I. The Prologue
 

Chapter 1
Prologue (1:1-18)
"Prologue" characters in reference: God, John, Moses, Jesus Christ, World

The Witness of John (the Baptist) (1:19-34)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
John	Jews
Jesus	Priests
	Levites

"The Witness of John (the Baptist)" characters in reference:Elijah, Isaiah, Spirit

The First Disciples of Jesus (1:35-51)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS
John	John’s two disciples
Jesus
Andrew
Simon Peter
Philip
Nathanael

"The First Disciples of Jesus" characters in reference: John (Peter’s Father)
 

 
Chapter 2
The Wedding Feast at Cana (2:1-12)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Mother of Jesus	Disciples
	Chief Steward	Servants of the Feast
	Bridegroom

Jesus’ First Passover in Jerusalem: The Cleansing of the Temple (2:13-23)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Merchants in the Temple
	Jews
	Disciples

Chapter 3
Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus; (2:24-3:21)

NAMED CHARACTERS

Jesus

Nicodemus

"Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus" characters in reference: God , Moses, People who Love Darkness, People who Come to the Light,     World

John (Baptist's) Testimony (3:22-35)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	A Jew	Disciples
John		John’s Disciples

"John (Baptist’s) Testimony" characters in reference: God, Spirit
 

Chapter 4
The Samaritan Woman at the Well (4:1-42)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Samaritan Woman	Pharisees
John		Disciples
		People of Sychar

"The Samaritan Woman at the Well" characters in reference: God, Jacob (son of Isaac), Joseph (son of Jacob), Samaritan Woman’s Husbands

Healing of a Royal Official’s Son (4:43-54)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Royal Official	Royal Official’s Slaves

"Healing of a Royal Official’s Son" characters in reference: Royal Official’s Son
 
 

Chapter 5
The Sabbath Healing of a Sick Man at the Bethzatha Pool in Jerusalem (5:1-18)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	The Ill Man	A Group of Invalids
God		Jews

Ensuing Controversy (5:19-47)

NAMED CHARACTERS

Jesus

John

Moses

"Ensuing Controversy" characters in reference: Father, Dead, Messengers sent to John
 

Chapter 6
Jesus’ Second Passover: Feeding of 5000 (6:1-15)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Boy with Bread and Fish	Crowd
Philip		Disciples
Andrew

"Jesus’ Second Passover: Feeding of 5000" characters in reference: Sick

Walking on Water (6:16-20)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Disciples

Bread of Life Discourse (6:21-71)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Ancestors of the Crowd	Crowd
Simon Peter		Disciples
Judas		Twelve

"Bread of Life Discourse" characters in reference: Father, God, Jews Joseph ("Father" of Jesus Moses), Mother of Jesus, Prophets Simon Iscariot (Father to Judas) Spirit
 

Chapter7
The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem

NAMED INDIVIDUALS	UNNAMED INDIVIDUALS	GROUPS
Jesus	Jesus’ Brothers	Jews
Nicodemus		Crowd
		Chief Priests
		Pharisees
		Temple Police

"The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem" characters in reference: David, Greeks, God, Moses, World,Spirit
 

Chapter 8
[Adulterous Woman (7:53-8:11)]

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Woman Caught in Adultery	People
		Scribes
		Pharisees
		Elders

"Adulterous Woman" characters in reference: Moses

Jesus as "Light of the World" and the Origin & Identity of Jesus (8:12-20)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Pharisees
	Jews

"Jesus as ‘Light of the World’ and the Origin & Identity of Jesus" characters in reference: Abraham, Abraham’s Children, Father, Prophets, Slaves
 

Chapter 9
The Man Born Blind (9:1-41)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Man Blind from Birth	Disciples
		Neighbors
		Pharisees
		Jews
		Parents

"The Man Born Blind" characters in reference:God
 

Chapter 10
The Good Shepherd Discourse (10: 1-21)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Jews

"The Good Shepherd Discourse" characters in reference: Father, Hired Hand, Man Blind from Birth, Other Sheep, Sheep, Shepherd, Stranger, Thief and a Bandit, Wolf

Feast of Dedication and Retreat across the Jordan (10:22-42)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Jews
	Those who Went to Jesus

"Feast of Dedication and Retreat across the Jordan" characters in reference: Father, Sheep
 

Chapter 11
The Raising of Lazarus at Bethany (11:1-44)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Lazarus	Disciples
Mary of Bethany	Jews
Martha
Jesus
Thomas

"The Raising of Lazarus at Bethany" characters in reference: God

Final Plot against Jesus and Retreat to Ephraim (11:45-57)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Caiaphas	Jews
	Chief Priests
	Council
	Disciples

"Final Plot against Jesus and Retreat to Ephraim" characters in refernce: Mary of Bethany, Jesus, Romans
 

Chapter 12
The Third Passover in Judea and Anointing at Bethany (12:1-11)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Jews
Lazarus
Martha
Mary of Bethany
Judas Iscariot

"The Third Passover in Judea and Anointing at Bethany" characters in reference: Poor

Final Entry into Jerusalem and "the Hour" (12:12-50)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Crowd
Philip	Disciples
Andrew	Pharisees
	Greeks

"Final Entry into Jerusalem and ‘the Hour’" characters in reference: Father, Isaiah, Lazarus
 

 
Chapter 13
The Last Supper: Washing of Disciples’ Feet and the Foretelling of Judas’ Betrayal & Peter’s Denial

NAMED INDIVIDUALS	UNNAMED INDIVIDUALS	GROUPS
Jesus	Disciple whom Jesus Loved	Disciples
The Devil
Judas
Simon Peter

Chapter13 characters in reference: Father, Simon Iscariot
 

Chapter 14, 15 & 16
Farewell Discourse

NAMED INDIVIDUALS	GROUPS
Jesus	Disciples
Thomas
Philip
Judas (not Iscariot)

"Farewell Discourse" characters in reference: Advocate (Holy Spirit), Father, God, World
 

Chapter 17
The Great Prayer of Jesus

NAMED INDIVIDUALS	GROUPS
Jesus	Disciples

"The Great Prayer of Jesus" characters in reference: Evil One, Father, World
 

Chapter 18 & 19
The Arrest in Garden (18:1-11)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Disciples
Judas Iscariot	Soldiers
Simon Peter	Police
Malchus, the High Priest’s Slave	Chief Priests
	Pharisees

"The Arrest in Garden" characters in reference: Father

Meeting in Annas’ House (18:12-14, 19-24)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Officer	Soldiers
Annas	Police who struck Jesus	Jewish Police

"Meeting in Annas’ House" characters in reference: Caiaphas, Jews

Peter’s Denial (18:15-18, 25-27)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS
Simon Peter	Another Disciple with Peter
Jesus	Woman Who Guarded the Gate
	Relative of Malchus

"Peter’s Denial" characters in reference: Police, Slaves

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate (18:28-40; 19:1-16)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Soldiers
Caiaphas
Pilate
Barabbas

"Jesus’ Trial before Pilate" characters in reference: Chief Priests, Emperor, Jesus’ Followers"Jesus’" Nation, Jews

Crucifixion / Glorification (19:17-30)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Two Crucified Bandits	"They"
Pilate	Mother of Jesus	Jews
Mary, the Wife of Clopas	Mother of Jesus’ Sister	Chief Priests
Mary Magdalene	Disciple whom Jesus Loved	Soldiers

Death (19:31-37)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Pilate	Two Crucified Bandits	Jews
Jesus	One of the Soldiers with a Spear	Soldiers

Burial (19:38-42)

NAMED CHARACTERS

Jesus

Joseph of Arimathea

Pilate

Nicodemus

Chapter 20
The Empty Tomb (20:1-10)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UuNNAMED CHARACTERS
Mary Magdalene	Disciple whom Jesus Loved
Simon Peter

"The Empty Tomb" characters in reference: Jesus

The Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Mary Magdalene	Two Angels	Disciples
Jesus

"The Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene" characters in reference: Father

The Risen Lord appears to the Disciples and to Thomas & the First Conclusion (20:19-31)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Holy Spirit	Disciples
Thomas		Twelve

"The Risen Lord appears to the Disciples and to Thomas & the First Conclusion" characters in reference: Father, Jews
 
 

III. Epilogue

Chapter 21
Breakfast Appearance by Sea of Tiberias (21:1-14)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Sons of Zebedee	Disciples
Simon Peter	Two Other Disciples
Thomas
Nathanael

Jesus’ Instructions to Peter (21:15-19)

NAMED CHARACTERS	GROUPS
Jesus	Lambs
Simon Peter	Sheep

"Jesus’ Instructions to Peter" characters in reference: John (Father of Simon Peter)

The Beloved Disciple and Second Conclusion (21:20-25)

NAMED CHARACTERS	UNNAMED CHARACTERS
Peter	The Disciple whom Jesus Loved
Jesus

 

*This outline of chapter divisions of the Gospel according to John is adapted from the outline created by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D..