Match These New Testament Characters -- #7 Quiz

Answer: Brood of vipers

The Pharisees were called a brood of vipers by both Jesus and John the Baptist, as per the NKJV and the NIV. (In the KJV, the term 'generation of vipers' is used.) The reputation was earned because, according to Scripture, the Pharisees professed to be faultless, but Jesus and John saw them as nothing but hypocrites.

Jesus refers to the Pharisees as "a brood of vipers" in Matthew 12:34 and 23:33. In Matthew 12:33-35, for example, Jesus, in the NKJV, addresses the Pharisees this way: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."

Meanwhile, John the Baptist refers to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers in Matthew 3:7 and Luke 3:7.

Answer: Almost died

According to Paul, Epaphroditus was a dedicated worker in the early church who became ill and almost died. In Philippians 2:25, Paul describes Epaphroditus in the NKJV as "my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier."

Little in the way of details are given about the exact nature of his illness, but Paul writes in Verse 27 God had mercy on Epaphroditus and spared him.

And in Verse 30, there's a suggestion Epaphroditus' illness might have been worsened by fatigue and exhaustion: "...for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me."

Answer: Tabitha

Dorcas was also known as Tabitha and, according to Acts 9:36-42, she was raised from the dead by Peter. She lived in Joppa. The community is now known as Jaffa and is part of Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean Sea. Scripture states Dorcas/Tabitha was "always doing good and helping the poor." In different places in the Bible, helping the poor is pointed out as a strong virtue. In Acts 10:2, for example, Cornelius, a Roman centurion who was also a Christian believer, is described as "giving generously" to those in need.

According to Scripture, after Peter raised the woman from the dead the miracle became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. The story of Dorcas/Tabitha being raised from the dead is only one of several incidents in which Peter performed miracles in Acts. For example, in Acts 9:32-25, just before the report about Dorcas/Tabitha, Scripture tells of Peter healing Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.

Answer: Son of Simon

In three different verses in the Gospel of John, Judas Iscariot is mentioned as the son of Simon. The verses are John 6:71, 13:2 and 13:22.

John 6:70-71, in the NKJV, states: "Jesus answered them, 'Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?' He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve."

However, little is known about Simon as he is mentioned in passing reference in Scripture, and in only the Gospel of John.

Answer: Parable by Jesus

A popular parable told by Jesus is commonly referred to as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable is found in Luke 10:25-37. According to the passage, a man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was robbed, badly beaten and left by the roadside. Two men passed by without offering to help before the Good Samaritan stopped.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state the trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was seventeen miles "on a road known to harbor many robbers. They would hide in caves along the way and attack their victims."

Answer: Ascension at Bethany

According to Scripture, after Jesus was resurrected from the dead and appeared to a number of people, He ascended to Heaven at Bethany, a village just outside Jerusalem.

According to Scripture, Bethany was the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. The eleventh chapter of John tells of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead at Bethany.

Previous to the ascension, Christ had been put on trial, humiliated, tortured and crucified, only to rise from the dead, as reported extensively in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Luke 24:49-53, In the NKJV, tells of the ascension: "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God."

References to the ascension can be also found in Mark 16:19 and Acts 1:9-11.

Answer: Father of Bartimaeus

According to Scripture, Timaeus was the father of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who had his sight restored by Jesus. However, little is known about Timaeus as he is mentioned in passing reference. Mark 10:46 in the NKJV tells of Jesus and His disciples encountering Bartimaeus: "Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging."

Shortly after meeting Jesus, Bartimaeus would be miraculously cured of his blindness.

Answer: Dream about Jesus

Pilate's wife was troubled by a dream she had about Jesus and passed the information on to her husband. Matthew 27:19 in the NKJV states: "While he [Pilate] 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.'" She made the request just prior to her husband giving in to the crowd and ordering the execution of Jesus.

The world would never be the same.

Answer: Talented dancer

Herodias' unnamed daughter was apparently a talented dancer. In fact, she was so good that Herod, after seeing her dance at his birthday party, offered her up to half his kingdom as he was so impressed. Herodias seized the occasion and convinced her daughter to ask for John the Baptist's head on a platter.

When she left her first husband (Herod Phillip I) and married his half brother Herod Antipas, John the Baptist was disgusted and denounced the union, according to the 14th chapter of Matthew. As a result, Herod ordered the arrest of John the Baptist and from this point on, his fate was sealed as Herodias had him in her clutches.

Answer: Gifts from afar

The Wise Men, according to Scripture, came from the east and followed a star that took them to where the infant Jesus lay. (In the NIV, the Wise Men are referred to as Magi.) Incidentally, nowhere in Scripture does it mention there were three Wise Men. It is believed there were three of them because, according to Matthew 2:11, they presented the baby Jesus with three gifts -- gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The first two lines of a famous Christmas carol titled 'We Three Kings' go like this: "We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar."