Nine out of Ten: New Testament Trivia -- #10 Quiz

Answer: Patmos

Patmos is the correct answer. Revelation 1:9 in the NKJV states: "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."

What follows this verse is Scripture that has captivated and perplexed Christians for centuries. Revelation is an extremely difficult book to comprehend, but one country pastor, in a Sunday morning message, gave me the best synopsis I ever heard. Here's a precis: "Revelation is basically a tale of two cities. The two cities are Babylon and the New Jerusalem. Babylon faces a horrible fate while the New Jerusalem faces a glorious future."

Answer: Herod

Herod is the correct answer. His death is recorded in Acts 12:21-23.

We read in the NKJV Bible: "So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, 'The voice of a god and not of a man!' Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died."

Herod was a ruthless opponent of the early Christian church and his death was seen as divine retribution.

Answer: Yoel

The name Yoel is not found in Romans 16, a chapter in which the apostle Paul extends greetings to a number of 'Joe' and 'Jill' Christians of the day.

Now let me clarify things to prevent correction notices from being filed. According to Wikipedia, Yoel can be also translated as Joel, a name which is found multiple times in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the English Bible. Joel is also the name of the a book in the Minor Prophet section to the English Bible. (In the Hebrew Bible, the section is known as the Twelve Prophets.) On top of this, the name Joel can be found once in the New Testament. Using the NKJV and the NIV, the name Joel is found in Acts 2:16.

However, the question is based on the name 'Yoel' and not on 'Joel', resulting in Yoel being the only correct answer.

Three of the so-called ordinary Christians mention by Paul in Romans 16 are Junia (Verse 7), Tryphena (Verse 12) and Sosipater (Verse 21).

Answer: Galatians

The book of Galatians is addressed to believers in Galatia, an ancient community in present day Turkey where the apostle Paul established a church. Paul is credited with writing thirteen books in the New Testament and in the order the books appear, Galatians is fourth.

It appears after Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Paul's books that appear after Galatians are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

Answer: Euodia and Syntyche

The correct answer is Euodia and Syntyche.

The apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:1-3 in the NKJV, states: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life."

However, no details are given in Scripture as to why the two women had an apparent kerfuffle.

Answer: Lack of faith

Lack of faith is the correct answer, as per Matthew 14:31. It's incredible, but Peter, for a short while, was actually walking on water. Then, according to Scripture, he started to sink due to his lack of faith.

Here's how the incident is told in Mathew 14:22-33 in the NKJV:
"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

"Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' And they cried out for fear.

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'

"And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.'

"So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!'

"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

"Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God'."

Answer: Lydia

When Lydia made the decision to become a Christian, it appears there was no holding back for her. As soon as she heard Paul's message of salvation, Lydia decided to be baptized and her entire household followed suit, as per Acts 16:15. Lydia, of course, was the woman who made a living selling purple cloth.

Lydia was apparently extremely grateful to Paul after hearing his message of salvation. So she insisted Paul, as well as his fellow workers, stay at her house.

Acts 16:33 also tells of Paul baptizing the Philippian jailer and his entire household.

Meanwhile, the tenth chapter of Acts tells of Paul baptizing a number of people in Cornelius' household in Caesarea.

Answer: Upper room

Jesus, according to Scripture, told John and Peter they would find a man carrying a pitcher of water and they were to follow him to the location of the upper room where the group would meet later that day. And sure enough that's how things unfolded. It was here where Jesus and the disciples took part in the Last Supper with Christ washing their feet.

Here's how Luke 22:7-13 in the NKJV tells of John and Peter getting instructions to prepare for the Passover:
"Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.' So they said to Him, 'Where do You want us to prepare?' And He said to them, 'Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, 'Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.' So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover."

Answer: Silas

Silas was a remarkable man and his imprisonment with Paul at Philiippi is extra remarkable. According to Acts 16:16-40, Silas and Paul ended up before the magistrates after they drove demons out of a slave girl who was capable of telling people's fortunes. With the demons no longer living in her, she lost the ability to tell fortunes and her owners were furious as she brought them much profit.

Acts 16:19 states the owners of the slave girl seized Paul and Silas and "dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities". And this is where things turned ugly. Scripture states a crowd ended up attacking the two church workers and after they were stripped, flogged and severely beaten, they were thrown into prison. Despite their condition, Silas and Paul "were praying and singing hymns to God" shortly after midnight while with their feet in stocks!

Then a miracle took place. According to Scripture there was an earthquake and "immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." And then things get even more incredible. The dynamic duo stayed put and did not make a break for it. When the jailer was amazed to find out his prized prisoners had not escaped, Silas and Paul seized the opportunity to convert him to Christianity. Acts 16:34 states the jailer's entire household came to believe in God.

Answer: Phygellus

Phygellus is the correct answer. (In the NIV, he is known as Phygelus.) Not much is known about Phygellus as he is mentioned by Paul in passing reference in 2 Timothy 1:15. It's apparent Phygellus was a worker in the early church who, along with Hermogenes and others, turned against Paul for whatever reason.

2 Timothy 1:15 states: "This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."