Paul and Silas in Chains for the Gospel of Christ Quiz

Answer: Philippi

The correct answer is Philippi. Prior to their arrest, Paul had converted Lydia, believed by many to be the first Christian believer in Europe. Philippi was a city in eastern Macedonia and was abandoned in the 14th century during the Ottoman conquest, according to Wikipedia.

Answer: She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. With the spirit driven out, she could no longer tell fortunes and the hope of making money was gone.

The correct answer is the slave girl was no longer able to tell fortunes when the spirit was driven out and her owners were no longer able to make money from her. Specifics aren't given, but verse 16, in the NIV Bible, states she made a "great deal" of money for her owners by telling fortunes.

Answer: Dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

The correct answer is they dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. Verse 19, in the NIV Bible, suggests considerable force was used by the owners against Paul and Silas. It states they "seized" the two men and then "dragged" them to the authorities.

In verse 20 and 21, the owners are quoted as telling the magistrates "these men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." Notes in the NIV Study Bible state "if a religion failed to receive Roman approval, it was considered 'religio illicita'. Judaism had legal recognition, but Christianity did not."

Answer: They were stripped, beaten and severely flogged.

They were stripped, beaten and severely flogged, is the correct answer. It must have been a barbaric sight. Verses 22 and 23 in the NIV Bible tells of a mob scene erupting: "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison..."

Answer: The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

Verse 23 states the jailer was commanded to guard Paul and Silas "carefully." To make an escape extra difficult, the jailer assigned the two to an inner cell and put their feet in stocks. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state an inner cell not only made escape more difficult, but it was often used for torture.

Answer: Praying and singing hymns to God.

As incredible as it seems, the correct answer is that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Their praying and singing must have been loud because verse 23 states "the other prisoners were listening to them."

Answer: A violent earthquake

The correct answer is a "violent earthquake" occurred. There is no indication in Scripture that the earthquake struck the rest of the city, leading some people to believe the earthquake was extremely isolated and limited to the area of the prison. Acts 16:26, in the NIV Bible, states: "Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.

At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose."

Answer: Killing himself.

The jailer was obviously distraught because he thought his prisoners had escaped: when he woke from a deep sleep, he saw the prison doors open. Acts 16:27, in the NIV Bible, states: "The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped." Paul and Silas, however, had stayed put and were still in their cell.

Answer: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The jailer was told by Paul and Silas that to be saved, he must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31-34, in the NIV Bible, states: "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household.' Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house." Notes in the NIV Study Bible state the term 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ' is "a concise statement of the way of salvation."

Answer: Paul and Silas went to the jailer's house and his household believed in God.

The correct answer is that Paul and Silas went to the jailer's house and his household was converted to Christianity. Acts 16:33-34, in the NIV Bible, states: "At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God -- he and his whole family."