In this section, you can explore the New Testament – one story at a time. As the site develops, you’ll find 100 key stories from the New Testament below, brought together into seven groups. This collection will grow gradually, so please be patient if your favourite story isn’t featured just yet!
I. The Early Life of Christ
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
The gospels begin by covering the circumstances of the birth and childhood of Christ, as well as that of St John the Baptist. This includes some of the most famous Bible stories, such as the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi. The Virgin Mary and St Joseph feature heavily in this part of Scripture.
| 1 | The Ancestry of Christ | Matthew 1:1-17 |
| 2 | The Life of St Joseph | Matthew 1:18-2:23 |
| 3 | St Zechariah’s Vision | Luke 1:5-25 |
| 4 | The Annunciation | Luke 1:26-38 |
| 5 | The Visitation | Luke 1:39-45 |
| 6 | The Magnificat | Luke 1:46-56 |
| 7 | The Birth of St John the Baptist | Luke 1:57-66 |
| 8 | The Benedictus | Luke 1:67-80 |
| 9 | The Nativity | Luke 2:1-20 |
| 10 | The Adoration of the Magi | Matthew 2:1-12 |
| 11 | The Presentation at the Temple | Luke 2:22-38 |
| 12 | The Flight into Egypt | Matthew 2:13-15 |
| 13 | The Holy Innocents | Matthew 2:16-18 |
| 14 | Christ among the Doctors | Luke 2:41-50 |
| 15 | The Childhood of Christ | Luke 2:39-40;51-52 |
II. The Ministry of Christ
The Feeding of the 5,000 / Balavendra Elias / St George’s, Hangleton
“The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Matthew 11:5)
Christ’s public ministry began at aged 30, when he was baptised by St John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The gospels record many stories from his life as he toured the country, preaching to the people and performing miracles. They also tell us more about those who became his disciples – and of the fate of St John.
III. Parables of Christ
“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)
Christ told many stories, known as ‘parables’, to help people understand more about the kingdom of God. Drawing on scenes from everyday life, such as a woman sweeping the house or a farmer working in the field, he challenged his listeners to think differently about what it means to be a true disciple of his.
| 44 | Parable of the Good Samaritan | Luke 10:29-37 |
| 45 | Parable of the Prodigal Son | Luke 15:11-32 |
| 46 | Parable of the Sower | Mark 4:1-9 |
| 47 | Parable of the Lost Sheep | Luke 15:1-7 |
| 48 | Parable of the Ten Virgins | Matthew 25:1-13 |
IV. The ‘I Am’ Sayings of Christ
“I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness. Rather, he will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
In his gospel, St John includes a series of significant statements made by Christ, each starting with the words ‘I am’. Examples include Christ being ‘the light of the world’, ‘the good shepherd’ and the ‘bread of life’. These unique sayings were meant to tell us more about Christ’s identity and the supernatural life.
| 49 | I am the Bread of Life | John 6:35 |
| 50 | I am the Light of the World | John 8:12 |
| 51 | I am the Good Shepherd | John 10:1-21 |
| 52 | I am the Resurrection and the Life | John 11:25 |
| 53 | I am the Way, the Truth & the Life | John 14:1-7 |
V. Holy Week
Christ is Crucified / Philip Lindsey Clark / Holy Apostles, Pimlico
“The Son of Man will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have scourged him, they will put him to death, and on the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:32-33)
Before his death on the cross, Christ spent his final week in Jerusalem. He arrived in triumph on the Sunday, but by Friday he had been betrayed and put to death. In the Church’s worship, this last period of his life is observed as ‘Holy Week’. This is when Catholics recall episodes from that sombre time such as the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden and the Way of the Cross.
| 54 | Christ enters Jerusalem | Matthew 21:1-11 |
| 55 | Christ washes the disciples’ feet | John 13:1-38 |
| 56 | Judas betrays Christ | Matthew 27:3-10 |
| 57 | The Last Supper | Luke 22:7-38 |
| 58 | The Agony in the Garden | Matthew 26:36-46 |
| 59 | Christ is Arrested | Matthew 26:47-56 |
| 60 | St Peter denies Christ | Luke 22:54-62 |
| 61 | Christ is condemned to death | John 19:4-16 |
| 62 | The Crowning with Thorns | Matthew 27:27-31 |
| 63 | The Scourging at the Pillar | John 19:1-3 |
| 64 | Christ carries his Cross | John 19:16-17 |
| 65 | Simon of Cyrene helps Christ | Mark 15:21-22 |
| 66 | Christ comforts the women of Jerusalem | Luke 23:27-31 |
| 67 | Christ is stripped of his garments | John 19:23-24 |
| 68 | Christ is crucified | Mark 15:24-25 |
| 69 | Christ entrusts Mary to St John | John 19:25-27 |
| 70 | Christ dies upon the cross | John 19:28-30 |
| 71 | The Centurion’s faith in Christ | Mark 15:39 |
| 72 | The Deposition of Christ | Mark 15:42-47 |
| 73 | The Burial of Christ | John 19:38-42 |
VI. The Victory of Christ
The Ascension of Christ / Maurizia Lees / Our Lady of the Rosary, Brixton
“God raised him from the dead, and over a period of many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.” (Acts 13:30-31)
After he had risen from the dead on Easter morning, Christ appeared first to St Mary Magdalene, who then informed the rest of the disciples. After this, he appeared to two of the other disciples on the Road to Emmaus. Still later, he appeared to all of the apostles, both in Jerusalem and Galilee, before leaving for heaven.
| 74 | The Resurrection of Christ | Matthew 28:9-10 |
| 75 | The Holy Women at the Tomb | Mark 16:1-8 |
| 76 | Christ appears to St Mary Magdalene | John 20:11-18 |
| 77 | St Thomas doubts Christ | John 20:19-29 |
| 78 | The Road to Emmaus | Luke 24:13-35 |
| 79 | The Breakfast at Lake Galilee |
John 21:1-17 |
| 80 | The Ascension of Christ | Acts 1:1-11 |
VII. The Lives of the Apostles and Saints
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the farthest ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Starting from the day of Pentecost, the book of Acts unfolds the story of the establishment and growth of the Church. From this book – and from the 21 letters included in the New Testament – we learn more about those who preached the faith, wrote the gospels and who gave their lives for Christ.
| 81 | The Election of St Matthias | Acts 1:15-26 |
| 82 | The Descent of the Holy Spirit | Acts 2:1-11 |
| 83 | St Peter heals a disabled beggar | Acts 3:1-10 |
| 84 | The Martyrdom of St Stephen | Acts 7:55-60 |
| 85 | The Road to Damascus | Acts 9:1-19 |
| 86 | The Martyrdom of St James Major | Acts 12:1-3 |
| 87 | St Peter’s rescue from prison | Acts 12:1-19 |
| 88 | The Council of Jerusalem | Acts 15:1-29 |
| 89 | The Life and Letters of St Paul | Acts 21:1-21 |
| 90 | St Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist | Matthew 9:9-13 |
| 91 | St Mark the Evangelist | Acts 12:25-13:15 |
| 92 | St Luke the Evangelist | Colossians 4:14 |
| 93 | St John, Apostle and Evangelist | John 21:20-25 |
| 94 | St Timothy, the student of St Paul | Acts 16:1-4 |
| 95 | The Martyrdom of St Paul | 2 Timothy 4:6-8 |
| 96 | St James Minor the Apostle | James 1:1-27 |
| 97 | The Martyrdom of St Peter | 2 Peter 1:12-15 |
| 98 | St Jude the Apostle | Jude 1:1-2 |
| 99 | The Revelation of St John | Revelation 1:1-20 |
| 100 | The Woman of the Apocalypse | Revelation 12:1-6 |
Lo & Behold 