<P> Later, as Negan holds Rick, Nicholas, Heath & Holly hostage for attempting to kill him, Jesus arrives at the Safe Zone, hidden away from Negan and his men . He then grabs a Savior by his foot and trips him over . The Saviors open fire, but instead of hitting Paul they kill the Savior . Negan tells them to hold fire and at that moment Paul throws himself at the nearest Savior and orders Rick, Heath, Holly, and Nicholas into a trench . He proceeds to fight the Saviors until he works his way to Negan, whom he disarms and captures . Negan frantically tells the Saviors to hold fire and Paul issues an order to let the survivors go and threatens to kill Negan . He tells Paul that even if he were to succeed, the Saviors would still open fire and kill Paul . However it is revealed that Paul's intentions were to stall the Saviors until Ezekiel and his soldiers arrive . Jesus continues to aid Rick and Ezekiel in their fight against the Saviors until Negan is defeated . </P> <P> Two years after Negan's incarceration, Jesus acts as Maggie's second - in - command at the Hilltop, while still making periodical visits to Alexandria . He is also in a relationship with Aaron . </P> <P> Robert Kirkman has confirmed that Jesus will recur in future seasons of the show . In September 2015, Tom Payne was cast as Paul Monroe . </P> <P> Jesus makes his debut in the episode "The Next World," first seen bumping into Rick who is on a supply run with Daryl . Jesus pulls a smooth - talking con on them, pick - pocketing keys from Rick and planting the idea of approaching walkers in their mind so that they react predictably when firecrackers he had set go off, allowing him to drive off with their truck of supplies . When attacked by Rick and Daryl later, Jesus is able to physically defend himself, displaying impressive combat abilities, though he surrenders when they threaten him at gunpoint . Jesus is bound at his wrists and ankles and left at the side of the road but in seconds is able to free himself and climb onto the truck unobserved . Later, when they realize he is on the truck and slam on the brakes, Jesus takes a considerable fall at speed but is immediately able to get up and run, outpacing Daryl who gives chase . Jesus gets into the truck where he is fought by Daryl, and grabs Daryl's gun in order to kill a walker that would have otherwise attacked Daryl from behind . Daryl pulls Jesus from the truck, which is accidentally released of its brakes, and Jesus is knocked unconscious in the process of the truck rolling backwards into a lake . Jesus is brought back to Alexandria and despite being bound in a locked room in a guarded house, Jesus is able to free himself and escape confinement without raising an alarm, and identify and infiltrate Rick's home where he asks to speak with Rick . </P>

Who plays the character jesus in the walking dead