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About This Quiz
There are many famous people in the Bible. Names like David, Mary, and Paul may be familiar, but how much do you really know about these influential men and women? Find out by taking this quiz. (All verses are NIV.)
Who killed Goliath?
Paul.
Abraham.
Peter.
David.
“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.†–1 Samuel 17: 48-49
Jesus gave Simon the name “Peter†which meant what?
Stone.
Peter is the Greek name meaning “stone.†The New Testament was primarily written in Aramaic and translated into Greek. In Aramaic, Simon’s new name was Cephas.
Table.
Tree.
Mountain.
Who was Jesus’ closest relative?
David.
Peter.
Paul.
John the Baptist.
“But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.†–Luke 1: 13
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Where was Moses born?
Ur.
Midian.
Canaan.
Egypt.
Moses was born when Pharaoh was trying to ethnically cleanse the nation. His mother and sister had to hide him to prevent his death.
How old was Jesus when he got separated from his parents, and they found him teaching in the temple?
5 years old.
12 years old.
“When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.†–Luke 2: 42-43
15 years old.
17 years old.
Who told others that his wife was his sister?
David.
Abraham.
Some commentators try to brush over the fact that Abraham (and later his son Isaac) deceived people, but although Abraham and his descendents were chosen, the only descendent who was perfect was Jesus. The Bible is the only religious document (and one of the only historical documents) that accurately represents people’s lives with both the good and bad they did.
Peter.
Moses.
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What body of water did Moses cross on dry land when Pharaoh’s army was pursuing the Israelites?
The Dead Sea.
The Red Sea.
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left..†–Exodus 14: 21-22
The Jordan River.
The Persian Gulf.
Who was present at the stoning of Stephen?
Jesus.
Peter.
Paul.
Paul initially persecuted Christians. After his experience on the road to Damascus, he began preaching and teaching for Christ.
David.
Who is known for denying he knew Jesus three times?
Paul.
David.
Peter.
“Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.†–Matthew 26: 74-75
Abraham.
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Who changed his name after being blinded by God?
David.
Peter.
Jesus.
Paul.
Immediately after Paul’s conversion, he was called Saul. It wasn’t until his first missionary journey with Barnabas that he began using “Paul†more frequently.
What is considered Jesus’ first miracle?
Turning water into wine.
“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, 'They have no more wine.' “Woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.†His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.†–John 2: 3-5
Raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead.
Healing blind Bartimaeus.
Healing the ten lepers.
God asked Abraham to make a sacrifice of what to determine Abraham’s faith?
Abraham’s wife, Sarah.
Abraham’s nephew, Lot.
Abraham’s son, Isaac.
Old Testament manuscripts from the Dead Sea Scrolls were dated to the time before Christ. The significance of the story of Abraham’s sacrifice is that Abraham, after being unfaithful with Hagar, was asked to be faithful and sacrifice Isaac on the exact same mountain where Jesus, God’s only son, would later be sacrificed.
Abraham’s father, Terah.
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Why wasn’t Moses allowed to enter the Promised Land?
Because he fought in many battles.
Because he struck a rock to obtain water but did not give glory to God for the miracle.
“But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.†–Numbers 20: 12
Because he murdered an Egyptian slave master.
Because he made an idol for the Israelites to worship.
Who went with Paul on a missionary journey?
Peter.
James.
Silas.
Barnabas initially took Paul under his wing and went on his first missionary journey with him. John Mark had accompanied them but returned home in the middle of the trip, making Paul not want to bring him again. Barnabas and Paul had a falling out at the end of Acts 15, and Paul chose Silas as his new companion.
Thomas.
Who murdered a woman’s husband and lost many of his best fighters doing it?
Peter.
Paul.
Abraham.
David.
“In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.†–2 Samuel 11: 14-15
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What is the name of the special stories Jesus told when he was allegorically teaching people?
Character sketches.
Fables.
Myths.
Parables.
Parables were simple stories told by Jesus. The Latin word means “allegory,†and the original Greek “parabole†means “beside-a throw.â€
How many descendants did God promise Abraham?
As many as there were leaves on a tree.
As many as there were fish in the sea.
As many as there were stars in the sky.
“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.†Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.†–Genesis 15: 5
As many as there were grains of sand in the desert.
What is the name given to the first ten laws God gave Moses and engraved in stone?
The Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments are the pillar for all the Old Testament laws. In all, there are 613 commandments that were given to Moses.
The Bill of Rights.
The Code of Hammurabi.
The Blackstone Commentaries.
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Which of David’s sons attempted to overthrow him?
Solomon.
Absalom.
“A messenger came and told David, ‘The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.’ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, ‘Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.’†–2 Samuel 4: 13-14
Ibhar.
Nathan.
How many thieves were crucified with Jesus?
None- he was crucified alone.
One.
Two.
Death from crucifixion can take up to three days. The process could be sped up by breaking the person’s legs (crucifragium) or by lighting a smoky fire near the base of the cross to suffocate the person.
Three.
Which apostle walked on water with Jesus but became afraid?
Matthew.
Peter.
“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’†–Matthew 14: 28-29
Thomas.
John.
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Who healed Paul’s blindness?
Barnabas.
Silas.
Ananias.
Damascus was about four days’ journey from Jerusalem. It was an important ancient city that served as a hub for many caravan routes. It has been continuously occupied since ancient times.
Timothy.
Since the Israelites were afraid to enter Canaan, how long did they wander in the desert with Moses?
40 years.
‘But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. Our children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’†–Numbers 14: 32-34
20 years.
100 years.
80 years.
How many people did Jesus feed with five loaves and two fishes?
5,000 men.
The miracle of feeding the 5,000 is recorded in all four gospels: Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6. The miracle where Jesus fed 4,000 is recorded in Matthew 15 and Mark 8.
10,000 men.
15,000 men.
20,000 men.
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When David was older, to which son did he pass the crown?
Amnon.
Solomon.
“He said to them: ‘Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon, my son, mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.’†–1 Kings 1: 33-35
Nathan.
Adonijah.
What did Peter have a vision about in Acts?
Unclean animals.
Old Testament defilement could be ceremonial, religious, sexual, physical, and ethical. Just by allowing a gentile to stay in his home, Peter would have been considered defiled by the standards of the day.
Jesus' return and the end of the world.
Visiting heaven.
Being on trial in Rome.
How old was Abraham when he had Isaac?
40.
70.
100.
“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?'†–Genesis 17: 17
120.
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How many plagues happened in Egypt before Pharaoh let Moses lead the Israelites away?
Five.
Ten.
The Egyptians were always xenophobic, and it was because Alexander the Great had been seen as a liberator that the foreign reign of the Ptolemies were able to adopt Egyptian identities and reign without riot. It is for this reason that Joseph requested his family be settled outside of Egypt proper and probably the reason that the Pharaoh of Moses’ youth attempted to purge the Israelite males from his land.
Twelve.
Fifteen.
Who was David’s best friend?
Mephibosheth, King Saul’s grandson.
King Saul.
Nathan, the prophet.
Jonathan, King Saul’s son.
“Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’’ Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.†–1 Samuel 20: 42
During which celebration was Jesus crucified?
The Feast of Tabernacles.
Passover.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted from the 15th to the 21st day of the month of Nisan. Not only would the first day of Passover be special because of the Seder meal, but also the Sabbath during the Passover was special.
Hanukkah.
Pentecost.
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What was Peter’s occupation before he followed Jesus?
Carpenter.
Fisherman.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and his brother, Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.†–Matthew 4: 18
Doctor.
Tentmaker
What was the name of Abraham’s first son?
Judah.
Joseph.
Ishmael.
Abraham was old when God promised him he would be the father of many. Sarah, who thought she was barren, decided the only way to fulfill this promise was by making it happen herself. She had Abraham take her servant and father a child with her.
Isaac.
What was one thing Paul was accused of and thrown in jail for?
Murdering Stephen.
Bringing gentiles (Greeks) into the temple.
“…Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.†(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.).†–Acts 21: 28b-29
Blasphemy.
Stealing.
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How many days was Jesus in the grave before he rose from the dead?
None.
One.
Two.
Three.
In the Hebrew culture, days began in the evening. Jesus was crucified on Friday, the first day. That evening would have marked the second day and the beginning of the Sabbath. On Saturday, when the sun set, it would have begun the third day. Jesus rose Sunday morning.
Why wasn’t David allowed to build a temple for God?
Because he had too many wives.
Because he tended sheep.
Because he was at war with Israel's neighbors.
“Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: ‘You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.’†–1 Kings 5: 2-3
Because he was a king not a priest.
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