The Chosen - Characters & Cast

To fulfill the will of his Father by seeking and saving the lost. His motivation is divine love, expressed through teaching, healing, and calling people into a new way of life. He is driven to build a community of followers who will carry his message to the world.

Jesus's arc is not one of personal change, but of escalating public ministry and the increasing weight of his mission. He begins quietly, working as a craftsman and performing small, private miracles. As he calls his disciples, his work becomes more public, drawing massive crowds and the attention of authorities. Across the seasons, the series shows him balancing his divine knowledge with genuine human emotion—joy, sorrow, frustration, and compassion. His journey is one of revealing his identity to the world and preparing his followers for his eventual departure, with the tone shifting from hope and wonder in early seasons to one of urgency and impending sorrow in Season 4.

Initially, his motivation is survival and protecting his family. After meeting Jesus, his core motivation becomes a fierce, if often flawed, devotion to his teacher. He desperately wants to please Jesus and be a leader, but must learn that true leadership comes from trust and humility, not just strength.

Simon begins as a brash, debt-ridden fisherman, working with the Romans behind his partners' backs to save his family. His first encounter with Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish is a moment of profound repentance. Throughout the series, his arc is a struggle between his impulsive, passionate nature and the steady faith Jesus calls him to. He often acts as the group's de facto leader but frequently stumbles, questions, and acts out of fear or anger. His journey is one of being molded from an unstable man into "Peter," the rock, a process marked by significant failures and powerful moments of faith, culminating in his confession of Jesus as the Messiah.

Profound gratitude and love for the man who saved her. Having been brought from utter darkness into light, her motivation is to stay close to Jesus and support his ministry in any way she can. She is a constant reminder of the transformative power of his call.

The series begins with her story. Known as "Lilith," she is tormented by demons and lives as an outcast in the Red Quarter of Capernaum. Her dramatic healing by Jesus in the first episode is her foundational moment. Her arc is one of moving from a place of deep trauma and shame to becoming a steadfast, perceptive, and vital member of Jesus's inner circle. She is often shown as being more spiritually attuned than the male disciples and serves as a source of quiet strength and support within the group, having been the first to experience Jesus's profound redemptive power.

A deep desire for order, truth, and understanding. He is driven to document what he sees and comprehend the man who accepted him when no one else would. His motivation evolves from seeking logical explanations to faithfully recording the story he is a part of.

Matthew is introduced as a tax collector, a pariah to his fellow Jews, and is portrayed as being on the autism spectrum. He is methodical, logical, and initially struggles to reconcile the miracles he sees with reality. His arc is a journey from isolation to community. After Jesus calls him, he must learn to navigate social interactions and find his place among people who despise his former profession, particularly Simon Peter. Over time, he uses his unique observational skills and meticulous nature to become the group's chronicler, documenting their journey and finding acceptance and purpose within a community he never thought would welcome him.