A Quiz to Work On: Jobs in the New Testament

Answer: Joseph

The correct answer is Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus while still a virgin. Not much is known about Joseph and his occupation as a carpenter is mentioned in passing reference in Scripture. Matthew 13 tells of people in Jesus' hometown talking about him. Verse 55, in the NIV Bible, states: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" It's from this verse we know Joseph was a carpenter.

Answer: Zacchaeus

Zaccheaus, of course, was the chief tax collector of Jericho. He might have held down a big position, but he was a small man. In fact, Scripture states he was so short he had to climb a sycamore-fig tree to get a better view of Jesus, as per Luke 19:3-4. At least one of Jesus' 12 disciples, Matthew, also known as Levi, served as a tax collector.

Answer: James

James was one of at lest four disciples who worked as a fisherman. James' brother John was also a fisherman as was the case with the brother-brother team of Peter and Andrew. It is possible other disciples were fishermen, but there is no documentation for this in Scripture. James would become the first martyr in the early church, as per Acts 12:2.

Answer: Cornelius

The correct answer is Cornelius, one of the first Gentile believers in a resurrected Jesus Christ. The story of Cornelius and his group of Gentile believers can be found in the 10th chapter of Acts. The chapter tells of Peter meeting with Cornelius and his group and baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ. Centurions were the elite of the Roman army, seen by historians as a ruthless killing machine.

However, centurions are generally looked upon favorably in the New Testament.

Answer: Simon

The correct answer is Simon. Not much is known about Simon as he is only mentioned in passing reference. His name is mentioned three times and in each reference he is referred to as a tanner. It was at Simon the Tanner's home that Peter was staying at when Cornelius invited the disciple to visit him and his group of Gentile believers, as per Acts 10.

Incidentally, Simon is the only person listed in the entire Bible as someone working as a tanner.

Answer: Aquila

Aquila was a tent maker, also an occupation of Saul, also known as Paul. Again, Aquila's tent making trade, is mentioned in passing reference and no details are known. Acts 18:1-3, in the NIV Bible, states: "After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tent maker as they were, he stayed and worked with them." This is the only passage in which the occupation of tent maker appears in the entire Bible.

Answer: Lydia

Lydia, of course, was a seller of purple cloth (Acts 16:14-15). She was the first reported convert to Christianity in Europe. Incidentally, purple in Biblical times was associated with royalty and kingship. As a result, many theologians believe Lydia was a well-to-do businesswoman.

Answer: Alexander

Alexander was a metalworker but not much else is known about him. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes Alexander the metalworker had done "a great deal of harm" to him. There is some speculation it could be the same Alexander that is mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20. In that verse, Paul tells of Hymenaeus and Alexander being "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

Answer: Luke

Luke, of course, is the correct answer. In addition to writing the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, Luke was a tireless worker in the early church, serving behind the scenes with the likes of Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Timothy. We know Luke's occupation because Paul in Colossians 4:14 states "our dear friend Luke the doctor" sends his greetings.

Answer: Jairus

Jairus was a synagogue ruler who was the father of a 12-year-old girl who had died, only to have Jesus raise her from the dead. The touching story is told in Mark 5:21-43. Sandwiched in between two parts of the story of Jairus' daughter is the account of a woman who had been the subject of bleeding for 12 years and was cured by simply touching Jesus' grown.