New Testament Placenames Inside Words Quiz

Answer: Bethany

Bethany is the correct answer. Scripture states Jesus ascended into heaven at Bethany while His disciples looked on. Luke 24:50-53, in the NKJV Bible, reports: "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." Bethany was a small community, just outside Jerusalem.

Answer: Cana

The correct answer is Cana. Turning water into wine at a wedding banquet is the first miracle Jesus performed. Verses 7 and 8 in the second chapter of John tell of Jesus instructing people to fill a number of jars with water and then to draw some out and give a sample to the master of the banquet.

After tasting the liquid, the master expresses surprise at how fine the wine is. In verse 10, the master compliments the bridegroom, stating "everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." According to the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible, Cana was west of the Sea of Galilee and about ten miles north of Nazareth.

Answer: Jordan

The correct answer is the Jordan River. According to Scripture, a large number of people, including Jesus, were baptized in the Jordan. Matthew 3:13-17, in the NKJV Bible, tells of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist: "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

Answer: Kidron

The correct answer is Kidron as in Brook Kidron or Kidron Brook. (The KJV uses the spelling Cedron while the NIV uses the term Kidron Valley.) The placename Kidron is used in only passing mention in the New Testament. John 18:1, in the NKJV, simply states: "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered."

Incidentally, David also crossed the same brook, or valley, when he was undergoing considerable stress. In 2 Samuel 15:13-37, it tells of David crossing the brook while fleeing from his son Absalom during a coup attempt.

2 Samuel 15:13-14, in the NKJV, states: "Now a messenger came to David, saying, 'The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.' So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, 'Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword'."

The story continues where in verse 23, Scripture states: "And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness."

Answer: Nain

Nain is the correct answer. Incidentally, the seventh chapter of Luke is the only place in the entire Bible where Nain is mentioned. It was in Nain where Jesus raised an unnamed widow's son from the dead.

Luke 7:11-15, in the NKJV Bible, reports: "Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.' Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise.' So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother."

According to the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible, Nain is about ten miles south of Nazareth.

Answer: Patmos

Revelation was written on the windswept island of Patmos where John was in exile. Revelation 1:9 states: "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." What follows this verse is Scripture that has captivated and perplexed Christians for centuries. Patmos is in the Aegean Sea and is part of Greece.

Answer: Malta

Yes, Malta is the correct answer. There is only one mention of Malta in the New Testament and it appears in the 28th chapter of Acts, Scripture telling of Paul and others surviving a shipwreck. According to Scripture, Paul and his assistants spent three months on the island.

The islanders were unusually friendly to Paul and his group and Luke, the writer of Acts, points this out a number of times in the 28th chapter. In Verse 10, Luke states the islanders "honored" them in many ways.

Answer: Lystra

Paul met Timothy in Lystra, a community in present day Turkey. Acts 16:2 says the brothers all spoke well of Timothy so Paul opted to take him on a missionary journey. Verses 4 and 5 in the NKJV go on to state: "And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily."

Answer: Antioch

Members of the early church were first called Christians at Antioch, as per Acts 11:26. Previously, people who believed in a resurrected Jesus Christ referred to themselves 'The Way'. According to notes in the NKJV Bible, the term Christian was originally used to ridicule believers. Later, however, members of the early church would begin to refer to themselves as Christians. Antioch was situated near Antakya, in present day Turkey.

Acts 11:25-26, in the NKJV Bible, reports: "Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

Answer: Bethsaida

Bethsaida is the correct answer. According to John 1:44, Peter, Andrew and Phillip all came from Bethsaida.

According to Wikipedia, Bethsaida was a fishing village on the northern coast of the Sea Of Galilee. In Mark 8:22-26, it states Jesus healed a blind man in Bethsaida. Here's how the miraculous healing is reported in the NKJV: "Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, 'I see men like trees, walking.' Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, 'Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town'."