Word Association -- New Testament Characters Quiz

Answer: Lydia

Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, is the correct answer. She played a major role in the development of the early church at Philippi. Her conversion to Christianity is told in the 16th chapter of Acts. According to Scripture, after Lydia became a believer in a resurrected Jesus Christ, her entire household believed. Incidentally, many theologians believe Lydia was a dynamic and wealthy woman. According to Acts 16:14, she was a seller of purple cloth, an item that only the very wealthy could afford in Biblical times.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible explain things this way: "Purple dye had to be gathered drop by drop from a certain shellfish. Because it was so expensive purple dye was used on garments worn by royalty. As an artisan in purple dyes, Lydia was a wealthy woman who came to Philippi to practice her trade."

Answer: Eutychus

Eutychus, the young man who fell asleep while seated in a third-floor window in Troas during one of the Paul's lengthy sermons, is the correct answer. After Eutychus tumbled out the window, people rushed downstairs and found him dead. According to Scripture, Paul raised the young man from the dead and went back upstairs and ate and did some more preaching.

The unusual story of Eutychus is recalled in Acts 20:7-12. Troas is in present day Turkey, south of the ancient city of Troy.

Answer: Timothy

Timothy is known for being young, with the apostle Paul telling him not to feel inferior because of his age. In 1 Timothy 4:12, he tells Timothy "don't let anyone look down on you because you are young." In 1 Corinthians 4:17, he refers to Timothy as his son.

In addition to his youth, Timothy is also known for being timid. In 1 Corinthians 16:10, Paul tells the believers at Corinth "when Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear."

Answer: Luke

Luke is the correct answer. In Colossians 4:14, in the KJV, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, refers to Luke as the "beloved" physician. It's highly likely Luke continued to serve as a physician during Paul's missionary journeys. Some theologians believe Paul referred to Luke as a doctor as a testament to the fact he was helping him with health-related matters.

Some also speculate Luke helped Paul cure people on the island of Malta after a shipwreck, as per Acts 28:9.

Answer: James

James, the brother of John, is the correct answer. According to Matthew 4:21, the two brothers were the sons of Zebedee. However, not much is known about him as he is mentioned in passing reference. According to Matthew 4:21, he was a fisherman, just like his sons James and John. Theologians believe his wife's name was Salome.

Answer: John

Jesus called James and John Boanerges, which means sons of thunder. Mark 3:16-19, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of Thunder'; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him."

The term Boanerges can be found in only this passage in Mark in the entire Bible, using the KJV, NKJV or the NIV.

Answer: Onesimus

Onesimus, a run-away slave, is part of one of those 'amazing small-world stories'. His master was Philemon who lived in Colosse (which is in present day Turkey). Paul converted Philemon to Christianity and then preached the news of a resurrected Jesus Christ in a number of other communities in Turkey and Europe before ending up in Rome. Philemon's slave Onesimus ran away and headed to Rome and wouldn't you know it, he met up with Paul who in turn converted the run-away slave to Christianity. Later, Paul would write the book of Philemon, a passionate appeal to Onesimus' master to accept him back, not as a slave, but as an equal in Christ.

(While on the topic of the book of Philemon, I recommend three other quizzes by FunTrivia players CellarDoor, Glendathecat and fellow Bible Believers' Brigade member Ilona_Ritter. The three quizzes can be found by simply inputting the word Philemon in the search template.)

Answer: Silas

There are three accounts of earthquakes taking place in the New Testament and one of them involved Silas and Paul while they were imprisoned in Philippi. The account can be found in Acts 16:16-40.

According to Scripture, Silas, a worker in the early church, was imprisoned with Paul when a "violent" earthquake shook the prison and "at once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose." The chapter goes on to tell of Silas and Paul using the occasion to convert the jailer, and his household, to Christianity.

It should be noted, however, Silas and Paul did not flee from their cell, as did the other prisoners. They opted to stay behind and it appears their obedience impressed the jailer so much he opted to become a Christian.

Here's how the events unfold in Acts 16:27-31 in the NIV Bible: "The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners [Paul and Silas] had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!' The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household.' Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole household."

Verse 39 goes on to tell of Silas and Paul being officially released from prison by the authorities.

Incidentally, the first earthquake in the New Testament is reported in Matthew 27:51 regarding the death of Christ. The passage states: "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split."

Another earthquake is reported in Matthew 28:1-2. The passage states: "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it."

Answer: Zechariah

Scripture states Zechariah was a priest who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron, as per Luke 1:5. Luke 1:11-25 tells of the angel Gabriel appearing before Zechariah and telling him of the upcoming birth of their son, who would become John the Baptist.

When Zechariah doubted Gabriel's claims, he was rendered speechless as per Luke 1:20. After the baby was born, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that the infant was to be called John and, according to verse 64, "immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God."

Answer: Judas Iscariot

According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, one of the original Twelve Disciples, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:14-16, in the NKJV, states: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?' And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him."

After Jesus was arrested, Judas was filled with remorse and hanged himself. Matthew 27:3-5, states: "Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!' Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself."

According to John 6:71, Judas was the son of Simon. Whenever a list of names of the Twelve Disciples appears in Scripture, Judas is last. According to John 12:6, Judas was in charge of the money collected for Christ's ministry, "but because he was a thief... he used to help himself to what was put into it."