NEW TESTAMENT TRIVIA

NEW TESTAMENT TRIVIA – PART 1

Summary (trivia questions follow)
The New Testament begins with the four Gospels, each written by a different author. The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew himself, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Among the four Gospels, Mark is believed to be the earliest written. Luke, who was a physician and companion of Paul, wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel that opens with the famous words “In the beginning was the Word” is the Gospel of John, which emphasizes Jesus’ divine nature.

Jesus’ story begins with His birth. He was born in the town of Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod. An angel named Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary, telling her she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus began His public ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Immediately afterward, Jesus went into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days. During this time, Satan tempted Him. The first temptation was for Jesus to turn stones into bread, but Jesus refused and remained faithful to God.

After His time in the desert, Jesus began preaching and teaching. One of His most famous teachings is the Sermon on the Mount, which He delivered on a hillside. During this sermon, Jesus taught the Beatitudes. In Matthew’s Gospel, there are eight Beatitudes recorded. Jesus also taught His disciples how to pray, giving them the prayer known as the Our Father, or the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus performed many miracles during His ministry. At a wedding in Cana, He performed His first public miracle by turning water into wine. He called His first disciples, Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. One day, Jesus walked on water, and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water with Him. Later, Peter would deny Jesus three times during Jesus’ trial. Judas, one of the twelve apostles, betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Jesus was arrested and taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate symbolically washed his hands to show he did not want responsibility for Jesus’ death. On the way to crucifixion, Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross. Jesus was crucified and died, and afterward Joseph of Arimathea bravely asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Jesus was then buried in a new tomb.

On the third day, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and discovered it was empty. She became the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection. Later, Jesus appeared to His disciples. Thomas doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus for himself. For forty days after Easter, Jesus appeared to His followers and taught them. Then He ascended into heaven.

Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples during the feast of Pentecost. Peter preached a powerful sermon, and three thousand people were baptized that day. This marked the birth of the early Church.

The New Testament also includes letters written by the apostles. The apostle Paul wrote most of the New Testament letters. Before his conversion, Paul was known as Saul. He was traveling on the road to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him in a bright light and changed his life. After his conversion, Paul traveled on missionary journeys with Barnabas as his companion. One of Paul’s letters, 1 Corinthians, contains the famous chapter 13, which focuses on love.

After the four Gospels, the next book in the Bible is Acts, which records the history of the early Church. The final book of the New Testament is Revelation, which was written by the apostle John. John received this vision while exiled on the island of Patmos. In Revelation, seven churches are addressed with messages from Jesus.

Most of Paul’s letters end with a blessing, as he often closes by praying for grace and peace over the believers.

Who wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
A) Matthew
B) Mark
C) Luke
D) John
Which Gospel is believed to be the earliest written?
A) Matthew
B) Mark
C) Luke
D) John
Who wrote the Acts of the Apostles?
A) Peter
B) James
C) Luke
D) Paul
Which Gospel begins with “In the beginning was the Word”?
A) Matthew
B) Mark
C) Luke
D) John
Who baptized Jesus?
A) Peter
B) John the Baptist
C) Andrew
D) James
Where was Jesus born?
A) Nazareth
B) Jerusalem
C) Bethlehem
D) Galilee
Who was king when Jesus was born?
A) Herod
B) Pilate
C) Agrippa
D) Caesar Augustus
Who announced Jesus’ birth to Mary?
A) Gabriel
B) Michael
C) Raphael
D) Uriel
What miracle did Jesus perform at Cana?
A) Healing a blind man
B) Walking on water
C) Raising Lazarus
D) Turning water into wine
How many days did Jesus fast in the desert?
A) 30
B) 20
C) 10
D) 40
Who tempted Jesus in the wilderness?
A) Pharisees
B) Sadducees
C) Satan
D) Herod
What did Satan first tempt Jesus to turn into bread?
A) Sand
B) Stones
C) Fish
D) Leaves
Where did Jesus deliver the Sermon on the Mount?
A) Temple
B) Synagogue
C) Hillside
D) Courtyard
What prayer did Jesus teach His disciples?
A) Psalm 23
B) Hail Mary
C) Glory Be
D) Our Father
How many Beatitudes are recorded in Matthew?
A) 8
B) 7
C) 6
D) 10
Who were the first disciples called by Jesus?
A) Peter and Andrew
B) James and John
C) Philip and Nathaniel
D) Matthew and Thomas
Who walked on water with Jesus?
A) John
B) Peter
C) James
D) Andrew
Who denied Jesus three times?
A) John
B) Matthew
C) Peter
D) Thomas
Who betrayed Jesus?
A) Judas
B) Peter
C) James
D) Philip
For how many pieces of silver was Jesus betrayed?
A) 20
B) 10
C) 30
D) 40
Who washed his hands of Jesus’ fate?
A) Pilate
B) Caiaphas
C) Herod
D) Annas
Who carried Jesus’ cross?
A) Simon of Cyrene
B) Joseph of Arimathea
C) Nicodemus
D) Barabbas
Who asked Pilate for Jesus’ body?
A) Peter
B) John
C) Joseph of Arimathea
D) Matthew
Where was Jesus buried?
A) Public grave
B) Temple tomb
C) Family plot
D) New tomb
Who discovered the empty tomb first?
A) Mary Magdalene
B) Martha
C) Joanna
D) Salome
Who did Jesus appear to first after His resurrection?
A) Peter
B) Mary Magdalene
C) Thomas
D) John
Which disciple doubted Jesus’ resurrection?
A) Philip
B) Andrew
C) Thomas
D) James
How many days after Easter did Jesus ascend?
A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40
What feast celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit?
A) Pentecost
B) Ascension
C) Passover
D) Tabernacles
How many people were baptized after Peter’s sermon?
A) 1,000
B) 2,000
C) 3,000
D) 5,000
Who wrote most of the New Testament letters?
A) Peter
B) James
C) John
D) Paul
What was Paul’s name before conversion?
A) Samuel
B) Saul
C) Silas
D) Simon
Where was Paul traveling when Jesus appeared to him?
A) Rome
B) Antioch
C) Damascus
D) Jerusalem
Who was Paul’s missionary companion?
A) Barnabas
B) Timothy
C) Titus
D) Mark
Which letter focuses on love in chapter 13?
A) Romans
B) Galatians
C) Ephesians
D) 1 Corinthians
Which book comes right after the Gospels?
A) Romans
B) Acts
C) Hebrews
D) James
Who wrote Revelation?
A) Peter
B) Luke
C) John
D) Matthew
What island was John on when he wrote Revelation?
A) Crete
B) Cyprus
C) Malta
D) Patmos
How many churches are addressed in Revelation?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
What closes most of Paul’s letters?
A) Prophecy
B) Warning
C) Command
D) Blessing

Part 1 - ANSWER KEY