Match These New Testament Characters -- #10 Quiz

Answer: Pool of Siloam

After applying clay to a blind man's eyes, Jesus told him to wash at the pool of Siloam, as per the KJV, NKJV and NIV. All three Bible versions report Siloam is translated as Sent.

John 9;5-7, in the NKJV, explains things this way: "'As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing."

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible give this fascinating information about the Pool of Siloam: "Hezekiah had a tunnel cut through solid rock to transport water from Gihon (the 'Virgin's Fountain') into the city of Jerusalem, to the pool of Siloam (see 2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:30). John emphasizes that the name Siloam means 'Sent,' because Jesus announced that He had been sent by God (John 9:4)."

The blind man who gained his sight is not named, even though the entire ninth chapter of John is devoted to Jesus healing him. The first verse reports he was born blind.

Answer: Timothy's mother

Eunice was mother of Timothy, the young and timid church worker who served along side Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. According to 2 Timothy 1:5, Eunice's mother was Lois. Acts 16:1 states Eunice was a Jew who was married to a Greek, but no name is given for her husband. There is no mention in Scripture if Eunice and her husband had other children, apart from Timothy.

Answer: Fish with coin

According to Scripture, Jesus instructed Peter to go fishing and after he caught his first fish to look in its mouth. Inside the mouth, he would find a coin to pay the obligatory temple tax.

Matthew 17:24-27 explains things this way: "When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.'"

The account of the temple tax found in the fish's mouth is found in only the Gospel of Matthew.

Answer: In Paul's salutations

Sosthenes is one of only three people mentioned in the salutations of Paul's books. The other two are Timothy and Silas. Sosthenes' name appears at the beginning of 1 Corinthians. However, little is known about him. There is a Sosthenes mentioned in Acts 18:17, a Synagogue ruler who was beaten by an unruly mob, but there is no conclusive proof he is the same person referred to by Paul in his salutations in 1 Corinthians. If it is the same person, he obviously had become a Christian after being a ruler of the synagogue.

Answer: Possessed by spirit

The slave girl was possessed by a spirit which apparently enabled her to tell the fortunes of others and, according to Scripture, she would follow Paul and his companions proclaiming, "these men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." Acts 16:16-24 states Paul became "greatly annoyed" by the girl's actions and ordered the spirit to come out of the girl. The passage goes on to state the spirit followed Paul's orders and left the slave girl but much to the dismay of her owners, she was no longer able to tell fortunes. With their hope for a profit gone, the owners seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

Acts 16:22-23 goes on to state: "Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely."

Answer: Washed his hands

Pilate, according to Scripture, washed his hands prior to giving in to a frenzied mob and approving the crucifixion of Jesus. According to Scripture, Pilate's wife had a dream and warned him no harm should be done to Jesus. Pilate had also informed the crowd one person could be set free on that given day and he suggested the people decide between Jesus and "a notorious prisoner called Barabbas" to receive their freedom. The people, who were spurred on by chief priests and elders, insisted Barabbas should be set free and Jesus should be crucified. It was at this point Pilate washed his hands in a vain attempt to indicate he had no part of the decision.

Here's how Matthew 27:15-26 reads in the NKJV:

"Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

"While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, 'Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.'

"But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release to you?'

"They said, 'Barabbas!'

"Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said to him, 'Let Him be crucified!'

"Then the governor said, 'Why, what evil has He done?'

"But they cried out all the more, saying, 'Let Him be crucified!'

"When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.'

"And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.'

"Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified."

Answer: Seized by mob

Gaius and his co-worker Aristarchus were seized by a mob during a riot in Ephesus. According to Scripture, Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines of Diana, stirred up citizens in Ephesus saying their way of life was being threatened by Paul and his co-workers converting people to Christianity. (In the NIV, it states Demetrius made shrines of Artemis.)

After being seized by the mob, Gaius and Aristarchus were released when things finally died down. Their exploits are recounted in Acts 19:23-41.

Answer: Visits empty tomb

John 20:1 tells of Mary Magdalene going to the tomb of Jesus and being puzzled to find the tomb empty. Shortly later, her puzzlement would change to total amazement when she encountered the resurrected Christ. As per John 20:11-18, she was the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection.

In Verse 17, Jesus tells Mary to go and tell others what she had seen.

Mark 16:9, as well as Luke 8:2, state Jesus had driven seven demons out of Mary. However, no details are given, with the verses simply stating the demons had been driven out previously.

Answer: Sees God's salvation

Simeon was elderly and according to Scripture, he was told by the Holy Spirit he "would not not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." When Simeon saw the Child Jesus, he proclaimed he had seen God's salvation and indicated he was ready to die.

Here's how Luke 2:25-32 reads in the NKJV:

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.'

"And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, 'Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

This is the only passage in the entire Bible in which Simeon is mentioned.

Answer: Account of Onesimus

Thee is no smoking gun, but many theologians believe Archippus was the son of Philemon, master of the run-away slave Onesimus. It is also believed Apphia was Philemon's wife and the mother of Archippus.

In his salutations in Philemon 1:2-3, Paul writes in the NKJV: "To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."