Match These New Testament Characters -- #14 Quiz

Answer: Meeting at night

According to John 3:2, Nicodemus met with Jesus at night and there is considerable conjecture as to why Nicodemus opted to have a meeting at such a time. One school of thought has it Nicodemus didn't want it to be known that as a teacher of the law, he had any interest in Jesus' teachings, as Christ was often surrounded by tax collectors and the dregs of society. Another school of thought has it Nicodemus had no choice but to visit Jesus at night if he wanted a one-on-one meeting because Christ was always surrounded by large crowds in the day time.

In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Then in Verse 16, Jesus makes the famous declaration: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." It's that statement which has become a pillar of the evangelical Christian movement.

Answer: Gospel writer

In the order the books appear, Matthew wrote the first Gospel of the New Testament. The traditional belief is the writer is the same person who served as one of Jesus' Twelve Disciples. If this was the case, he was a Jewish tax collector. Matthew, who was also known as Levi, quotes more passages from the Old Testament than any New Testament writer, according to notes in the NKJV Study Bible.

Answer: Simon the Tanner

Peter stayed with Simon the Tanner after raising Dorcas from the dead, as per Acts 9:36-43. However, little is known about Simon the Tanner, although his name appears three different times in Scripture. In each case (Acts 9:43, 10:6 and 10:32) it states that Peter was staying with Simon.

In both references in the 10th chapter, it states Simon the Tanner's house was by the sea. In that chapter, an unnamed angel of the Lord tells Cornelius he must summon Peter who was staying with Simon the Tanner. Cornelius, of course, was one of the first Gentile believers in a resurrected Christ.

Answer: A twin

According to John 11:16 in the NKJV, Thomas was also called Twin. In the same passage in the NIV, Thomas is called Didymus with notes in the NIV Study Bible stating Didymus means twin.

Thomas, of course, is remembered for having major doubts about initial reports from others about Christ's resurrection after the crucifixion. His doubts, however, disappeared forever, when according to John 20:24-29, Jesus appeared before Thomas and the other disciples while they were meeting in a locked room.

John 20:26-29, in the NKJV Bible, states: "And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'."

Answer: Luke and Acts

The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were both written by Luke and addressed to Theophilus. However, there is no conclusive proof as to who Theopilus actually was. Some believe he was a prominent official in the Roman government while others believe he was a lawyer who represented Paul in his trial before Felix.

Some believe Theophilus is a collective name for Christians in general but this view is disputed by others because the Gospel of Luke describes Theophilus as "most excellent," a term for a specific person and not a collective body.

Answer: Mentioned in Romans 16

Tryphena and Tryphosa are two of a number of people who are listed by Paul in Chapter 16 of Romans. The chapter is largely a long list of personal greetings Paul sends to believers in Rome. The chapter is seen by many today as a tribute to the common "Jane and Joe" Christians.

There is no conclusive proof, but many theologians believe Tryphena and Tryphosa were sisters.

Answer: Writer of book

Jude is another form of Judas. There is no smoking gun, but many Protestant theologians believe the writer of Jude was the brother of Jesus. The writer, for example, describes himself as the brother of James. (Matthew 13:55 states Jesus had four brothers: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.)

It must be stressed, however, Roman Catholics have a different interpretation of Scripture and believe Jesus was an only child without any brothers or sisters. Catholics believe the word sometimes translated as 'brother' in incidents referring to Jesus is better translated as 'kin' or 'associated with'.

Meanwhile, information at Biblos.com, a Bible encyclopedia Website, states Jude wrote the book because he "had received very distressing knowledge of the serious state into which the Christian brotherhood was rapidly drifting, and he must as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ exhort them to steadfastness and warn them of their danger."

Answer: Mentioned in parable

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus appears in only the Gospel of Luke, as per Chapter 16, Verses 19-31. Scripture tells of Lazarus and the rich man dying, with Lazarus ending up by the side of Abraham and the rich man in a place of torment. When the rich man requests that Lazarus come and dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, Abraham tells him this is not possible because there is a "great chasm" and no one can cross over it.

Lazarus is the only person who is specifically named in the thirty-nine different parables told by Jesus.

Answer: Delivery of letter

Acts 15:22 tells of a council of elders and apostles at Jerusalem appointing Silas and Judas, also called Barsabbas, to go with Paul and Barnabas to present a special letter of instructions to Gentile believers in Antioch.

Acts 15:29, in the NIV Bible, makes it clear the church council did not want to burden the Gentile believers with a long list of rules. The verse states, "You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell." Verse 31 states the people who read the letter "were glad for its encouraging message." Verse 32 goes on to state Silas and Judas, "who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers."

Answer: Deserted Paul

John, also called Mark, deserted Paul during a missionary trip, according to Acts 15:38. After being deserted by John Mark during his first missionary trip, Paul wanted no part of having him take part on the second journey. This even though Barnabas lobbied hard to have John Mark take part. Acts 15:36-41, in the NIV Bible, gives this account: "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.' Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

However, the fractured relationship between Paul and Mark was eventually healed. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul advises Timothy to bring Mark to him "because he is helpful to me in my ministry." 2 Timothy is believed to have been written just prior to Paul being executed.