A Quick Look at Ten Early Church Workers Quiz

Answer: Paul

According to Scripture, Paul had a vision in the middle of the night of an unnamed man in Macedonia pleading for help in spreading the Gospel message. His request for help is known as 'The Macedonian Call'. Here's how Acts 16:6-10, in the NKJV, tells of Paul's vision:

"Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Scripture goes on to tell of Paul converting Lydia, the seller of purple cloth, and the Philippi jailer to Christianity.

Answer: Apollos

Apollos was tutored by Priscilla and Aquila, the dynamic husband-wife team in the New Testament. Acts 18:24-26, in the NKJV, describes Apollos as a "an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures." Verses 27-28 go on to state that in Achaia "he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Achaia is an area in Greece.

The passage also states Apollos was born in Alexandria, and linked up with Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

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, Scripture states.

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 sorry condition, Silas and Paul "were praying and singing hymns to God" shortly after midnight 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: Priscilla

Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, played a key role in helping spread the Gospel in the early days of the church. In Romans 16:4, Paul states Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him and "all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful for them." However, no details are given as to what exactly Priscilla and Aquila did to risk their lives for Paul.

It's also interesting to note Paul places Priscilla's name before Aquila's in most of his letters, and this at a time when women were seen as grossly inferior and not even included in census figures of the day.

As a result, many theologians believe Priscilla was extremely dynamic and a moving force in the early church.

Answer: Epaphroditus

Epaprhoditus was apparently assigned by members of the early church in Philippi to assist Paul in his ministry. Epaphroditus is mentioned in only Philippians 2:25-30, but Paul makes it abundantly apparent he was a highly valued worker in the early church, having no regard for his own life.

In Philippians 2:25-30, in the NKJV, Paul has this to say about Epaphroditus: "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me."

Philippi, by the way, was the community in which Paul converting Lydia, the seller of purple cloth, and the unnamed jailer to Christianity. According to Scripture, the entire households of Lydia and the jailer were baptized.

Answer: Ananias

Ananias helped Paul regain his sight after this dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. According to Scripture, Ananias received divine instructions to go to a house owned by Judas on Straight Street where he met up with Paul. Ananias' story is told in Acts 9:10-19.

The conversion of Paul was a major turning point for Christianity. He was a vehement opponent of the early church and according to Acts 7:58, oversaw the execution of Stephen, the first reported Christian martyr. Things changed dramatically, however, when according to Acts 9:1-10, Paul encountered a blinding light while on his way to Damascus and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ. To the amazement of early church members as well as those who relentlessly persecuted them, Paul would become a Christian and a major force in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Opponents of the early church in Damascus sought to kill Paul shortly after his conversion, but he made his escape from the city by being let down in a large basket over the city wall.

Acts 9:23-25, in the NKJV, states: "Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket."

Answer: Titus

Titus is the correct answer. Titus, one of thirteen books the apostle Paul is credited with writing, was addressed to him. Titus was serving in Crete at the time of the letter, as per Titus 1:5. The general theme of the letter is the emphasis on good works. It appears after 2 Timothy and before Philemon.

Titus was a worker in the early church who was converted by Paul, as per Galatians 2:3. He was from Greece and appears to have been a Gentile. Titus is one of the smallest books in the Bible, consisting of three chapters and only 46 verses.

According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Titus was written by Paul between his two imprisonments, between A.D. 62 and 65. The notes also state tradition holds that Titus was written after 1 Timothy, around A.D. 63.

Answer: Barnabas

Barnabas is the correct answer. According to Acts 4:36 in the KKJV, his original name was Joses (Joseph in the NIV) and he was a Levite from Cyprus. However, the apostles opted to call him Barnabas, which means 'son of encouragement'. In addition to being an encouragement to others, Barnabas was a generous giver. Acts 4:37 states he sold a field he owned and "brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet".

Answer: Luke

In addition to writing the book of Acts, Luke is credited with writing the Gospel that bears his name. Both books were addressed to Theolpilus. However, there is no conclusive proof as to who Theopilus actually was. Some believe he was a prominent official in the Roman government while others believe he was a lawyer who represented Paul in his trial before Felix. Some believe Theophilus is a collective name for Christians in general but this view is disputed by others because the Gospel of Luke describes Theophilus as "most excellent," a term for a specific person and not a collective body.

The Gospel of Luke contains a number of accounts which do not appear in the three other Gospels -- Matthew, Mark and John. Meanwhile, the Book of Acts is seen as a history of the early church and provides a treasure chest of information about how the Gospel spread to the Gentiles in Europe as well as in what is present-day Turkey.

Answer: Timothy

Timothy's mother was Eunice and his grandmother was Lois, as pr 2 Timothy 1:5. However, not much is known about the two women as they are mentioned in passing reference. However, Acts 16:1 states Timothy's mother lived at Lystra and while she was Jewish, her unnamed husband was Greek.

Timothy is portrayed as being young and timid in the letters written by Paul. However, Paul often writes in lofty terms about Timothy and described him as his son, indicating the two had a close relationship.