| papyrus | A reed-like plant used to make a type of paper used for writing. It was also used to make many other things, such as baskets, rope, sandals, roofing material, and even boats. |
| paradise | A wonderful place of blessing, where God’s people go when they die. |
| parchment | Something like paper made from the skins of sheep and used for writing on. |
| Passover | A very important holy day for the people of Israel and their descendants. They ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God made them free from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. The name may come from the word in Ex. 12:13, 23, 27 that means “to pass over” or “to protect.” |
| Pentecost | An Israelite or Jewish festival celebrating the wheat harvest fifty days after Passover. See “Festival of Harvest.” |
| persecute | To hurt, cause trouble for, or do bad things to someone, especially because of their beliefs. |
| persecution | The act of persecuting or being persecuted. See “persecute.” |
| Persians | See “Medes.” |
| Peter | Where this is marked, the Greek text has “Cephas,” the Aramaic name for Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Both names mean “rock.” |
| Pharaoh | A title for the king of Egypt. |
| Pharisee | A person who belonged to a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. |
| Philistines | The people who lived in an area along the coast of Palestine. They occupied the land of Canaan (see “Canaan”) before the Israelites entered it and were their strongest enemy. |
| philosopher | A person who spends much time studying, thinking, talking, or writing about different ideas and trying to gain wisdom. |
| Pilate, Pontius | The Roman governor of Judea, 26-36 a.d. Read Lk. 23:1-3. |
| pillar | One of the tall, carved stones used to hold up the roof of a building. |
| pomegranate | A red fruit filled with tiny seeds, each covered with a sweet, juicy part of the fruit. |
| potter | Someone who makes pottery (jars, bowls, etc.) from clay. The Hebrew word also means “creator” or “a person who makes new things.” |
| prefect | An important government official. |
| Preparation day | Friday, the day before the Sabbath day. |
| prize | See “crown.” |
| prophecy | A message or teaching from God. Also, the ability and authority from God to speak for him. |
| prophesy | To speak or teach things from God. |
| prophet | A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by “the prophets,” who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say. |
| prophetess | A woman prophet. |
| proverb | A wise saying or short story that teaches a lesson. |
| pure | See “make … pure.” |
