The Chosen Season 1, Episode 1, “I Have Called You by Name,” introduces Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Simon, Andrew, and Matthew through several connected stories. The episode’s central moment is quiet but powerful: Jesus sees Mary beyond the name and painful past that have defined her life.
Episode at a Glance
- Season: 1
- Episode: 1
- Title: “I Have Called You by Name”
- Related Bible passages: Isaiah 43:1; Luke 8:1–3
Episode 1 Recap
The episode opens with Mary as a young girl. Her father comforts her with words from Isaiah about God calling people by name. Years later, Mary is living in Magdala and is known by the name Lilith. She is struggling with spiritual torment and a painful life that has left her feeling far from the person she once was.
Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee, tries to help Mary, but his attempt to drive away the evil spirits does not succeed. The episode uses this moment to show the limits of human power and to prepare viewers for Mary’s encounter with Jesus.
Another story follows the brothers Simon and Andrew as they face pressure over their tax debt to Rome. Their financial trouble pulls them into a difficult situation involving Matthew, the tax collector, and Roman authority. Simon’s choices reveal how fear and desperation can push someone toward decisions that affect the people closest to him.
The episode brings these stories together when Jesus finds Mary. He calls her Mary, and she responds to him. The moment connects with the words from Isaiah introduced earlier in the episode and marks the beginning of a new chapter for her.
What the Bible Says About Mary Magdalene
Luke 8:1–3 says that Mary Magdalene was among the women who traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry. Luke also says that seven demons had gone out of her. The passage gives us this important part of her story, but it does not describe her childhood, her life in Magdala before meeting Jesus, or the circumstances of her healing.
Isaiah 43:1 is part of God’s message to Israel. Its words about being called by name help express the episode’s theme of belonging and restoration. The series applies that theme personally to Mary; the Bible passage itself is not specifically a prediction about Mary Magdalene.
Nicodemus is also a biblical figure. John 3:1–21 describes his nighttime conversation with Jesus. The Gospels do not say that Nicodemus tried to cast demons out of Mary. That encounter is part of the show’s dramatic storyline.
What the Series Adds
The episode builds a detailed backstory around a few brief biblical references. Mary’s childhood memories, the name Lilith, Nicodemus’s attempt to help her, and the tax crisis involving Simon and Andrew are dramatic additions. They help the series imagine what life around the Gospel accounts might have looked like, but viewers should not mistake those scenes for events recorded in Scripture.
Read the Gospel passage first, then notice which parts of the episode come directly from the text and which parts are the writers’ interpretation.
Why the Episode Matters
The episode’s strongest idea is that a person’s worst season does not have to become their whole identity. Mary has been given a name connected with her brokenness, but Jesus addresses her as the person she is. The scene invites viewers to reflect on dignity, healing, and the possibility of beginning again.
The story also introduces an important distinction for the rest of the series: The Chosen uses the Bible as its foundation while filling in many personal conversations and events that Scripture does not describe. That can make the characters feel close and human, while also making it important to keep the biblical text as the final reference.
Family Viewing Notes
Parents may want to preview this episode before watching it with younger children. It includes spiritual torment, frightening moments, childhood distress, Roman pressure, and a setting associated with prostitution. The scenes are presented as drama rather than graphic violence, but some moments may still feel intense for sensitive viewers.
Questions to Discuss
- What changes for Mary when Jesus addresses her by name?
- Which details about Mary come from Luke, and which were created for the series?
- How does Simon’s financial pressure influence the choices he makes?
- What does Isaiah 43:1 mean in its original context, and how does the episode use its message?
Read and Watch More
Read Luke 8:1–3 and
Isaiah 43:1
alongside the episode. You can also read our article,
The Chosen: Is It Biblically Accurate? What Christians Should Know Before Watching
.
View the episode information on the official The Chosen website.