186 Fun Facts About Bible Trivia for Kids

Who built a large boat to save his family and two of every animal from a great flood?

Noah: Genesis 6 has him take two of every animal, but the next chapter raises that to seven pairs of each animal counted as 'clean'.

What did Daniel keep doing three times a day that got him thrown to the lions?

Praying to God: rivals tricked King Darius into banning prayer to anyone but himself, and the king spent a sleepless night before rushing to the den at dawn.

Who was swallowed by a great fish and spent three days inside it?

Jonah is saved by being swallowed by a great fish, in whose belly he spends three days and three nights. The Hebrew words mean "great fish", though later retellings often say whale.

What did the young shepherd David use to defeat the giant Goliath?

A sling and a stone were enough: the stone struck Goliath's forehead and he fell face down, and David then cut off his head with the giant's own sword.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, opens with which famous words?

In the beginning: in Hebrew that phrase is one word, Bereshit, which is also the book's Jewish name, since each book of the Torah is named from its first words.

What was the name of the garden where Adam and Eve first lived?

Eden: after Adam and Eve were sent out, Genesis says God posted cherubim and a flaming sword east of the garden to guard the way back to the tree of life.

Whom did Jesus say to let come to him when his disciples tried to stop them?

Little children: Mark 10 says Jesus was indignant when the disciples scolded the people bringing them, and he took the children in his arms and blessed them.

On which mountain did Moses receive the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone?

Mount Sinai: Exodus 34 says that when Moses came back down his face shone so brightly that people were afraid to come near, and he wore a veil.

Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem shortly before Jesus was born?

To be counted in a census: Luke 2 says the emperor Augustus ordered everyone to register in their family's home town, and Joseph belonged to the line of King David.

Whose five loaves and two fish does one account say Jesus used to feed five thousand people?

A young boy's: Andrew pointed him out but doubted so little could help such a crowd, yet twelve baskets of scraps were left after everyone had eaten.

What special gift did Jacob give his favourite son Joseph, making his brothers jealous?

A colourful coat: the Hebrew may just mean a long or ornate robe, and the brothers later dipped it in goat's blood to convince Jacob that Joseph was dead.

Who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd?

Zacchaeus: Jesus called him down by name and invited himself to stay, and the short tax collector promised to give half of what he owned to the poor.

Where was Jesus when he turned water into wine?

A wedding: the feast in Cana had run out of wine, and the steward marvelled that the bridegroom had saved the best wine until last.

What happened to Samson after his hair was cut off?

He lost his strength because the vow was broken; the Philistines captured and blinded him, but his hair grew back and he pulled their temple down.

Which three gifts did the wise men bring to the baby Jesus?

Gold, frankincense and myrrh are the three gifts Matthew names; frankincense and myrrh are fragrant tree resins, and the Bible never actually says how many wise men there were.

In the creation story, after making the world, on which day did God rest?

The seventh day: Genesis 2:2-3 says God finished his work in six days and rested on the seventh, blessing it. That day of rest became the Sabbath.

God made Eve from what part of Adam's body?

A rib: Genesis 2:21-22 says God put Adam into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, closed up the flesh, and made the rib into a woman, Eve.

After the great flood, what did God put in the sky as a promise never to flood the whole earth again?

A rainbow: in Genesis 9 the sign is a reminder for God himself, who says he will see it in the clouds and remember his promise to every living creature.

What animal did Abraham find caught in a thicket by its horns and offer in place of Isaac?

A ram: an angel had just called out to stop Abraham, and after offering the animal instead he named the place 'The Lord Will Provide'.

In Genesis, Jacob's hungry twin brother sold his birthright for a bowl of what?

Lentil stew: the elder twin came in famished from the fields and swore away his rights as firstborn for one meal, giving English the phrase 'a mess of pottage'.

Who found the baby Moses hidden in a basket among the reeds?

Pharaoh's daughter: she pitied the crying baby and, without knowing it, paid his own mother to nurse him before adopting him as her son.

What was the first plague God sent on Egypt when the king would not let the Israelites go?

Water turned to blood: Exodus 7 says the river was struck with a staff, its fish died, and the Egyptians had to dig along the banks for something to drink.

In Exodus, what did the manna that fed the Israelites in the desert taste like?

Honey wafers: Exodus 16:31 says manna was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. It appeared each morning like frost and had to be gathered fresh daily.

What did the priests blow as Joshua's army marched around the walls of Jericho?

Trumpets: Joshua 6 says seven priests blew trumpets of rams' horns as the army circled Jericho once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day before the great shout.

In the Book of Ruth, Ruth stays loyal to Naomi, who is her what?

Mother-in-law: Ruth had married Naomi's son, and after both were widowed Ruth told Naomi 'where you go I will go'. Ruth later became the great-grandmother of King David.

When God offered King Solomon anything he wanted, what did Solomon ask for?

Wisdom: in 1 Kings 3 Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge his people. God was so pleased he gave him riches and honour as well, and Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem.

Which birds brought the prophet Elijah bread and meat while he hid by a brook?

Ravens: 1 Kings 17 has them bring food every morning and evening, even though the Bible's food laws listed ravens among the birds too unclean to eat.

Esther became queen of which empire?

Persia: Esther was queen to King Ahasuerus, often identified as Xerxes, and she risked death by approaching him uninvited before exposing Haman's plot to destroy her people.

An angel announced the birth of Jesus to which group of people who were out in the fields at night?

Shepherds: Luke 2 says they were terrified at first, then hurried off to find the baby and told everyone what they had seen.

What guided the wise men to the place where the child Jesus was?

A bright star: the Bible says it stopped over a house, not a stable, so the wise men seem to have arrived some time after the night of the birth.

Whose tables did Jesus overturn in the Temple courts?

The money changers': John's Gospel says Jesus made a whip out of cords, drove the sheep and oxen out as well, and poured out the changers' coins.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, what did the father do when he saw his son coming home?

Ran to hug him: Luke 15 says the father saw his son while still far off, ran to embrace and kiss him, then threw a feast with the best robe, a ring and a fattened calf.

In Jesus's parable of the lost sheep, how many sheep does the shepherd leave behind to search for the one?

99: Luke 15 says he leaves them in the open country, carries the lost sheep home on his shoulders, and calls his friends and neighbours to celebrate.

What did Jesus say to calm the storm that was tossing his disciples' boat?

'Quiet! Be still!': older Bibles word it 'Peace, be still', and Mark 4 says the terrified disciples asked who he was, that even wind and waves obeyed him.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd welcomed him by waving what?

Palm branches: the crowd shouted 'Hosanna!' and spread their cloaks on the road, and many churches still hand out palm leaves on the Sunday before Easter.

On Easter morning, what did the women find had been moved from the entrance of Jesus's tomb?

A large stone: one account says an angel rolled it back and sat on it, while the tomb's guards shook with fear and became like dead men.

On the road to which city did Saul, later called Paul, see a dazzling light and hear Jesus speak to him?

Damascus: Acts 9 says Saul was on his way there to arrest believers when a light from heaven left him blind for three days, until a local believer restored his sight.

When Jesus was a boy, his worried parents searched for days and found him talking with whom?

Temple teachers: they were amazed at the boy's answers, and when his mother scolded him he asked why she hadn't known he would be in his Father's house.

In Genesis, what was the serpent cursed to do after tricking Eve into eating the forbidden fruit?

Crawl on its belly: Genesis 3 says God cursed it above all animals, then sent Adam and Eve out of the garden to work the fields for their food.

Which bird flew back to the ark carrying a freshly picked olive leaf?

A dove: Genesis 8 says the leaf showed that the flood water was going down, and a dove carrying an olive branch became a lasting symbol of peace.

After the great flood, the ark came to rest on the mountains of where?

Ararat: Genesis 8 places the landing in that mountain region, and explorers have long searched Turkey's Mount Ararat for traces of the ark.

According to Genesis, God formed the first man out of what?

Dust of the ground: God breathed life into the figure's nostrils, and later told Adam that when he died he would return to the same dust.

After baby Jesus was born, where did his mother lay him down to sleep?

In a manger: this was an animals' feeding trough, pressed into service as a cot because there was no room for the family at the inn.

What trade is Joseph, the husband of Jesus's mother, known for in the Bible?

Carpenter: when Jesus preached in his home town, the neighbours scoffed 'Isn't this the carpenter's son?' and took offence at him.

Which angel came to Nazareth to tell Mary she would have a baby and should name him Jesus?

Gabriel: Luke 1 says he had already visited the old priest Zechariah to promise him a son, and struck him speechless for doubting it.

Right after Jesus was baptized, what was heard from the sky above him?

A voice from heaven: it called Jesus 'my Son, whom I love', though the Baptist had first tried to refuse, saying Jesus ought to be baptizing him.

Peter walked on the water toward Jesus, but what happened when he saw the strong wind?

He began to sink: he cried 'Lord, save me!', and Jesus at once reached out and caught him, asking why he had doubted.

In Jesus's parable, what happened to the house built on sand?

It fell down with a great crash: Jesus said the sand builder is like someone who hears his words and ignores them, while the house on rock stood through the same storm.

What did the Israelites put on their doorframes on the night of the first Passover?

Lamb's blood: Exodus 12 says the final plague passed over every marked house, which is how the festival of Passover got its name.

What happened when Jesus called to his dead friend Lazarus at the entrance of the tomb?

He walked out alive: the dead man came out still wrapped in strips of linen with a cloth over his face, and Jesus told the crowd to unwrap him.

What job did the brothers Peter and Andrew have when Jesus first called them to follow him?

Fishermen: they were casting a net into the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called them, promising to make them fishers of people instead.

Which son of Adam and Eve kept sheep and was killed by his jealous brother?

Abel: Genesis 4 says God accepted his offering from the flock but not Cain's crops, and when asked where Abel was, Cain replied 'Am I my brother's keeper?'

What did God do to the people building the Tower of Babel?

Confused their language: Genesis 11 says God confused the builders' speech so they could not understand one another, and they stopped building the city and scattered over the earth.

What did Lot's wife turn into when she looked back at Sodom?

A pillar of salt: Genesis 19:26 says Lot's wife looked back at Sodom as fire rained down and became a pillar of salt; a salt column by the Dead Sea is nicknamed Lot's Wife.

In Jacob's famous dream, what did he see reaching up to heaven?

A ladder: some Bibles say stairway, and Genesis 28 has angels going up and down it while Jacob slept with a stone for a pillow.

What was strange about the bush Moses saw on Mount Horeb?

It burned but was not consumed: Exodus 3 says Moses saw the bush blazing with fire yet not burning up, and God spoke to him from it and sent him back to Egypt.

What did God tell Moses to take off before approaching the bush on Mount Horeb?

His sandals: God said the ground Moses stood on was holy, and Moses hid his face, afraid to look.

While Moses was away receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites made and worshipped what?

A golden calf: it was cast from the people's own gold earrings, and Moses was so angry he smashed the stone tablets, burned the calf and ground it to powder.

Which prophet's animal spoke up after being beaten three times on the road?

Balaam's: Numbers 22 says Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord blocking the road and turned aside three times; after Balaam beat it, God let the donkey speak.

How many men did Gideon lead to defeat the huge Midianite army?

300: Judges 7 says God cut Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men, those who lapped water from their hands, so Israel could not boast it had won by itself.

What did Gideon lay out overnight to test whether God was really with him?

A fleece: Judges 6 says Gideon laid a wool fleece on the threshing floor; one morning it was wet while the ground was dry, and the next morning the opposite happened.

What unusual weapon did Samson use to defeat a Philistine army?

A donkey's jawbone: Judges 15 says the ropes binding Samson fell away, he struck down a thousand men with the bone, and the place became known as Jawbone Hill.

Which woman had Samson's hair cut while he was sleeping?

Delilah: Judges 16 says Philistine rulers bribed her with silver, and Samson fooled her with three false answers before finally giving up his secret.

What did Samson push over to bring down the Philistine temple?

Its pillars: Judges 16 says Samson braced himself against the two middle pillars holding up the temple of Dagon and pushed, bringing the roof down on the Philistines and himself.

What did young David do to calm his troubled king when an evil spirit came?

Played the lyre: the music soothed the king at first, but he grew so resentful of David that he later hurled a spear at him in mid-tune.

Who was the father of the future King David?

Jesse: he showed the prophet his older sons first, and David, out minding the sheep, was only sent for after every one of them was turned down.

From which city did the giant Goliath come?

Gath: David later fled to this very city to hide from his own king, and pretended to be mad when its ruler's servants recognised him.

What appeared beside the prophet Elijah just before a whirlwind carried him up to heaven?

A chariot of fire: 2 Kings 2 says it came with horses of fire and swept between Elijah and his helper, who was left holding the prophet's fallen cloak.

Which prophet picked up Elijah's mantle after Elijah was taken up?

Elisha: 2 Kings 2 says Elisha picked up the mantle that fell from Elijah, struck the river with it, and the water parted so he could cross back over.

In which river did Naaman wash seven times to be healed?

Jordan: 2 Kings 5 says Naaman stormed off at first, grumbling that the rivers back home were better, until his servants talked him into obeying.

Who told Naaman's family that a prophet could heal him?

A servant girl: she had been captured in a raid on her homeland and served Naaman's wife, yet she wished her master could meet the prophet who would cure him.

Where did Jonah try to sail to instead of going where God sent him?

Tarshish: thought to lie far to the west, the opposite way from where God sent him, and a violent storm caught the ship before it arrived.

Which city did God tell Jonah to preach to?

Nineveh: its people, from the king down, put on sackcloth and repented when he preached, so the city was spared, which made the prophet furious.

Which man stayed faithful to God after losing all his wealth and then his health?

Job: his three friends insisted he must have sinned to deserve it, but God rebuked them and gave Job twice as much as he had before.

What did King Nebuchadnezzar dream about that Daniel explained?

A giant statue: its head was gold but its feet were part clay, and a rock smashed them, which is where the phrase 'feet of clay' comes from.

At Belshazzar's feast, what appeared and wrote on the wall?

A hand: none of the king's wise men could read its message, and Daniel's reading of it gave English the phrase 'the writing on the wall'.

Which man is the Bible's longest-lived person, said to have died at the age of 969?

Methuselah: his name became a byword for great age, and one of the world's oldest known trees, a California bristlecone pine, is named after him.

How many years did Jacob agree to work for Laban to marry Rachel?

Seven: Genesis 29:18 says Jacob offered to serve Laban seven years for Rachel; tricked into marrying her older sister first, he then served seven more years for Rachel.

Which sister was Jacob tricked into marrying first?

Leah: Genesis 29 says Laban brought his older daughter Leah to Jacob that evening instead of Rachel, and Jacob did not discover the switch until morning.

How was Miriam related to Moses?

His older sister Miriam is called a prophet in Exodus 15, where she takes up a tambourine and leads the women in singing and dancing after the escape from Pharaoh's army.

What did Aaron's staff turn into when he threw it down in front of Pharaoh?

A snake: Exodus 7:10 says Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and it became a snake, and it swallowed the staffs of Pharaoh's magicians that had done the same.

Which two of the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan urged the people to go in?

Joshua and Caleb urged the people on, but the other ten spies spread fear of giants in the land; the people believed the ten, and were turned back to wander the desert.

Where did Rahab hide the two Israelite spies?

Under flax on her roof: the Bible says Rahab took the two spies up to the roof and hid them under stalks of flax she had laid out there, then let them down the wall by a rope.

Deborah is the only woman in the Bible to hold which role?

Judge of Israel: Judges 4 says Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel under a palm tree, the only woman among the judges; she told Barak that God commanded him to attack Sisera's army.

Who was the mother of the prophet Samuel?

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1 says Hannah prayed for a son so silently and intensely at Shiloh that the priest Eli took her for drunk and scolded her.

What was Saul looking for when he first met the prophet Samuel?

His father's donkeys had strayed, and Saul went to ask the seer Samuel where they were; Samuel told him they were found, then anointed him as Israel's first king.

Who was the wicked wife of King Ahab?

Jezebel, daughter of the king of Sidon, had the Lord's prophets killed and later had a man named Naboth put to death on false charges so that Ahab could take his vineyard.

How many psalms are in the Book of Psalms?

150: the psalms were written to be sung, which is why many open with a note to the choir director such as 'with stringed instruments'.

Besides the stone tablets, what does Hebrews say the Ark of the Covenant held?

Aaron's rod and a pot of manna, Hebrews 9:4 says: both were kept as reminders, the manna of food in the desert and the rod of the day it budded to mark Aaron as priest.

On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of which false god?

Baal: 1 Kings 18 says Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel; they shouted all day but no fire came, while fire from the Lord consumed Elijah's offering.

What did Elijah pour over his altar on Mount Carmel before fire fell from the sky?

Water: 1 Kings 18 says Elijah had four large jars of water poured over the offering three times until it filled a trench, yet the fire burned up the soaked wood, the stones and the water too.

On the mountain, how did God finally speak to Elijah?

In a still, small voice: 1 Kings 19 says a great wind, an earthquake and a fire passed by on Horeb, but the Lord was not in them; then came a still, small voice, a gentle whisper.

What never ran out for the widow of Zarephath after she fed Elijah?

Her flour and oil: 1 Kings 17 says the widow was gathering sticks to cook a last meal for herself and her son when Elijah asked to be fed first; she agreed, and the jar and jug lasted out the drought.

Which creature was the second plague on Egypt?

Frogs: Exodus 8 says they swarmed into bedrooms, ovens and the palace until Pharaoh promised to free the people; once the frogs died he went back on his word.

Which plague on Egypt was said to be thick enough to feel?

Darkness: Exodus 10 says nobody in Egypt could see anyone else or leave their place for three days, yet the Israelites had light where they lived; Pharaoh then offered to let them go without their herds.

On which mountain did Moses die within sight of the Promised Land?

Mount Nebo: Deuteronomy 34 says Moses saw the whole Promised Land from its top but died without entering it, the price of not trusting God when he struck the rock at Meribah.

In Joseph's second dream, what bowed down to him?

The sun, moon and eleven stars: Genesis 37 says Joseph's father scolded him, asking if his parents and brothers were really going to bow to him; years later the brothers did, in Egypt.

In Pharaoh's dream, seven thin animals of which kind ate seven fat ones?

Cows: Genesis 41 says seven thin cows came up out of the river and ate seven fat ones; Joseph said it meant seven good years and then seven of famine, so Pharaoh put him in charge of storing grain.

Which of his sons did Isaac love best because he brought him wild game?

Esau, a skilled hunter, was Isaac's favourite, while Rebekah preferred Jacob; she later helped Jacob pass himself off as his brother to win the blessing Isaac meant for Esau.

Who laughed when God promised that baby Isaac would be born?

Abraham and Sarah: Abraham laughed when God promised him a son (Genesis 17:17) and Sarah laughed at the tent door (Genesis 18:12); the name Isaac means 'he laughs'.

Who was Esther's cousin and guardian who refused to bow to Haman?

Mordecai: Esther 2-3 says Mordecai, who had raised his cousin Esther, refused to bow to Haman; Haman was so angry he plotted to kill every Jew in the kingdom.

Which Jewish holiday celebrates Esther saving her people?

Purim: named after the lots (purim) Haman cast, it is the festival of the Book of Esther; the Jews rested and feasted on the 14th of Adar, the day after defeating Haman's plot.

Which kind landowner let Ruth gather leftover grain in his fields and later married her?

Boaz: the Book of Ruth says he told his workers to pull out extra stalks for Ruth to find; as a relative of Naomi's late husband he then married her to keep the family's name alive.

Which country was Ruth's homeland before she followed Naomi to Judah?

Moab was often in conflict with Israel, so Ruth arrived as a foreigner with nothing; she still became the great-grandmother of King David.

On which day of creation did God make the sun and moon?

Fourth: Genesis 1:14-19 says God made the two great lights, the sun and moon, and the stars on the fourth day, though light itself had been created on the first.

What did Solomon order done to settle which of two women was a child's real mother?

Cut the baby in half: 1 Kings 3 says Solomon called for a sword to divide the living child between the two women; the real mother begged him to spare it, which revealed the truth.

What was the name of the place where Jesus was crucified?

Golgotha means 'place of the skull' in Aramaic; the Latin Bible turned that into Calvaria, which is why English speakers also call the place Calvary.

Which two-word verse describes Jesus on his way to Lazarus's tomb?

'Jesus wept' is John 11:35, the shortest verse in the King James Bible: seeing Lazarus's sister and the other mourners in tears, Jesus was deeply moved and cried too, and the onlookers said 'See how he loved him!'

At the Last Supper, what did Jesus wash for his apostles?

Their feet: John 13 says Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper, then gave them a new commandment to love one another.

How many times did Jesus say Peter would deny him before the rooster crowed?

Three: Jesus told Peter 'before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times' (Matthew 26:34); when Peter heard the rooster after his third denial, he broke down in tears.

What appeared over the disciples' heads at Pentecost?

Tongues of fire: Acts 2 says a sound like a rushing wind filled the house, then tongues of fire rested on each disciple and they began to speak in other languages.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into what for refusing to bow down to the king's idol?

A fiery furnace: the Bible says it was heated seven times hotter than usual, hot enough to kill the guards who threw them in, yet the three came out without even the smell of fire on them.

Judas betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for how many pieces of silver?

Thirty pieces of silver was the price, which Judas later threw back into the Temple; he had pointed Jesus out to the armed crowd with a kiss.

Which woman is honoured as the first witness to Jesus's resurrection?

Mary Magdalene: John 20 says she took the man by the tomb for the gardener until he spoke her name, then ran to tell the disciples 'I have seen the Lord'.

What did the preacher John eat in the desert, wearing camel's hair?

Locusts and wild honey: Matthew 3:4 adds a camel-hair coat and leather belt, an outfit like the prophet Elijah's, and crowds still walked out from Jerusalem to hear him.

How did Joseph learn that he should flee to Egypt with the child Jesus?

An angel in a dream: Matthew 2:13 says the angel told Joseph to get up and flee because the king meant to kill the child, and the family left that same night.

What kind of tree did Jesus curse for having leaves but no fruit?

A fig tree: Matthew 21:19 says Jesus, hungry on the road to Jerusalem, found a fig tree with leaves but no fruit, said it would never bear fruit again, and it withered.

What name is given to the 'Blessed are...' sayings in the Sermon on the Mount?

The Beatitudes: the 'Blessed are...' sayings that open the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, starting 'Blessed are the poor in spirit'; the name comes from Latin beatus, meaning blessed.

By which two opening words is the Lord's Prayer also known?

'Our Father' is how the prayer begins, which is why in Latin it is called the Pater Noster; Jesus taught it in the Sermon on the Mount.

In the parable of the sower, what happened to the seed that fell on the path?

Birds ate it: Matthew 13:4 says the seed that fell along the path was eaten by birds, which Jesus explained as the evil one snatching away the word before it took root.

In the parable of the talents, a talent was originally a unit of what?

Weight: a talent was a heavy weight of silver or gold worth many years' wages; the parable, in which servants are judged on how they use theirs, is why 'talent' now means a natural gift.

In a parable, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to which tiny seed that grows into a tree?

A mustard seed: Jesus called it the smallest of seeds that grows into the largest garden plant, and also said faith as small as one could move a mountain.

Of the ten lepers Jesus healed, the only one who came back to thank him belonged to which people?

Samaritans: Luke 17 says the other nine kept walking while the one foreigner turned back shouting praise, and Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?'

What was wrong with Bartimaeus, the beggar Jesus healed near Jericho?

He was blind: Mark 10:46 says blind Bartimaeus sat begging by the road near Jericho, shouted 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' despite the crowd, and Jesus restored his sight.

In the parable of the ten virgins, what did five of them run out of?

Oil for their lamps: Matthew 25 says five foolish bridesmaids brought no extra oil, and while they went to buy more the bridegroom arrived and the door was shut.

How did the friends of a paralysed man get him to Jesus in a crowded house?

Through a hole in the roof: Mark 2:4 says the four friends dug through the roof above Jesus and lowered the man on his mat; Jesus forgave him and told him to get up and walk home.

What was Jairus's job in the story of Jesus raising his daughter?

Synagogue ruler: Mark 5:22 says Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue who begged Jesus to heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter; Jesus said 'Talitha koum' and she got up.

Which two Old Testament figures appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration?

Moses and Elijah: Matthew 17 says Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus on the mountain as his face shone like the sun, and Peter offered to build three shelters.

Which sea did the Israelites cross on dry ground when they escaped from Egypt?

The Red Sea: Exodus 14 says a strong east wind blew all night to drive the water back; the Hebrew name, Yam Suph, is often translated 'Sea of Reeds'.

After his desert fast, Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stones into what?

Bread was the temptation for a starving man; Jesus replied that 'man shall not live by bread alone', and was also dared to leap from the top of the Temple.

Which apostle refused to believe Jesus was alive until he saw the wounds?

His doubt gave English the phrase 'a doubting Thomas'.

Which disciple is named as walking to Emmaus when Jesus joined him on the road unrecognised?

Cleopas: Luke 24:18 names Cleopas as one of two travellers to Emmaus; they took Jesus for a stranger until he broke bread at supper, then hurried back to Jerusalem at once.

How did Stephen, the first Christian martyr, die?

He was stoned: Acts 7 says the crowd dragged Stephen out of Jerusalem and stoned him to death, laying their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul, later the apostle Paul.

Philip the Evangelist baptised an important official from which country?

Ethiopia: Acts 8 says Philip ran up to the chariot of the Ethiopian queen's treasurer on the desert road to Gaza, explained the passage of Isaiah he was reading, and baptised him at the first water they passed.

What fell from Saul's eyes when Ananias laid hands on him and his sight returned?

Something like scales: Acts 9 says Ananias had argued against going, since Saul had come to arrest believers like him, but he went, and Saul's three days of blindness ended.

What was the job of Cornelius, one of the first non-Jews to become a Christian?

Roman centurion: Acts 10 says Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Regiment stationed in Caesarea, sent for Peter after seeing an angel in a vision, and his whole household was baptised.

When did Nicodemus first come to talk with Jesus?

At night: John 3:2 says Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish council, came to Jesus by night, and Jesus told him a person must be born again.

At Jacob's Well, Jesus told a woman he could give her which kind of water, so she would never thirst again?

Living water: in John 4, Jesus asked the woman for a drink, then said the water he gave would become a spring inside a person; she left her jar and ran to fetch the whole town.

What suddenly threw open the doors of the jail holding Paul and Silas in Philippi?

An earthquake: Acts 16 says it struck at midnight as Paul and Silas sang hymns; the jailer, sure his prisoners had fled, drew his sword to kill himself until Paul shouted that they were all still there.

Lydia, often called Europe's first Christian convert, sold what?

Purple cloth: Acts 16 says Lydia, a cloth dealer from Thyatira, heard Paul by the river at Philippi, was baptised with her household, and then talked his whole group into staying at her house.

Who was made to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to the crucifixion?

Simon of Cyrene: Mark 15:21 says he was just passing by on his way in from the country when the soldiers forced the cross on him; his home city, Cyrene, lay far off in what is now Libya.

Jesus nicknamed the brothers James and John 'Boanerges', meaning what?

Sons of Thunder: Mark 3:17 says Jesus gave James and John, the sons of Zebedee, the name Boanerges; they lived up to it when they asked to call down fire on a village that would not welcome him.

In Matthew's Gospel, who washed his hands in front of the crowd before handing Jesus over to be crucified?

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, washed his hands to show the death was not his doing; his wife had sent word, after a troubling dream, to have nothing to do with that innocent man.

In which city was the apostle Paul born?

Tarsus: Acts 22:3 has Paul say 'I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia'; he was also a Roman citizen by birth, which protected him during his trials.

Which is the last book of the New Testament?

Revelation: its author, John, says he was on the island of Patmos when the visions came; the book's Greek title, Apokalypsis, gave English the word 'apocalypse'.

What animal did Jesus ride when crowds welcomed him into Jerusalem?

A donkey: Matthew 21 says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy of a king coming gentle and riding on a donkey, while the crowd shouted 'Hosanna'.

Jesus told a man born blind to wash in which pool after putting mud on his eyes?

Siloam: John 9 says the man washed off the mud there and came back able to see, and his neighbours argued over whether he was really the same man.

Barnabas, Paul's travelling companion, came from which island?

Cyprus: Acts 4 says Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, sold a field and gave the money to the apostles; the island was later the first stop when he and Paul set out as missionaries.

Which ruler, afraid of a newborn king, does the Bible say ordered the Massacre of the Innocents?

Herod the Great: Matthew 2:16 says he flew into a rage when the wise men went home without telling him where the child was; Herod Antipas, the king's son, ruled Galilee when Jesus was grown.

Which king did the Queen of Sheba travel to Jerusalem to visit?

Solomon answered every hard question the queen had brought to test him; she left him gold, jewels and more spices than Jerusalem ever saw again.

In which garden, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, did Jesus pray and get arrested the night before he died?

Gethsemane: the name means 'oil press', and Matthew 26 says Jesus prayed there 'not as I will, but as you will' before Judas arrived with an armed crowd.

After wrestling with a mysterious man all night, Jacob was given what new name?

Israel: Genesis 32:28 says the stranger told Jacob 'your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome'; Jacob named the place Peniel.

Which island was Paul stranded on after a shipwreck on his journey to Rome?

Malta: Acts 28 says the islanders lit a fire for the soaked survivors; a viper fastened on Paul as he fed the fire, and when he shook it off unharmed they decided he was a god.

When an angel came to free Peter from King Herod's prison, what fell off him?

His chains: Acts 12:7 says an angel woke Peter in Herod's prison and the chains fell off his wrists; the iron gate opened by itself and Peter thought he was seeing a vision.

Martha and her sister Mary lived with their brother Lazarus in which village near Jerusalem?

Bethany: John 11:1 says Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem; Luke 10 tells of Martha busy serving while Mary sat listening to Jesus.

What did the soldiers twist together and set on Jesus's head before the crucifixion?

A crown of thorns: Matthew 27 says the soldiers also draped a robe on Jesus, put a staff in his hand, then knelt and mocked him with 'Hail, king of the Jews!'

In Luke's Christmas story, which building had no room for Mary and Joseph when they reached Bethlehem?

The inn gets one passing mention in Luke's Christmas story, and no innkeeper appears at all, though school nativity plays often give him a speaking part.

In Matthew's Gospel, in what kind of building did the wise men find the young Jesus with Mary?

A house is where Matthew sets the visit, hinting that time had passed since the birth: he calls Jesus a young child rather than a newborn.

What name, taken from the Greek of Matthew's Gospel, is often used for the wise men who visited Jesus?

Magi is the plural of the Latin magus, and Matthew never says how many of them came: the familiar number comes from the gifts they carried.

In the King James Bible, what did Mary wrap the newborn Jesus in on the first Christmas?

Swaddling clothes, strips of fabric wound snugly round a baby, were also the sign given for finding him: look for a newborn wrapped that way.

In Matthew's Christmas story, the name Emmanuel given to Jesus is explained as meaning what?

God with us is how Matthew translates the Hebrew name, quoting a prophecy written centuries earlier about a child whose birth would be a sign.

Which older relative of Mary was expecting a baby at the same time, a son who became John the Baptist?

Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary came to stay with her, and Luke says her unborn baby leapt for joy at the sound of Mary's greeting.

Which emperor's decree sent Joseph and Mary travelling to Bethlehem shortly before Jesus was born?

Augustus, called Caesar Augustus in Luke's Gospel, was the first Roman emperor, and Luke uses his decree to explain why a couple from Nazareth were in Bethlehem.

Which Old Testament prophet, speaking to King Ahaz, foretold the birth of a son to be named Immanuel?

Isaiah offered the child as a sign from God, and centuries later Matthew's Gospel applied the promise to the birth of Jesus.

Which devout man in the Jerusalem Temple took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God?

Simeon had been promised he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, so holding the child meant his long wait was over.

Which priest, the father of John the Baptist, lost his power of speech after doubting an angel's promise?

Zechariah, called Zacharias in older Bibles, got his speech back only when he wrote on a tablet that the baby's name was John.

In the armor of God, which virtue is the belt that a believer buckles around the waist?

Truth is the first piece named in the list; older Bibles phrase it differently, telling readers to have their loins girt about with it.

The armor of God passage opens by telling readers to be what 'in the Lord'?

Strong is the opening command, but the power is borrowed: readers are told to rely on God's might, then to put on armor that belongs to him.

In the armor of God, what does the shield of faith protect a believer from?

Fiery darts, called flaming arrows in many modern Bibles, come from 'the evil one', and the passage promises that faith can quench every one.

The sword of the Spirit, the only weapon in the armor of God, is said to be what?

The word of God is the one piece made for attack; Jesus himself answered each of the devil's temptations in the desert by quoting scripture.

After putting on the full armor of God, what are believers told to do when the day of evil comes?

Stand firm is the order, repeated several times in a few lines: the armor is for holding a position when attacked, not for chasing after a fight.

Which piece of the armor of God does Paul pair with righteousness, meaning doing good in God's eyes?

The breastplate guarded a soldier's heart and lungs, and an Old Testament prophet had already pictured God himself wearing righteousness this way.

Which gift from God is the helmet in the armor of God, protecting a believer's head?

Salvation is the helmet, and the same picture appears in another of Paul's letters, where the helmet is the hope of being saved.

Which New Testament letter, written by Paul from prison, describes the full armor of God piece by piece?

Ephesians saves the armor for its sixth and final chapter, where Paul also asks for boldness to keep preaching while he is held prisoner.

In the armor of God, a believer's shoes are the readiness that comes from the gospel of what?

Peace is an odd thing to wear into battle, which is the point: these soldiers march out carrying good news rather than a declaration of war.

The armor of God passage contrasts unseen spiritual enemies with human ones, which it calls what?

Flesh and blood is the passage's term for people; the real opponents, it says, are dark spiritual powers, which is why the armor is not made of metal.

Jesus sent a 'legion' of evil spirits out of a man and into a herd of which animals?

Pigs, called swine in older Bibles and about two thousand in all, then stampeded down a steep bank into the lake, and the frightened locals begged Jesus to leave.

When King Nebuchadnezzar went mad and lived outdoors among the beasts of the field, what did he eat?

Grass was his diet, just like an ox, and he stayed outside until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails had become claws.

In the Book of Acts, a proud king who let a crowd call him a god was eaten by what?

Worms did it, the Bible says, after he was struck down on his throne in his royal robes for soaking up the praise instead of giving the glory to God.

When a gang of youths mocked a prophet's bald head near Bethel, which fierce creatures attacked them?

Bears, a pair of them, came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the mockers, in one of the most startling short stories in the Old Testament.

In John's Gospel, Jesus healed a man blind from birth using mud he had made with what?

His own spit, mixed with dirt, made the paste, and because he did it on the Sabbath the miracle landed him in an argument with the Pharisees.

In the sixth plague on Egypt, handfuls of ashes thrown into the air made what break out on people's skin?

Boils struck people and livestock alike, and Egypt's court magicians were so badly covered that they could no longer appear before the king's challengers.

Samson once tied flaming torches to the tails of which creatures to set Philistine fields alight?

Foxes, hundreds of them, were tied tail to tail in pairs with a torch between each pair, then let loose in the ripe grain at harvest time.

In the Old Testament, King Eglon, who was stabbed by the left-handed Ehud, is described as very what?

Fat is the Bible's blunt description: so much so that the whole dagger, handle and all, sank into his stomach and could not be pulled out again.

God told the grumbling Israelites they would eat meat for a month until it came out of what?

Their nostrils, said God, would run with it until they were sick of the sight; a wind then blew in so many quail that they lay piled around the camp.

God told the prophet Ezekiel to bake his barley cakes over flames fuelled by what?

Cattle dung was the compromise: the first order was to use human waste, and Ezekiel protested so strongly that God let him swap.