They Finished Second -- Can You Finish First? #10 Quiz

Answer: Cain

The correct answer is Cain. According to the fourth chapter of Genesis, he killed his brother Abel out of a severe case of jealousy. Scripture states Abel's offering was respected by the LORD but such was not the case with Cain's offering. According to Genesis 4:16, Cain went to live in the land of Nod.

Answer: Jerusalem

The correct answer is Jerusalem, of course. 2 Samuel 5:3-5, gives this account of David moving his base of operations from Hebron to Jerusalem: "Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah."

Previously, Israel was divided by a civil war with one side backing David and the other side backing Ishbosheth, Saul's son.

Answer: Simeon

The correct answer is Simeon, the son of Leah. Simeon is perhaps best known for going on a killing spree with his brother Levi after their sister Dinah was defiled by Shechem, as per the 34th chapter of Genesis. The 49th chapter of Genesis tells of Jacob blessing his 12 sons.

In Genesis 49:5-7 in the NIV Bible, Jacob has some unkind things to say about Simeon and Levi: "Simeon and Levi are brothers -- their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel."

Answer: Abram

Abram, who would later become known as Abraham, is the correct answer. It's a bit of a long story, but basically God promised Abram He would make a great nation out of him and He would bless Abram and the families of the earth through him. He also promised Abram his people would live in a certain geographical area.

In Genesis 12:2-3, in the NKJV, the LORD tells Abram: "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

In Genesis 15:5, the LORD tells Abram his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Genesis 15:18-21, in the NKJV Bible, goes on to state: "On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates -- the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Answer: Zechariah

The correct answer is Zechariah, however, it is not known for certain if he was the same man who wrote the book Zechariah. 2 Chronicles 24:20-21, in the NKJV Bible states: "Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, 'Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.' So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD."

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about verses 20-21: "Jesus spoke of 'Zechariah the son of Berechiah' as one of a series of prophets who was murdered in the temple court (Matthew 23:34-35). This could be the Zechariah who wrote the book of Zechariah (Zechariah 1:17) which says nothing about his death. Zechariah the son of Jehoiada also died in the temple court as described here. Either (1) the chronicler's Zechariah was actually the grandson of Jehoiada and the son of the unmentioned Berechiah, or (2) the prophet who wrote the Book of Zechariah was also slain in the temple precincts, a fact recorded only in the Gospels."

Answer: Naphtali

The correct answer is Naphtali. When Bilhah bore a second son for Jacob, Scripture states Rachel gave him the name Naphtali because she had a great struggle with her sister Leah and she was the winner. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state Naphtali means "my struggle".

According to Scripture, Rachel felt immense shame because she was unable to bear children while her sister Leah was bearing sons for Jacob. For example, in Genesis 30:1, she is quoted as saying "give me children, or I'll die!". As a result, she came up with the scheme calling on Jacob to sleep with Bilhah to bear children for her.

Naphtali, of course, was a founder of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and according to Genesis 46:24, he was the father of Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. When Jacob blessed his sons, he had this to say about Naphtali, as per Genesis 49:21, in the NIV Study Bible: "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns."

Although Jacob's blessing augured well for Naphtali's future, not much is known about him as he is seldom mentioned in Scripture.

Answer: Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, are the correct answer. According to Scripture, they both lived in Bethany and Jesus raised their brother from the dead. The account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead can be found in the eleventh chapter of John.

Scripture also tells of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet listening to Him while Martha was busy preparing food for the guests. As a result, Martha became annoyed with the situation and requested Jesus to order her sister to lend a helping hand.

Luke 10:38-42, in the NKJV, reports things this way: "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"

Answer: Saul

The correct answer is Saul, who would later become known as Paul. According to Scripture, the events in Antioch followed the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the early church.

Acts 11:19-26, in the NKJV, states: "Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

Answer: When Christ arose from the dead.

According to Scripture, the second earthquake in the New Testament happened after Christ rose from the dead. Matthew 28:1-2 tells of Mary Magdalene and a woman known as "the other Mary" visiting Christ's tomb when the earthquake struck. The ninth verse tells of Jesus appearing with the two women bowing at His feet and worshipping Him.

There is a third report of an earthquake in the New Testament. It is reported in the 16th chapter of Acts. According to Scripture an earthquake took place while Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi.

Answer: Silas

Paul took Silas with him on his second missionary journey, although Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul, however, opposed the idea of having John Mark take part.

Acts 15:36-41 gives this account in the NKJV Bible: "Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.' Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."