The Chosen is an American historical drama television series created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multiseason series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the 1st century, the series centers on Jesus and the different people who met and followed or otherwise interacted with him. The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis.
Cast
Main = Main cast (credited) = Recurring cast (2+) = Guest cast (1) Character Portrayed by Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 Simon Peter Shahar Isaac colspan="5" Jesus Jonathan Roumie colspan="5" Mary Magdalene Elizabeth Tabish colspan="5" Matthew the Apostle Paras Patel colspan="5" Andrew Noah James colspan="5" Zohara Janis Dardaris colspan="1" colspan="3" Eden Lara Silva colspan="1" colspan="3" Shmuel Shaan Sharma colspan="5" Zebedee Nick Shakoour colspan="5" John the Apostle George H. Xanthis colspan="5" Big James Shayan Sobhian colspan="4" Kian Kavousi colspan="4" Abe Bueno-Jallad colspan="4" Nicodemus Erick Avari colspan="3" Quintus Benedictus Dio Brandon Potter colspan="2" Gaius Kirk B. R. Woller colspan="3" Thaddaeus Giavani Cairo colspan="5" Little James Jordan Walker Ross colspan="5" Thomas Joey Vahedi colspan="4" Ramah Yasmine Al-Bustami colspan="3" Mary of Nazareth Vanessa Benavente colspan="4" Philip Yoshi Barrigas colspan="2" colspan="2" Reza Diako colspan="3" colspan="2" Nathanael Austin Reed Alleman colspan="4" Simon Z. Alaa Safi colspan="4" Judas Iscariot Luke Dimyan colspan="3" Yussif Ivan Jasso colspan="2" colspan="3" Tamar Amber Shana Williams colspan="3" Atticus Aemilius Pulcher Elijah Alexander colspan="3"
Recurring
Character Portrayed by Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 The Blind Beggar Andrew Flagg colspan="2" John the Baptizer David Amito colspan="5" Josiah Steve Shermett colspan="2" Salome of Capernaum Nina Rose Leon colspan="3" Dasha Leticia Magaña colspan="2" Jesse Dennis Apergis Yanni Wasim No'mani colspan="4" Madai Tony Sears colspan="3" Lamech Sergio Lanza colspan="3" Alphaeus Troy Caylak colspan="2" Jairus Alessandro Colla colspan="2" colspan="2" Veronica Zhaleh Vossough colspan="2" Leander Tom Connolly colspan="2" Michal Mel Mehrabian colspan="2" colspan="2" Nili Ella McCain colspan="2" colspan="2" Akiva Philip Shahbaz colspan="2" colspan="2" Fatiyah Sonya Balmores colspan="2" Dion Andy Dispensa colspan="2" Argo Greg Roman colspan="2" colspan="2" Telemachus Kace Winfield colspan="2" colspan="2" Ivo Malachi Grayson colspan="2" Chuza Nick Chinlund colspan="3" Joanna Amy Bailey colspan="2" colspan="2" Herodias Shereen Khan colspan="3" Herod Antipas Paul Ben-Victor colspan="3" Joseph Ben Caiaphas Richard Fancy colspan="3" colspan="2" Zebadiah Brad Culver colspan="3" colspan="2" Shammai Ric Sarabia colspan="2" David Jorge Franco IV colspan="2" Lazarus Demetrios Troy colspan="2" Martha Sophia Cameron Blum colspan="2" colspan="2" Mary of Bethany Catherine Lidstone colspan="2" colspan="2" Gedera Liche Ariza colspan="3" colspan="2" Malchus Jonathan Togo colspan="4" Pontius Pilate Andrew James Allen colspan="2" colspan="2" Claudia Sarah J. Bartholomew colspan="2" colspan="2" Matthias Jake Sidney Cohen colspan="3" Ozem Ethan Flower colspan="2" colspan="2" Simon of Cyrene Tony N. King colspan="4" Shimon Juri Henley-Cohn colspan="3" Tova Camille Kasemsri colspan="4" John Mark Nick Alvarez colspan="4"
Main characters
Simon Peter Portrayed by Shahar Isaac, Simon Peter is a former fisherman in Capernaum, who is the de facto leader and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is one of the sons of Jonah, the older brother of Andrew, the husband of Eden, the son-in-law of Dasha, and a former fishing partner of Zebedee and his sons. Alongside the two brothers, Big James and John, Simon Peter is part of Jesus's inner circle. Jesus gives Simon a new name, Peter, meaning "rock".
Max Valentin Esquivel portrays a child Simon Peter.
Jesus Portrayed by Jonathan Roumie, Jesus is a craftsman and a rabbi from Nazareth. The son of Mary and Joseph, and the cousin of John the Baptizer, he is considered the Messiah and the Son of God by some, but due to the crowds that follow him, he is viewed as a potential threat by others. Jesus often identifies himself as the "Son of Man".
James Nowosielski, Darren Valinotti, and Shayan Naveed Fazli portray baby, child, and adolescent Jesus, respectively.
Mary Magdalene Portrayed by Elizabeth Tabish, Mary Magdalene is a formerly demon-possessed woman from Magdala and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry.
Camila Carreon portrays a child Mary Magdalene.
Matthew the Apostle Portrayed by Paras Patel, Matthew is a former tax collector in Capernaum and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is the son of Alphaeus and the former tax collector of Simon Peter and Andrew.
Director Dallas Jenkins, who has stated he is "very familiar with the Autism community", chose to have Matthew portrayed as being on the Autism spectrum, with certain mannerisms of his character reflecting this despite the show never explicitly describing him as autistic nor the historical Matthew the Apostle having been described as such. While controversial, this received praise from those with autism and other mental or physical conditions.
Andrew Portrayed by Noah James, Andrew is a former fisherman in Capernaum and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is one of the sons of Jonah, the younger brother of Simon Peter, a former disciple of John the Baptizer, a friend of Philip from his hometown, Bethsaida, and a former fishing partner of Zebedee and his sons. Alongside Philip, he is a former comrade of Avner and Nadab.
Zohara Portrayed by Janis Dardaris, Zohara is the wife of Nicodemus.
Eden Portrayed by Lara Silva, Eden is the wife of Simon Peter, the daughter of Dasha, and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry.
Shmuel Portrayed by Shaan Sharma, Shmuel is a leading Pharisee from Capernaum and a member of the Sanhedrin.
Zebedee Portrayed by Nick Shakoour, Zebedee is a former fisherman in Capernaum, the father of Big James and John, the husband of Salome, and a former fishing partner of Simon Peter and Andrew.
John the Apostle Portrayed by George H. Xanthis, John is a former fisherman in Capernaum and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is one of the sons of Zebedee and Salome, the younger brother of Big James, and a former fishing partner of Simon Peter and Andrew. Jesus nicknames him and his brother, Big James, the "sons of thunder". Alongside Simon Peter and Big James, John is a part of Jesus's inner circle.
William Spinelli portrays a child John the Apostle.
Big James Portrayed by Shayan Sobhian and Kian Kavousi in season 1 then by Abe Bueno-Jallad starting with season 2, Big James is a former fisherman in Capernaum and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is one of the sons of Zebedee and Salome, the older brother of John, and a former fishing partner of Simon Peter and Andrew. Jesus nicknames him and his brother, John, the "sons of thunder". Alongside Simon Peter and John, Big James is a part of Jesus's inner circle.
Roxton Garcia portrays a child Big James.
Nicodemus Portrayed by Erick Avari, Nicodemus is a leading Pharisee from Jerusalem, a respected rabbi, and a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin. He is a secret disciple of Jesus.
Quintus Benedictus Dio Portrayed by Brandon Potter, Quintus Benedictus Dio is a former Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the former Praetor of Galilee.
Gaius Portrayed by Kirk B. R. Woller, Gaius is a former high-ranking Roman centurion and a Roman magistrate in Capernaum, the father of his servant son named Ivo, and the current Praetor of Galilee. He is the former guard of Matthew.
Thaddaeus Portrayed by Giavani Cairo, Thaddaeus is a former stonemason in Bethsaida and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus.
Little James Portrayed by Jordan Walker Ross, Little James is a former prospective member of the 288 Jerusalem Temple choir and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus.
Thomas Portrayed by Joey Vahedi, Thomas is a former caterer from the Plains of Sharon, the partner of Ramah, and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus.
Ramah Portrayed by Yasmine Al-Bustami, Ramah is a former vintner from Tel Dor, the partner of Thomas, and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry.
While many parts of Ramah's character and arc were added for the show, she represents the many women who helped Jesus's ministry and was featured as a major character to provide emotional depth to the series. Her death sparked controversy among audiences, though Jenkins and his wife deemed the plot point necessary to spark discussion on a recurring theme in Christianity and other faiths.
Mary of Nazareth Portrayed by Vanessa Benavente, Mary is the earthly mother of Jesus, the widowed wife of Joseph, the daughter of Joachim of Nazareth, and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry. She is a relative of the couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and the aunt of John the Baptizer.
Sara Anne recurs as a younger Mary.
Philip Portrayed by Yoshi Barrigas in seasons 2 and 3 then by Reza Diako starting with season 4, Philip is a former disciple of John the Baptizer and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is both a companion of Andrew from his hometown, Bethsaida, and an old friend of Nathanael. Alongside Andrew, he is a former comrade of Avner and Nadab.
Nathanael Portrayed by Austin Reed Alleman, Nathanael is a former architect in Caesarea Philippi from Cana and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is the son of Talmai and an old friend of Philip.
Simon Z. Portrayed by Alaa Safi, Simon Z. is a former Zealot from Ashkelon and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is the brother of Jesse, the healed paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda.
Joseph Scott Campbell portrays an adolescent Simon Z.
Judas Iscariot Portrayed by Luke Dimyan, Judas Iscariot is a former business apprentice from Kerioth, who is the treasurer and one of the twelve disciples, called apostles, of Jesus. He is the son of Simon Iscariot.
Yussif Portrayed by Ivan Jasso, Yussif is a leading Pharisee from Jerusalem, a respected rabbi, and a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin. He is a secret disciple of Jesus.
Tamar Portrayed by Amber Shana Williams, Tamar is an Ethiopian friend of Ethan, the healed paralytic in Capernaum, from Heliopolis, and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry.
Atticus Aemilius Pulcher Portrayed by Elijah Alexander, Atticus Aemilius Pulcher is one of the Roman cohortes urbanae sent from Rome to investigate the Zealots and then Jesus.
Recurring characters
The Blind Beggar (Andrew Flagg) The blind beggar is a miracle recipient of Jesus on the road in Capernaum.
John the Baptizer (David Amito) John is an eccentric rabbi, a wandering preacher in the wilderness who baptizes in the Jordan River, and the cousin of Jesus. He is the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, and a nephew of Mary. He is the former rabbi of Andrew and Philip and the rabbi of Avner and Nadab.
Josiah (Steve Shermett) Josiah is a Pharisee in Capernaum.
Salome of Capernaum (Nina Rose Leon) Salome is the wife of Zebedee, the mother of Big James and John, and one of the women helping Jesus's ministry.
Dasha (Leticia Magana) Dasha is the mother-in-law of Simon Peter and the mother of Eden.
Jesse (Dennis Apergis) Jesse is a former paralytic from Ashkelon, who is healed by Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda. He is the brother of Simon Z.
Yanni (Wasim No'mani) Yanni is a leading Pharisee in Jerusalem.
Madai (Tony Sears) Madai is a leading Pharisee in Wadi Kelt.
Lamech (Sergio Lanza) Lamech is a Pharisee in Wadi Kelt.
Alphaeus (Troy Caylak) Alphaeus is the father of Matthew.