Art and the Bible

Does John 7:53—8:11 belong in the Bible?

As recounted in the Old Testament book of Genesis, on his way to Haran, Jacob lay down in the wilderness to sleep (Genesis 28:10-22), resting his head on a stone. He dreamed of angels ascending and descending a stairway or ladder to heaven (here depicted as a monumental Renaissance-style staircase). God then appeared and blessed Jacob and his descendants.

The painting in question represents the arrest of Simeon, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. The protagonist is portrayed wearing a pink cloak and a broad-brimmed straw hat as several soldiers lead him to an underground cell. According to the Biblical narration, Simeon and his brothers were unjustly accused of stealing a cup after they arrived in Egypt to escape a terrible famine. In reality, the theft was ably staged by the local viceroy Joseph: sold into slavery many years before by his brothers, Joseph wished to pay them back for their action; by having one of them arrested, he further forced the others to bring his beloved brother Benjamin to Egypt.

Subject of the Gospel of John (11:38-44): Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, one prostrates herself before the miracle performed by Christ, who, before the tomb, says, "Lazarus, come out!" and the dead man rose from the grave, half-buried, his face still covered with a shroud. The other tries to pull Lazarus out. The Apostles and witnesses react with surprise, fear, and joy.

This finely painted work depicts the Annunciation: the Archangel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that she has been chosen to become the mother of Christ.

The episode, described in the Gospel of John (2:1–11), in which Christ carries out his first miracle during a wedding feast at Cana, turning jugs of water into wine, is set in a sumptuous room with a row of smooth columns in the back alternating with lavish festoons and a table in the middle supported by richly decorated Corinthian capitals.

Collection: Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abel was murdered by his older brother, Cain, in the world’s first recorded act of homicide. According to the biblical account in Genesis 4, this event was triggered by jealousy and anger after God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain's

In the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, God guides Saint Joseph through four distinct dreams. An angel appears in each dream to give crucial instructions that protect Jesus and Mary, showing Joseph's deep obedience, righteousness, and instant trust in God’s plan.

Collection: Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA, United States

The finding of the stolen silver cup is a famous test in the Bible story of Joseph, where Joseph hides his special cup in Benjamin's sack, accuses his brothers of theft, and ultimately leads them to show true remorse and love for their youngest brother.

John the Baptist appears as the forerunner of Christ, preaching to a crowd of men (Luke 3: 1–17). He can be identified by his traditional camel-skin costume, which he wears beneath a billowing red mantle, and by the thin reed cross in his left hand. He points towards heaven, referring to the coming of Christ. When the altarpiece was intact, he would also have been pointing to the identically dressed Baptist in the main panel above, who points towards the infant Christ.

Collection: The Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, RI, United States

This painting depicts the meeting of the Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, who are both pregnant, with Jesus and John the Baptist, respectively.

The Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: “Come, follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), he left everything and followed the Savior. Christ and His disciples did not refuse Matthew’s invitation and they visited his house, where they shared table with the publican’s friends and acquaintances.

Solomon was known for his proverbial wisdom and great wealth. In his later years, he was increasingly drawn to the pagan cults, which were thought to have been introduced into Israel by the women who came from neighboring kingdoms to join his large harem.

Collection: The Royal Collections Gallery, Madrid, Spain