Welcome to the ultimate challenge! If you think you know everything about New Testament , this is your chance to prove it. Take the quiz below to test your knowledge, and don’t forget to share your score when you finish!
Results
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#1. Which Roman governor of Judea presided over the trial of Jesus and reluctantly ordered his crucifixion as recorded in the Gospels?
Pontius Pilate was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from approximately 26 to 36 AD. Historical accounts by Josephus and Tacitus confirm his administrative role. As governor, Pilate possessed supreme judicial authority, including the power to order capital punishment. His decision regarding the crucifixion of Jesus remains his most documented action within both religious and historical texts.
#2. To whom did the Apostle Paul write a short letter requesting the forgiveness and kind reception of a runaway slave named Onesimus?
The Epistle to Philemon is the shortest of the Apostle Paul’s letters in the New Testament. Written while Paul was imprisoned, this personal correspondence addresses Philemon, a Christian leader in Colossae. Paul advocates for Onesimus, a fugitive slave who had converted to Christianity. The letter emphasizes themes of reconciliation, urging Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as a fellow believer rather than a servant.
#3. Which apostle is recorded in the Gospel of John as doubting the resurrection of Jesus until he could personally see and touch the wounds of the crucifixion?
Thomas, also known as Didymus, was one of the twelve apostles who initially questioned the reports of the resurrection. This specific biblical account led to the common English idiom doubting Thomas used to describe a skeptical person. According to the Gospel of John, he requested physical evidence of the crucifixion marks before he would accept the miraculous news regarding the survival and return of Jesus.
#4. According to the Synoptic Gospels, who was the man from Cyrene forced by the Roman soldiers to help carry the cross of Jesus to Golgotha?
Simon of Cyrene is described in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as a visitor from North Africa. Cyrene was a prominent Greek and Roman settlement in modern-day Libya. During the crucifixion procession, Roman authorities exercised their legal right to compel civilians into service, forcing Simon to assist Jesus with the heavy cross. Mark identifies the sons of Simon as Rufus and Alexander.
#5. In the Gospels, who was the brother of Simon Peter and one of the first disciples called by Jesus, having previously been a follower of John the Baptist?
Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida who originally followed John the Baptist before becoming the first apostle summoned by Jesus. He is often referred to as the First-Called in Christian tradition. Following the death of Jesus, historical accounts suggest he preached throughout Byzantium and Scythia. He was eventually martyred on an X-shaped cross, a symbol now widely recognized on the national flag of Scotland.
#6. In the Book of Acts, which man was struck dead alongside his wife Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit about the money they received from selling land?
In the New Testament Book of Acts, Ananias and his wife Sapphira were members of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. After selling property, they conspired to withhold a portion of the profit while pretending to donate the full amount. When confronted by the Apostle Peter for lying to God, both individuals immediately fell dead, which the text presents as a divine judgment for their dishonesty.
#7. Which Roman centurion living in Caesarea is described in the Book of Acts as the first Gentile convert to Christianity after receiving a vision from an angel?
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea Maritima and a member of the Italian Cohort. His conversion is a pivotal moment in the New Testament, signaling the expansion of the early Christian faith beyond the Jewish community. Following a divine vision, he sought out the apostle Peter. This meeting eventually led to the inclusion of Gentiles in the burgeoning religious movement.
#8. According to the Book of Acts, which Jewish festival was being celebrated when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of tongues of fire?
Pentecost, also known as Shavuot, is a major Jewish holiday occurring fifty days after Passover. Originally a harvest festival, it commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai. In Christian tradition, this specific event described in the Book of Acts represents the birth of the church. The descent of the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in many different languages to various international visitors.
#9. According to the New Testament, which individual is recognized as both the author of the third Gospel and the ‘beloved physician’ who accompanied Paul?
Luke is recognized as the author of the third Gospel and the companion of the apostle Paul. Known as the beloved physician in the New Testament, he is also credited with writing the Acts of the Apostles. His historical accounts provide significant details regarding the life of Jesus and the foundational years of the early Christian movement.
#10. In the Gospel of John, in which village did Jesus perform the miracle of raising his friend Lazarus from the dead four days after his burial?
Bethany was an ancient village located approximately two miles east of Jerusalem on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. According to the Gospel of John, this site served as the residence of siblings Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. The raising of Lazarus is traditionally viewed as a significant miracle that foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus and intensified opposition from religious authorities in the Judean region.
#11. During the Transfiguration of Jesus, which two Old Testament figures appeared and spoke with Him on the mountain?
The Transfiguration is a significant New Testament event where Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Jesus. Moses represents the divine Law given at Mount Sinai, while Elijah symbolizes the Hebrew prophets. Together, they signify that Jesus fulfills the entirety of Jewish scripture. This encounter took place on a high mountain before three disciples, serving as a visual confirmation of Jesus’s spiritual authority and divine nature within Christianity.
#12. On which island was the Apostle John exiled when he received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation?
Patmos is a small Greek island located in the Aegean Sea. During the late first century, the Roman government frequently used the island as a place of exile for political dissidents. Early tradition states that the Apostle John was sent there by Emperor Domitian. While residing in a cave, he experienced the visions that eventually formed the final book of the New Testament.
#13. According to the Gospel of Luke, which priest was the father of John the Baptist and was struck mute by the angel Gabriel until the child’s birth?
Zechariah served as a Jewish priest in the hill country of Judea during the reign of King Herod the Great. According to the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appeared to him in the Temple to announce the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Because Zechariah expressed doubt due to his old age, he was rendered unable to speak until the naming ceremony, confirming the divine prophecy.
#14. In the Gospel of Luke, which wealthy tax collector climbed a sycamore-fig tree in Jericho to see Jesus because he was short in stature?
Zacchaeus served as a chief tax collector in the ancient city of Jericho. During this era, tax collectors were often socially ostracized because they worked for the Roman Empire and frequently profited from overtaxing the local population. Climbing a sycamore-fig tree allowed him to bypass the crowds despite his short stature. Following this meeting, Zacchaeus pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor.
#15. According to the Book of Acts, who is recognized as the first Christian martyr after being stoned to death for his faith?
Stephen was an early Christian deacon chosen to distribute food to widows in Jerusalem. Known as the protomartyr, or first martyr, he was the initial person killed for his belief in Jesus. After delivering a speech before the Sanhedrin, a Jewish judicial council, he was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death. The Bible notes that Saul of Tarsus witnessed the execution.
#16. On the road to which city was Saul of Tarsus traveling when he encountered a vision of Jesus that led to his conversion?
Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee who actively persecuted early followers of Jesus. While traveling to the Syrian city of Damascus to arrest believers, he experienced a sudden blinding light and heard a divine voice. This profound event transformed him into Paul the Apostle, who became a foundational figure in Christianity by spreading its teachings throughout the Roman Empire and writing many biblical letters.
#17. According to the Book of Acts, which woman was the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe and a seller of purple cloth?
Lydia of Thyatira lived in the city of Philippi and was a merchant specializing in expensive purple textiles. This dye was traditionally derived from murex snails and signaled high social status. According to the New Testament, she encountered the Apostle Paul by a riverbank. Following her conversion, Lydia hosted the fledgling Christian community in her home, establishing the first European congregation mentioned in biblical records.
#18. In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, which man was selected by lot to replace Judas Iscariot and join the other eleven as an apostle?
Following the death of Judas Iscariot, the remaining eleven apostles sought a replacement to restore their foundational number to twelve. They proposed two candidates who had been followers since the baptism of Jesus. After praying for guidance, the group utilized the ancient practice of casting lots to determine the selection. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was subsequently numbered with the other eleven apostles as a witness.
#19. In the Gospel of John, in which town did Jesus perform his first recorded miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding?
The account of turning water into wine in Cana is found in the second chapter of the Gospel of John. This event is traditionally recognized as the first of the seven miraculous signs performed by Jesus. While the town is located in Galilee, its precise historical location is debated, with Khirbet Qana being a leading candidate identified by modern scholars.
#20. In which city were the disciples of Jesus first called “Christians”, as recorded in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Acts?
Antioch was located in what is now Turkey and served as the third largest city in the Roman Empire. This metropolitan area was a primary hub for early religious expansion. According to the biblical Book of Acts, the term Christian was first used here to distinguish followers of Jesus from other groups. This label marked a significant transition as the movement grew throughout the Mediterranean region.
#21. Which Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin is recorded in the Gospel of John as visiting Jesus at night to discuss his teachings?
Nicodemus was a prominent Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, which served as the high judicial council of ancient Israel. In the Gospel of John, he famously visits Jesus under the cover of night to inquire about spiritual rebirth. This interaction highlights his status as a cautious seeker. Nicodemus appears again later in the biblical text, assisting with the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion.