Christians and Romans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Claudius

This occurred during the reign of Claudius, who was emperor from AD 41 to 54.

Answer: James

James the Elder, brother of John, was beheaded by Herod Agrippa when he began to persecute the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. John lived to a ripe, old age, and probably died a natural death. Stephen was not one of the "twelve," he was a deacon appointed by the disciples. According to tradition, Peter was martyred in Rome much later.

Answer: When Paul came to Italy he was greeted by a crowd of Christians

The Acts of the Apostles describes Paul's arrest and subsequent appeal to Caesar in detail. When he arrived in Italy, as a prisoner, large crowds of Christians came out to greet him. The Gospel of Mark makes no mention of Paul at all. Paul's arrival in Italy was in AD 60, long after Tiberius' death.

Besides, there was no such letter in Tiberius' archives. The Gospel of Thomas contains the sayings and teachings of Jesus.

Answer: Vatican Hill

Vatican Hill is traditionally the site of Peter's martyrdom, by crucifixion, upside down. The Roman Forum was a marketplace and Peter was not imprisoned in the Praetorian Prison. By the time of Peter's execution, the Circus Maximus had been largely destroyed by the Great Fire of Rome (AD 64).

Answer: A wave of Messianism when Herod Agrippa planned a revolt against Rome

Herod Agrippa began to fortify Jerusalem, and began to conceive himself to be a new Messiah. The immediate implication was a revolt against Rome, and this made Claudius very concerned. Paul was not known to be in Rome during the reign of Claudius. Augustus was also very tolerant towards the Jews.

Answer: Pomponia Graecina

Pomponia Graecina was wife of Aulus Plautius, who commanded legions during Claudius' campaign in Britain. She was accused, but, in a traditional Roman style, her husband judged her in front of kinspeople, and she was acquitted.
Lollia Paulina had no knowledge of Christianity. Poppaea Sabina was Nero's second wife, and Quintilia was a Roman lady involved in a case (and tortured) during the reign of Caligula.

Answer: All of these reasons

All of these charges were leveled against the Christians. When some Romans heard about the ritual of "eating Christ's flesh and drinking his blood", they took it literally, erroneously thinking that Christians sacrificed infants. Christianity was viewed as a disruptive force in society, because it preached the worship of a being higher than any temporal ruler and sometimes pitted one family member against another.

There was a widespread belief among Christians that the evil world would be consumed and purified by fire.

Answer: Rome

This is, as indicated, "according to tradition." It is though that John Mark accompanied Peter to Rome and helped him preach in Greek to potential converts there. Peter's recollections of the life of Jesus were said to have been written by Mark. It seems to be addressed to a Gentile audience because many Aramaic phrases are explained to readers.

Answer: The Acts of Peter

The Acts of Peter describe Peter's journey to Rome to confront Simon Magus. He preaches in Rome until his followers beg him to flee to safety when Nero begins to persecute Christians. As he leaves Rome, he has a vision of Jesus and asks him, "Where are you going, Lord?" (In Latin, "Quo vadis, Domine?") This tale is described in Henryk Sienkiewicz' novel, "Quo Vadis." The Acts of Peter is thought to have written sometime in the second century and is considered largely legendary.

Despite this, there is a strong tradition that Peter came to Rome later in his life and suffered martyrdom there.

Answer: The house of Mary, mother of John Mark

Peter went first to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, in Jerusalem, to warn the others assembled there. After this, he might have gone to any one of the other places mentioned, but the Acts of the Apostles merely say that he "went to a different place."