Cameo Appearances in the Gospels Quiz

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell of the life and ministry of Jesus, but some people and events are only mentioned in one of the four. See if you can discern the correct answers.

A multiple-choice quiz by debodun. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Jesus was judged before the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate. In one Gospel, Pilate washed his hands after handing Jesus over to be crucified. In which Gospel does this happen?

Answer: Matthew

"When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility!'" (Matthew 27:24 (NIV)). This is where the common expression "washing one's hands of the matter" originated, meaning you absolve yourself of any responsibility in a situation.

2. After Jesus' death, some women went to his tomb to anoint the body, not expecting to find an empty sepulchre? One of the women is Salome, but she is only named in what Gospel?

Answer: Mark

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body." (Mark 16:1). In Matthew's account the women were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. In Luke they are Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women. John only says that Mary Magdalene went.

She came back and told the disciples, then Peter and John ran to see.

3. Lazarus, citizen of Bethany and brother of Mary and Martha, was raised by Jesus after being dead for four days. Which Gospel relates this miraculous event?

Answer: John

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany can only be found in John 11. This Lazarus is not to be confused with the Lazarus in one of Jesus' parables, which is related in Luke 16.

4. In which Gospel can the parable of the Prodigal Son be read?

Answer: Luke

This parable is only found in Luke 15:11-32. Jesus seems to have meant it to be a lesson on why there should be great joy over a repentant sinner, just as much or more than over people who are already righteous.

5. Getting back to Pontius Pilate, which is the only Gospel to mention his wife?

Answer: Matthew

In Matthew 27:19, Pilate's wife sends a message to him pleading that he not have anything to do with Jesus because of nightmares she experienced about Jesus. This is not mentioned anywhere else in the Gospels.

6. Nicodemus is mentioned several times, but only in one Gospel book - which one is it?

Answer: John

In John 3, Nicodemus is introduced as a Pharisee who comes to see Jesus by night to hear more of His teachings. It is at this time that Jesus utters his most famous sentence, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV). Nicodemus appears again in Chapter 7 when he defends Jesus' teachings to the Pharisees.

The last he is mentioned is in Chapter 19 when he brings herbs and ointments to treat the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. Nicodemus does not appear in any other of the Gospels.

7. Only in one Gospel does it mention a young man who followed Jesus and his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane wearing a linen cloth. In which Gospel book does this happen?

Answer: Mark

This only occurs in Mark 14:51-52. When the authorities saw him, they tried to grab him. He left his cloth and fled naked into the night. Some Bible scholars theorize that it is John Mark, who is also the supposed author of this Gospel.

8. The Magi (a.k.a. The Wise Men) bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. They are only mentioned in one of the Gospels - which one is that?

Answer: Matthew

Although this narrative is only found in Matthew, it never mentions how many there were or what there names were. Only much later was the number set at three and were assigned the names Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior and Balthazar. Their story is found in Matthew 2:1-12.

9. Jesus, his mother Mary, and some of his disciples attended a wedding in Cana. During the reception, the wine ran out. Jesus then turned jugs of water into wine as a favor to his mother. In which Gospel is this celebration chronicled?

Answer: John

Some Bible scholars think this was Jesus' first public miracle. It is only found in John 2:1-11.

10. One of the Gospels relates how Jesus cleansed 10 lepers at once. In which Gospel does this occur?

Answer: Luke

Of all ten men, only one of them came back to thank Jesus for restoring his health and he was a Samaritan. Jesus blessed him for it. (Luke 17:11-19).

Source: Author debodun

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Cameo Appearances in the Gospels Quiz

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell of the life and ministry of Jesus, but some people and events are only mentioned in one of the four. See if you can discern the correct answers.

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