Match These New Testament Characters -- #16 Quiz

Answer: Hosted Jesus

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of Jericho. His story appears in Luke 19:1-9. Zacchaeus, of course, was the short man who climbed up a tree in to get a better look at Jesus passing through town.

When Jesus spotted the diminutive tax collector up in a tree, He said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." No doubt the response took Zacchaeus by complete surprise. After all, it's not every day a 'celebrity' passes through a community and states to a person he has never met before that he wants to spend the night at his house.

According to Wikipedia, Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.

Answer: Great help in Achaia

According to Acts 18:27-28, Apollos played a key role in spreading the Gospel in Achaia, an area in Greece. The verses in the NIV Bible state he was "a great help to those who by grace had believed for he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ."

Apollos was tutored by Priscilla and Aquila, the dynamic husband-wife team in the New Testament. Acts 18:24-26 describe Apollos as a "learned man who had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." Scripture states Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos into their home "and explained to him the way of God more adequately."

Answer: Shipwreck

It might come as a surprise to some, but Scripture states Luke was involved in a shipwreck off the coast of Malta. Luke's name is not mentioned directly in Acts, but the careful reader will see his involvement in various stories, including the account of the shipwreck involving Paul and others. Whenever Luke is involved in an account in Acts, he uses words to the effect of 'we did this' or 'we did that'. These are known as the 'We Passages'. Acts 27 and 28, two chapters telling of the a shipwreck followed by time spent on the island of Malta, are part of the 'We Passages'.

The central figure in the account of the shipwreck, however, is Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. This is the only time Malta is mentioned in Scripture.

Scripture makes it quite clear the ship carrying Paul and Luke was involved in a massive storm before it foundered. In Acts 27:18, it states the ship took "such a violent battering from the storm" the crew began to throw the cargo overboard. Acts 27:19-20 tells of the despair felt by the people on the ship: "On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved."

The Maltese people are painted in a favorable light. The islanders were unusually friendly, according to Luke. In Acts 28:10, for example, he states the islanders "honored" them in many ways.

Answer: Told to shut up

The story of blind Bartimaeus receiving his sight is found in Mark 10:45-52. What I find fascinating about the account is Bartimaeus is reported to have been shouting at the top of his lungs to get Jesus' attention and the crowd that surrounded Christ responded by telling the blind beggar to shut up!

In Mark 10:49, those people had a sudden change of heart when Jesus indicated he wanted to meet with Barimaeus. Those same people who had told Bartimaeus to shut up, responded in the NIV Bible by stating "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Prior to verse 49, it's as if Bartimaeus was sub-human. When Jesus indicated He wanted to meet with Bartimaeus, his status in the eyes of the hangers-on skyrocketed. Many of the people in the crowds following Jesus did not see Him as the Messiah. They saw Him as the man who was going to overthrow the Romans and serve as their benevolent king.

Answer: Wrote Love Chapter

Paul is credited with writing 1 Corinthians, which includes Chapter 13, affectionately known as the Love Chapter. It's a classic among Christians. Here's a sample of verses 4-7 from the NKJV: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Answer: Alphaeus

According to Scripture Alphaeus was the father of one of the disciples called James. Two of the twelve disciples shared the name James.

The first James was the brother of John and their father was Zebedee, as per Matthew 10:2-4. The same passage states Alphaeus was the father of the second disciple called James.

Adding some confusion to the mix, Alphaeus is also listed as the father of Matthew, also known as Levi. (Mark 2:14) Some theologians believe Matthew and the second James were brothers while other theologians sharply disagree with such a view. In other words, there could have been two different fathers with the name Alphaeus who had sons who were disciples.

Answer: Zeus

According to Scriprture, a group of people in Lyrsta referred to Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes. Acts 14:11-12 states they were given the names after Paul healed a man crippled from birth. Acts 14:11-12, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker."

Answer: Burial of Jesus

Joseph of Arimathea played a prominent role in the burial of Jesus. His involvement is reported in John 19:38-42. Joseph asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus' body while Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes for wrapping in strips of linen as per Jewish burial customs. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin while John 3:1 states Nicodemus was a Pharisee.

Answer: Malchus

John 18:10 tells of Peter drawing a sword and cutting off Malchus' right ear during the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Scripture says Malchus was a servant of the high priest. Luke 22:51, states Jesus touched the servant's ear and healed him after it had been cut off.

Answer: Immanuel

Christians associate Jesus with Immanuel. Matthew 1:23 (New King James Version) quotes Old Testament Scripture (Isaiah 7:14) and states in part, "the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel." The verse goes on to explain Immanuel means "God with us." The first chapter of Matthew tells of the genealogy of Christ and His birth.

According to Isaiah 7:14, Immanuel would be born of a virgin, with many Christians believing this is direct reference to the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus. Immanuel is also spelled as Emmanuel in some versions of the Bible. The name Immanuel can be found in only Isaiah in the Old Testament and Matthew in the New Testament.