Acts and the First Church Trivia Quiz

Answer: They drew lots.

Jesus had told everyone to go to Jerusalem and wait until he sent a Comforter to them. When they got to Jerusalem, the disciples and followers of Jesus all gathered together. The people there included Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Jude.

There were also women, as well as Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' stepbrothers. Peter reminded them that Judas had been a traitor and was dead. He read a scripture from Psalms and told them that someone needed to fulfill Judas' place. So they picked two men that they knew were faithful, Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

They prayed and drew lots between the two. Matthias won and became the new member of the twelve apostles. (Acts 1)

Answer: Fire appeared above their heads and they spoke in different languages.

The disciples and other followers of Jesus were all gathered in an upper room waiting for the promise Jesus had told them would come. Some left but the ones that remained became focused on the promise and God. On Pentecost, a sudden sound like a rushing of a mighty wind came and filled the room where they were sitting. Fire appeared on each of their heads and they began speaking in other languages they had never learned or knew before. People started looking in the windows to see what was going on because they heard them praising God in their own languages from different countries. (Acts 2)

Answer: Peter

Many of the people outside who were looking in were confused by what happened in the upper room. Some even laughed saying that the followers of Jesus were drunk.

However Peter stood up and explained that this was the promise that Jesus spoke of and the prophet Joel. He explained that they had killed the Messiah, but God's spirit had returned. Some of the people that were there were very afraid and asked Peter, "What must we do?"

Peter told them to repent and change their ways. They also needed to be baptized. Then God would fill them with the Holy Spirit, and not just them alone, but their families and their children for generations. Many who heard acted on Peter's words immediately and over 3,000 people were added to the followers of Christ that day. (Acts 2)

Answer: They healed him.

When the lame men asked Peter and John for help, Peter said, "Look at us! We have no money! However we do have something. In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk!" They took the lame men by the hand and instantly the man had strength. He went running, leaping, and dancing into the temple.

Many people were shocked. Some were happy, but some such as the priests and temple rulers were very angry. They later beat Peter and John for preaching and told them never to do it again. However Peter and John continued to go to the temple and tell others about Jesus.

Answer: True

When the first followers of Jesus became known as Christians, they didn't have a church or a place where they could meet. They went up to the temple of the Israelites to worship God, and would meet with each other in their houses. When people started trying to hurt the Christians, they went to having services in their houses alone.

However, they did not forget Jesus or his love for them. It kept them going in many difficult circumstances. (Acts 2:46)

Answer: He killed them.

Ananias and Sapphira sold their land but decided to lie and keep some of the money for themselves. They wanted to be popular with the rest of the Christians though. They came to the Apostle Peter and said, "This is all the money." However God knew different and told Peter. Peter asked them both, "Why have you lied? You have not lied to us, but to God! Men are waiting to bury you right this moment!" Instantly both Ananias and later Sapphira (when she came looking for her husband) fell down dead. They were buried right away and many people were afraid. (Acts 5)

Answer: He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Stephen was arrested and accused of saying bad things about God. Some witnesses lied and said they saw Stephen doing things he never had.

Stephen in his defense reminded them what they had done to the prophets and to Jesus. He reminded them how they had never obeyed God or his commandments. They got very angry and took Stephen outside where they threw rocks at him. Just before he died, Stephen looked up and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. While the people were hurting him, Stephen prayed "God forgive them for they don't know what they are doing!". He died and became the first person to die for their faith in Jesus. (Acts 7)

Answer: Paul

Paul was originally named Saul. Saul was a faithful Jew and wanted to destroy the Christians as much as he could. He threw many of them in jail and watched some of them be hurt. He was at Stephen's trial and held the coats of the men that hurt Stephen. Saul was on his way to Damascus when God stopped him.

He saw a vision and saw Jesus Christ, who said, "Saul why are you trying to hurt me?". Saul was blind and had to be led into Damascus by his helpers. He prayed for many days and God sent a preacher to Saul who prayed for his eyes. Saul's eyes were opened and he became a Christian.

He changed his life and became the apostle Paul, teaching many people around the world about Jesus on his missionary journeys. (Acts 9)

Answer: Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost and were baptized.

Cornelius was a Roman solider and was hated by many people, but he loved God. He was praying one day and an angel appeared to him and told him that God had heard his prayers. The angel told him to go and get the apostle Peter. Cornelius was so excited, and by the time the Apostle Peter arrived, he had filled his house with all of his friends, family, and neighbors, waiting to hear what Peter would say.

While Peter was preaching, the same thing that happened in the upper room happened to Cornelius and his family.

They believed Peter's words and were baptized. Many were amazed because God saved so many Gentiles in the same way He had the Jews. They started going into even more places of the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus.

Answer: Luke

Luke was writing the book of Acts as a letter to his friend Theophilus. Luke had told him all the stories of things Jesus had done in his previous letter (which is also known as the gospel of Luke in the New Testament). Some believe Theophilus became a Christian because of Luke's letters. Luke traveled with the apostles and especially Paul, recording all the stories and great events. Because of Luke's efforts, we have the book of Acts today in the Bible. (Acts 1:1)