometownSolid line = stated or widely accepted · dashed = tradition, debate or hypothesis

Who is connected to whom

PersonConnections in this circle
Zechariah
Father of John
A priestly couple Stated in the text
Elizabeth
The wife of Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist.
A priestly couple Stated in the text
Mary
Mosther of Jesus
John
A prophet
John and Jesus as cousins Church tradition
John baptizes Jesus Stated in the text
Jesus
Son of Joseph
John and Jesus as cousins Church tradition
John baptizes Jesus Stated in the text
Andrew
An apostle
Andrew and Simon Peter Stated in the text
Peter
An apostle
Andrew and Simon Peter Stated in the text
John
An apostle
Philip
An apostle
Bethsaida
Town where Jesus performed miracles, home of several disciples
Nathanael
Disciple of Jesus, from Cana in Galilee.
Bartholomew
An apostle
Apollos
Eloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria, co-worker with Paul

The evidence, connection by connection

All · 10Stated in the text · 7Church tradition · 2Debated · 1
FamilyFriendsHometownRoleTeacher & student

John and Jesus as cousins

FamilyChurch tradition

Because Mary and Elizabeth are relatives, John and Jesus are commonly called cousins. Luke says only that they were kin, and Luke 1:36 uses a general term that could cover several degrees of relationship.

JohnA prophetJesusSon of Joseph
Where the text shows it: Luke 1:36 — RelativeJohn 1:31 — John says "I did not know him"
Ways people read this (3)
  • Cousins (traditional).
  • Some propose a looser kin tie, e.g. through the priestly tribe (Mary might be of a Levitical family, which is not stated).
  • John 1:31 "I did not know him" is often reconciled with their family tie as meaning he did not know him as Messiah.

Sources: Scripture

John baptizes Jesus

RoleStated in the text

Jesus came to John at the Jordan and was baptized. John identified him as the Lamb of God and testified to the descent of the Spirit. The two were in parallel ministries for a time.

JohnA prophetJesusSon of Joseph
Where the text shows it: Matthew 3:13-17 — BaptismJohn 1:29-34 — John testifiesJohn 3:22-30 — Parallel baptizing

Sources: Scripture

Andrew: a disciple of John who followed Jesus

Teacher & studentStated in the text

John 1 has two disciples of John leave him after John says "Behold the Lamb of God" and follow Jesus. One is Andrew, who then brings his brother Simon. The fishermen of the Twelve thus include at least one who began with John.

JohnA prophetAndrewAn apostleJesusSon of Joseph
Where the text shows it: John 1:35-40 — Two of John's disciples follow Jesus; Andrew namedJohn 1:41-42 — Andrew brings Simon

Sources: Scripture

Andrew and Simon Peter

FamilyStated in the text

Andrew is the brother of Simon Peter, both sons of John (or Jonah) and fishermen. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus.

AndrewAn apostlePeterAn apostle
Where the text shows it: John 1:40-42 — Andrew finds his brother SimonMatthew 4:18 — Simon and Andrew casting a netMatthew 16:17 — Simon son of Jonah

Sources: Scripture

The unnamed second disciple in John 1

FriendsChurch tradition

Andrew is named but his companion in John 1:35-40 is not. Tradition identifies the unnamed disciple as John son of Zebedee, consistent with the Gospel's habit of not naming its likely author.

JohnAn apostleAndrewAn apostleJohnA prophet
Where the text shows it: John 1:35-40 — Andrew and another discipleJohn 21:2 — Sons of Zebedee present among disciples
Ways people read this (3)
  • John son of Zebedee (traditional and common reading).
  • Another disciple, perhaps Philip or an otherwise unknown figure.
  • The text leaves the companion unnamed.

Sources: Scripture

Andrew, Peter, and Philip of Bethsaida

HometownStated in the text

John says Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Yet Mark places Simon's house in Capernaum, so the family may have moved. Andrew and Philip later bring Greeks to Jesus together.

AndrewAn apostlePeterAn apostlePhilipAn apostleBethsaidaTown where Jesus performed miracles, home of several disciples
Where the text shows it: John 1:44 — From Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and PeterMark 1:29 — Simon's house in CapernaumJohn 12:20-22 — Philip and Andrew bring Greeks

Sources: Scripture

Nathanael and Bartholomew

FriendsDebated

The Synoptic lists pair Philip with Bartholomew, and John pairs Philip with Nathanael. Many infer Nathanael is Bartholomew ("son of Talmai"), but no text says so.

NathanaelDisciple of Jesus, from Cana in Galilee.BartholomewAn apostlePhilipAn apostle
Where the text shows it: John 1:45-49 — Philip finds NathanaelMatthew 10:3 — Philip and Bartholomew pairedJohn 21:2 — Nathanael of Cana in Galilee
Ways people read this (2)
  • Nathanael is Bartholomew (widely proposed, based on the pairing).
  • Nathanael is a separate disciple not in the Twelve lists.

Sources: Scripture

Drafted with AI assistance from the biblical text and named historical sources, and labelled by how firmly each link is supported. Family links also draw on STEPBible’s TIPNR data (CC BY 4.0). Where tradition or hypothesis is involved, read the cited verses and judge for yourself.