A Common Link Between Biblical Characters [5] Quiz

Answer: Both lived in Bethany.

Lazarus and Simon the Leper both lived in Bethany and their stories are told in the Gospels. The account of Simon the Leper appears in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:1-11 and John 12:1-11 while the story of Lazarus appears in John 11:1-43.

Answer: One denied knowing Jesus and the other accused him of being with Jesus.

The correct answer is that Peter denied even knowing Jesus even though the servant girl of the high priest accused him of being with Jesus. After Peter's denial of knowing Jesus to the servant girl, as well as to others in the courtyard of the high priest, the rooster crowed twice, just as Jesus had predicted in Mark 14:30.

The account of Peter's denial is reported in Mark 14:66-72. Similar accounts can be found in the 26th chapter of Matthew and the 22nd chapter of Luke.

Answer: Both were slow at grasping Jesus' teachings in John 14.

The correct answer is that the two disciples were both slow at grasping Jesus' teachings, as per the 14th chapter of John. In John 14:1-3, in the NIV Bible, Jesus makes the famous statement: "'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Thomas, obviously confused, jumps in by saying he does not know the way to the place Jesus is talking about and Christ responds in verses 6-7 by saying "'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'" Then in verse 8, a baffled Philip states to Jesus he doesn't understand what he had just said.

In verses 9-14, Jesus assures Philip "I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me."

Answer: Both served on missionary journeys with Paul

Barnabas and Silas both served with Paul on missionary journeys. Silas is perhaps best known for being imprisoned in Philippi with Paul for preaching the Gospel. Their imprisonment is recorded in Acts 16:16-40. Scripture states after being stripped, beaten and severely flogged, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God shortly after midnight while being in jail with their feet in stocks! The real name of Barnabas was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas which means Son of Encouragement, as per Acts 4:36.

In addition to being an encourager, Barnabas was a cheerful giver, and then some. Verse 37 tells of him selling a field he owned and putting the proceeds at the apostles' feet.

Answer: Leader of the church at Colosse and someone who was probably his son.

There is no smoking gun, but many theologians believe Archippus was the son of Philemon. Paul begins the letter by writing in the NIV Bible "...to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home." It is believed Apphia was Philemon's wife and Archippus was their son.

Answer: Both had demons expelled from them by Jesus.

Both the man and Mary Magdalene had demons driven from them by Jesus. One of the accounts of Jesus healing Legion can be found in Mark 5:1-20. Mark 16 tells of Jesus rising from the dead after his crucifixion and verse 9 tells of him appearing before Mary Magdalene, "out of whom he had driven seven demons."

Answer: Grandmother and mother of Timothy.

The two women were the grandmother and the mother of Timothy, a young worker in the early church. Paul, in 2 Timothy 1:5, writes to the young church worker "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

Answer: One of the original 12 disciples and the man he healed in Acts.

Peter, of course, was one of the original 12 disciples and one of his first exploits in Acts tells of him curing an unnamed crippled beggar. The account can be found in the Acts 3:1-10. Scripture tells of the crippled beggar asking Peter, as well as John, for some money and in verse 6, Peter, in the NIV Bible, makes the famous statement: "'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'" Verses 7-10 tell of the man miraculously being able to walk.

Answer: The apostle to the Gentiles and the man who was sent to meet with him after his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus.

Ananias was the man ordered by the Lord to go to Damascus to meet with Paul after his encounter with Jesus on the road to the city. Ananias, however, was reluctant to go because he had heard reports about Paul, known as Saul at the time, as being a ruthless force against followers of Christ. (I suppose it would be akin today to receiving instructions to meet with a mass murderer.) The account is told in Acts 9:1-19.

Answer: People described by Paul in Romans 16 as his relatives.

In Romans 16:21, Paul describes Lucius, Jason and Sosipater as his relatives. But no details are given. Scripture simply lists the names in a chapter which Paul devotes to extending greetings to a long list of people.