Christian Studies by Credo Reference: Early Christianity

1st-century Jewish teacher and prophet in whom Christians have traditionally seen the Messiah [Heb.,=annointed one, whence Christ from the Greek] and whom they have characterized as Son of God and as Word or Wisdom of God incarnate.

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
Jewish prophet, considered by Christians to be the forerunner of Jesus. He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was also a kinswoman of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his birth was miraculously foretold.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was the early Christian leader who is often considered to be the person responsible for making Christianity a world religion rather than a small sect of Judaism.

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
Most prominent of the Twelve Apostles, listed first in the Gospels, and traditionally the first bishop of Rome.

In the New Testament, the mother of Jesus through divine intervention (see Annunciation and Virgin Birth), wife of Joseph. The Roman Catholic Church maintains belief in her Immaculate Conception (birth without original sin) and bodily assumption into heaven, and venerates her as a mediator.

Full name Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus. 10 BC-54 AD, Roman emperor (41-54); invaded Britain (43); poisoned by his fourth wife, Agrippina.

Dynasty reigning in Palestine at the time of Jesus. As a dynasty the Herods depended largely on the power of Rome. They are usually blamed for the state of virtual anarchy in Palestine at the beginning of the Christian era.

Full name Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus; original name Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. 37-68 AD, Roman emperor (54-68). He became notorious for his despotism and cruelty, and was alleged to have started the fire (64) that destroyed a large part of Rome.

The Roman emperor whose years of rule ( AD 14–37) include the ministry and crucifixion of Jesus.

Latin name Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus. 9-79 AD, Roman emperor (69-79), who consolidated Roman rule, especially in Britain and Germany. He began the building of the Colosseum.