Q 01/05

Which prisoner did the crowd ask the Roman governor to release instead of Jesus?

A) Caiaphas

B) Barabbas

C) Nicodemus

D) Lazarus

Answer · why

B) Barabbas

Barabbas was in prison over a deadly uprising, Mark says. The gospels describe a Passover custom of freeing one prisoner of the crowd's choosing, and ...

Q 02/05

What is the name of the site outside Jerusalem's walls where the gospels say Jesus was crucified?

A) Gethsemane

B) Golgotha

C) Bethany

D) Mount of Olives

Answer · why

B) Golgotha

Golgotha is never called a hill in the four gospels: the 'Mount Calvary' of English hymns comes from later Christian tradition.

Q 03/05

The name of the crucifixion site, in both its Aramaic and Latin forms, means what?

A) Hill of sorrows

B) Place of a skull

C) Garden of the dead

D) Gate of judgement

Answer · why

B) Place of a skull

Place of a skull is the gospels' own translation, and nobody is sure why. One old legend said Adam's skull lay buried on the spot, which is why many c...

Q 04/05

Which man was compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry Jesus's cross?

A) Joseph of Arimathea

B) Simon of Cyrene

C) Nicodemus

D) Malchus

Answer · why

B) Simon of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene was a passer-by coming in from the country, Mark says. The gospel also names his sons, Alexander and Rufus, which scholars take as a s...

Q 05/05

Three gospels say which object in the Jerusalem Temple was torn in two at the crucifixion?

A) The sanctuary curtain

B) The high priest's sash

C) The scroll of the Law

D) The altar cloth

Answer · why

A) The sanctuary curtain

The sanctuary curtain closed off the Holy of Holies, which only the high priest entered, once a year. Two gospels have it rip from top to bottom, and ...