Word Association -- New Testament Characters #12 Quiz

Answer: Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31 tells of a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day and at his gate was a beggar who was called Lazarus. According to Scripture, Lazarus was covered with sores and longed to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

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 a "great chasm" and no one can cross over it.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus appears in only the Gospel of Luke.

Answer: Alphaeus

The correct answer is Alphaeus. According to Scripture he was the father of one of the disciples called James. Two of the twelve disciples shared the name James.

The first James was the brother of John and their father was Zebedee, as per Matthew 10:2-4. The same passage states Alphaeus was the father of the second disciple called James.

Adding some confusion to the mix, Alphaeus is also listed as the father of Matthew, also known as Levi. (Mark 2:14) Some theologians believe Matthew and the second James were brothers while other theologians sharply disagree with such a view. In other words, there could have been two different fathers with the name Alphaeus who had sons who were disciples.

Answer: Paul

Hermes is also a name for a Greek god and it's interesting to note, Paul was once called Hermes by a group of people. Acts 14:11-12 states they called Paul 'Hermes' in Lystra after he cured a man crippled from birth. Acts 14:11-12, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker."

Answer: Ananias and Sapphira

Ananias and Sapphira were stuck dead after selling their property and withholding part of the money from going to the Lord's work, as per Acts 5:1-11. According to Scripture, they were struck dead after they met separately with Peter and both claimed they had turned over the entire proceeds from the sale of their property.

Answer: Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea played a prominent role in the burial of Jesus. His involvement is reported in John 19:38-42. Joseph asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus' body while Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes for wrapping in strips of linen as per Jewish burial customs. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin while John 3:1 states Nicodemus was a Pharisee.

Answer: James

James, Joseph, Simon and Judas were all brothers of Jesus, according to Matthew 13: 55-56. The two verses in the NIV Bible state: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?" In other words, Jesus also had sisters, in addition to four brothers.

However, no further information is given about his sisters and how many there were.

Answer: Peter

John 18: 10 tells of Peter drawing a sword and cutting off Malchus' right ear during the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Scripture says Malchus was a servant of the high priest. Luke 22:51, states Jesus touched the servant's ear and healed him after it had been cut off.

Answer: Barabbas

Matthew 27:15-26 tells of a crowd demanding the crucifixion of Jesus and at the same time electing to set Barabbas, a "notorious prisoner" free, as it was the the governor's custom at the Passover Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. Scripture also reports about the chief priests and the elders persuading the crowd to have Jesus executed. Matthew 27:21-22, in the NKJV Bible, states: "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!'"

Answer: Barnabas

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: Gerasenes

Yes, Gerasenes is the correct answer. Mark 5:1-20 records the demons begged Jesus for permission to leave Legion and go into a nearby herd of pigs. When Jesus granted permission to the evil spirits to go into the pigs, the herd went wild and rushed down a steep bank into the lake.

The number of pigs that drowned is estimated at 2,000 in Mark 5:13. According to the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible, Gerasenes is east of the Sea of Galilee.