Maybe You Should Think About That Too! Quiz

Answer: The angel took away his ability to speak until John was named.

Zacharias was a priest and during the time of incense, an angel appeared unto him telling him that his prayers for a child had been heard by God. God was going to give them a son and his name would be "John". His son would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

Zacharias didn't quite believe him at first though.
"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."
(Luke 1:18-20)

When Zacharias came out from the temple, people marveled because he couldn't speak. When the time for the naming of the baby came they wanted to name the baby after him, but Zacharias said no. They brought him a tablet and when Zacharias wrote the baby's name was "John", a marvelous thing happened.

"And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea."
(Luke 1:64-65)

Answer: He was going to put her away privately and not make her a public example.

Joseph definitely had alot on his mind when the angel appeared unto him! In the time of Jesus' birth, engagements were as serious as the wedding itself and having relationships outside of that bond were shamed as much as adultery. The man would often work for years to save up money for his wife and while he was engaged he would prepare his bride a home. Mary had been faithful and knew that the child she was expecting was of God. However Joseph was not notified by the angel until after he discovered his fiancé was pregnant without his doing! It's possible that Joseph could have made Mary a public example or even had her stoned. Joseph, though, was not willing to do this and thought about putting Mary away privately. He had many choices to make about Mary's condition and if he would still take her to be his wife.

"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
(Matthew 1:20)

"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."
(Matthew 1:24-25)

Joseph made the right choices and did as the angel told him. He respected Mary and her child and took care of them. He named Jesus as the angel had told him.

Answer: 2 years old and under

Matthew 2:16 tells us that the wise men were looking for a child aged 2 and under. We do not knew the exact age of Jesus when the wise men found him, but we know they traveled a great distance from the east to present Jesus with some of their most valuable possessions. They may have faced dangers, along with confusion that Jesus was not born in a palace they way they expected when they were searching for him. They rejoiced when the star finally led them to the King of Kings.

"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
(Matthew 2:9-11)

Answer: King Herod

When the wise men came to Herod looking for Jesus, Herod had told them to come back and report where the child was so he could worship him. Herod secretly wanted to kill the child and did not want even a baby king to take his place. However, on the way back, the wise men were warned by an angel not to return the way they came. The wise men took a different route and did not tell Herod where the child was.

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."
(Matthew 2:16)

Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died. However there were many children that lost their lives because of Herod's wrath. Herod could have been known as one of the good kings, but Herod was despised and remembered for his decision to mass murder children.

Answer: He answered with scripture.

For each of Satan's temptations Jesus answered him back with scripture.

Jesus had been fasting in the wilderness when the devil came to him and tempted him to turn stones into bread. Jesus was really hungry; however, he did not give in.

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
(Matthew 4:4)

The devil was not ready to give up either. He took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and told him to jump off because the angels would catch him.

"Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
(Matthew 4:7)

The devil gave it one more shot. He told Jesus to bow down and worship him and he would give him all the kingdoms of the world. This could have seemed like the easy way out, but Jesus knew the only way to save the world would be through his death on the cross.

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
(Matthew 4:10)

Jesus proved he had authority over the devil and afterwards went on to perform many miracles. Jesus taught us an important principle that is also in the book of James. James 4:7 shows us that people can resist the devil and he will flee.

Answer: sell your possessions and give it to the poor

Who would be willing to leave all that they had to follow Christ? The young man could not give up his possessions to follow Christ. He had followed the commandments from the Jewish law but was still not perfect.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
(Matthew 19:21-22)

Jesus told his disciples it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The young man could not follow Jesus because his possessions would turn him back.

Answer: True

It may have been a different story had Judas thought about his actions and handled them differently.

"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."
(Matthew 27:3-5)

Peter, on the other hand, realized his mistake and handled things differently.
He had been identified while Jesus was being tried and asked three times if he knew Jesus. Peter swore he did not each time, and then the rooster crowed. He remembered all the times he had promised not to leave Jesus' side and what Jesus had told him.

"And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
(Matthew 26:75)

However Peter redeemed himself and on the day of Pentecost he preached the message God gave him. He went on to become a leading apostle and ultimately was crucified for the Gospel's sake.

Answer: They were struck down dead because they lied to the Holy Ghost.

Ananias, with Sapphira, sold their land and presented a portion of the money to the apostles and Peter, saying it was the full amount. They wanted to look good on the outside, but God knew they were being dishonest.

"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."
(Acts 5:3-5)

The men who were beside Peter took Ananias' body out and buried it. A few hours later Ananias' wife came in and they asked her about the money. She told Peter that it was the full amount.

"Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out."
(Acts 5:9)

Sapphira fell down dead and was buried as well. Fear and respect for God came upon the church because of these things. People definitely thought about these two when they were tempted to lie to the church.

Answer: a sheet full of unclean animals

Jews generally avoided Gentiles because Gentiles were considered heathens to them. Cornelius was a righteous man but he did not have the entire truth. He was a Roman centurion who feared God and prayed to God with his household.
God told Cornelius to fetch Peter and while Cornelius' men were on their way, God spoke to Peter.

While Peter was praying a sheet came down from heaven full of unclean animals that Jews were not supposed to touch or eat.

"And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."
(Acts 10:11-16)

God told Peter not to call unclean what he had cleansed. This happened three times. Finally Peter got the message and God told him to go with Cornelius' men. Peter preached and before he was through speaking the Holy Ghost filled the room and filled everyone in the household. They were baptized and it was the first Gentile revival in the church!

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34)

God proved to Peter that He is no respecter of persons and is interested in all those who seek Him.

Answer: He was ready to be offered. He had fought a good fight and had kept the faith.

Paul did not give up his faith and was beheaded for his commitment to Christ.

In his last letter to Timothy, Paul writes from prison:
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
(2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Time and again, the Bible says God will reward all those who make the sacrifice to follow Him. According to Paul, He has reserved a crown in heaven for all those who love Him and serve Him until His coming!