Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - Explore the Gospels Quiz

Answer: Capernaum

Upon the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus entered the region of Galilee and, after leaving Nazareth, his boyhood home, went to live in Capernaum. He began to preach, telling the people to repent (to turn away from their sins).

Answer: so that the light would shine on those in darkness

In order to fulfill a prophecy of Isaiah, Jesus' ministry began in this region. He is described in verse 16 as a "Great Light."

Answer: the people who lived in the area did not believe him because he was a "local"

Verses 54-57 describe the lack of belief he encountered in his hometown. Verse 58 of the 13th chapter of Matthew plainly states, "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Answer: little children

Matthew 19, verse 14 seems to imply that people with hearts as innocent and trusting as little children will comprise the population of the kingdom of God.

Answer: It was used to purchase a cemetery to bury strangers in

Since Barabbas was not yet released, that answer would be incorrect. The Sanhedrin were not allowed to keep the money because it was "blood money", so they purchased a field that they called Aceldama or "field of blood", and used it to bury destitute strangers in.

Answer: Lucifer and the demonic spirits had once been in heaven with Jesus

When asked his name, the man replied, "Legion: for we are many."
In Roman-dominated Palestine, a legion consisted of twelve thousand soldiers. It is unclear if this is a literal interpretation of that word, or if it just means "a lot." Either way, the man had some serious problems until Jesus came into his life. Lucifer had been cast out of heaven, where he had once lived with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He and his following, (other rebellious angelic beings that were cast out of heaven), also knew who Christ was.

Answer: "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

The 41st verse states that they feared greatly, even though Jesus had just told them not to fear in the previous verse. Operating in faith seems to be the primary focus of this object lesson for the disciples and for the readers of the text as well.

Answer: 12

It says that all ate and were filled in the 41st verse and that 12 baskets of bread fragments and fish were gathered up after Jesus had blessed the food. Interestingly, there were 12 disciples and 12 baskets of food, or one per disciple. Having them to thus do the gathering of the leftovers may have been Jesus' way of teaching them a lesson about faith as well.

Answer: He put his fingers in his ears, spit and touched his tongue, sighed and said one word.

The word used by Jesus, "Ephphatha", is translated in the King James Version as "be opened."

Answer: he was upset at Jesus' response to a question that he had asked

He accused Jesus of blasphemy because Jesus had answered him in the affirmative when Caiaphas insisted on knowing if he was the Messiah, or Christ. The false witnesses who had been assembled could not agree on anything, so the high priest pointedly asked Jesus this question in the hopes that he would get the response necessary to convict Jesus to death.

Answer: purple

The color of royalty has long been purple. There is an account of a woman named Lydia who was a seller of purple mentioned later in the book of Acts (16:14).
I have found through research that the dye was apparently produced by crushing a type of sea-shelled creature found in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The dye was then applied to clothing, which as a result became rather expensive due to the labor-intensive process by which it was produced.

Answer: the people simply refused to take heed of his teachings

According to these passages, Capernaum is not a willing recipient of Christ's teachings. According to Christian interpretations of the Old Testament prophecies of Isaiah (14:13-15), Jeremiah (51-53) and Ezekiel 26:20, Capernaum may be seen as a "seat" of Satanic influence, similar to Babylon and other enemies of God's people.

Answer: Jonas or Jonah

We see that Jonah's name in the Hebrew tongue means "dove", and that is how the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus at his baptism, it fluttered down like a dove landing. Here, in verse 32, we see a reference to Nineveh's inhabitants rising up in condemnation of those who reject Christ's word and authority.

Answer: "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?"

Jesus' response here may seem to us a bit cold and unfeeling, but this was not the purpose for which he came to this world. Neither was his purpose primarily healing the sick, raising the dead, nor helping others for just a few years of his lifetime. The next verse explains the man's motivation more clearly, and from it, we can perhaps better understand Jesus' reply.
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness..." Jesus was aware of the greed in the plaintiff's heart and seemed to be warning him about it.

Answer: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

The verses in Revelation that end each address to the seven churches, one by one, end this way...
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches;...", followed in each case by an individualized promise for the particular church that he is addressing.

Answer: an angel

Verse 43 informs us that an angel was sent to strengthen him. Jesus then prayed even harder, until his sweat resembled great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Answer: after his resurrection

Ironically perhaps, these men walked and talked, ate and traveled with Jesus, but they were not able to completely believe in Him until they remembered his words after his resurrection. They, like many people today, had to be reminded of what they had already heard, and then view events in retrospect.

Answer: The woman told them that Jesus knew all about her. They listened to him as well.

Located in Samaria, the townspeople of Sychar were accustomed to being ignored by the Jews, because they were a "half-breed" people of Jewish and Babylonian/ (Assyrian) descent. These people were so glad to see Jesus that they begged him to stay with them, and he did so for two days. More of them believed in him as he continued spending time with them. (Verses 39-42.)

Answer: Moses

In verse 45, he plainly told the leaders that Moses would accuse them. He told them that they "trust"ed in Moses, themselves, but rejected the law that God gave through him. He concluded by asking a simple, yet poignant question: "But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
Previously, in verse 26, he had made the statement, "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself:" and in verse 30 "...I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

Answer: Sin

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
Sometimes, as Christians read of the events that occurred way back when, they question how anyone could not believe on Christ. Any time that I am inclined to question the thinking of the people that were on the earth during Jesus' walk, I am brought up short.
They did not have the entire history of the Bible that I have today, and if I have a hard time fathoming some things, how much more difficult it must have been for them... The way I see it, judging is NOT my job. The only person that I can judge is myself. The rest is, well, God's.