Bible Trivia: 100 Questions and Answers From the NIV
Updated: 3 days ago
Bible trivia is a way to test and deepen what you know about Scripture through questions with checkable answers. This page offers 100 original Bible trivia questions in six themed rounds, marked easy, medium or hard. Every answer gives its NIV reference and a line of context, so you learn even when you guess wrong.
Introduction
Bible trivia works best when it sends you back to the text. That is the idea behind this page. Below are 100 original questions about the Bible, grouped into six rounds and marked easy, medium or hard. Select a question to reveal its answer.
Each answer gives the NIV reference, a short quotation where it helps, and one line of context so you learn something even when you guess wrong. Every answer was checked against the text of the New International Version before this page went live.
Last updated: 21 October 2026. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Contents
How does this Bible quiz work?
Which Bible does it use, and what about Catholic and Orthodox Bibles?
Round 1: What do you know about the Old Testament?
Round 2: How well do you know the Gospels?
Round 3: What can you recall from Acts and the letters?
Round 4: Which Bible characters can you name?
Round 5: Where did it happen?
Round 6: How many, how long and how much?
How did you score?
How can you use these Bible quiz questions in a group?
Where do Christians differ on questions like these?
Where should you go next?
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
How does this Bible quiz work?
Pick a round, read the question and settle on an answer before you open it. Give yourself one point for each correct answer. If you are quizzing a group, the quizmaster reads the question aloud and keeps the page closed until the teams have written their answers down.
The questions are marked by difficulty. There are 30 easy questions, 57 medium questions and 13 hard ones. Easy questions test stories and verses that many people know. Medium questions need you to have read the passage. Hard questions ask for details that only a careful reader tends to remember.
The answers are hidden with a simple expanding list. There is no script and nothing to install. Select a question to open it and select it again to close it.
Which Bible does it use, and what about Catholic and Orthodox Bibles?
All 100 questions use the New International Version and the 66-book canon that Protestant churches follow, which has 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. According to Bible Gateway's version information, the NIV was developed by more than one hundred scholars working from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts.
Catholic Bibles also contain further books, including Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch and 1 and 2 Maccabees. Orthodox Bibles include these and several others. None of the questions on this page depends on those books, so a Catholic or Orthodox reader can answer every one of them from their own Bible.
A few names and numbers do differ between traditions. The Psalms, for example, are numbered differently in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, and the section on where Christians differ points out each case where it matters.
Round 1: What do you know about the Old Testament?
The first round starts in Genesis and ends in Proverbs and the prophets. It covers creation, the flood, the exodus, the judges, the kings and the writings that teach wisdom. Most of the easy questions come from stories children hear in Sunday school, while the hard ones ask about wording.
1. [Easy] What did God create first, on the opening day of creation?
Answer: Light.
NIV reference: Genesis 1:3-5. The NIV says: “Let there be light”
God separated the light from the darkness and named them day and night, so the first thing the Bible says God made is light.
2. [Medium] Which of Adam and Eve's sons killed his own brother?
Answer: Cain, who killed Abel.
NIV reference: Genesis 4:4-8.
It is the first human death recorded in Scripture, and it follows anger after God looked with favour on Abel's offering but not on Cain's.
3. [Easy] What did God place in the clouds as the sign of his promise never to flood the whole earth again?
Answer: A rainbow.
NIV reference: Genesis 9:12-15. The NIV says: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds”
God called it the sign of the covenant between himself and the earth, a reminder that floodwaters would never again destroy all life.
4. [Medium] Why was the city and tower in the land of Shinar called Babel?
Answer: Because the Lord confused the language of the whole world there.
NIV reference: Genesis 11:1-9.
The builders wanted to make a name for themselves, and the result was that the people were scattered over the whole earth.
5. [Medium] When God tested Abraham by asking for his son, which son was it, and what did God provide in his place?
Answer: Isaac, and a ram caught in a thicket.
NIV reference: Genesis 22:1-14.
An angel stopped Abraham before he harmed his son, and Abraham named the place The Lord Will Provide.
6. [Easy] What unusual sight did Moses turn aside to look at in the desert near Mount Horeb?
Answer: A bush that was on fire but was not burned up.
NIV reference: Exodus 3:1-10.
God spoke to Moses from the bush and gave him the task of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
7. [Medium] What was the last of the plagues that finally led Pharaoh to tell Israel to leave Egypt?
Answer: The death of every firstborn in Egypt.
NIV reference: Exodus 12:13, 29-31.
It is the reason Israel celebrates Passover: the Lord passed over the houses marked with blood.
8. [Easy] Which sea did the Israelites cross on dry ground, with the water forming a wall on either side?
Answer: The Red Sea.
NIV reference: Exodus 14:21-22; 15:4.
The Israelites crossed on dry ground, and Pharaoh's chariots and army were drowned in the same sea.
9. [Medium] What is the first of the Ten Commandments as the NIV words it in Exodus 20?
Answer: You shall have no other gods before me.
NIV reference: Exodus 20:3. The NIV says: “You shall have no other gods before me”
Churches divide the commandments slightly differently. Catholic and Lutheran lists join the ban on other gods and the ban on idols into one, while most other Protestants count them as two.
10. [Medium] What did the Israelites call the bread God gave them in the wilderness, and what did it taste like?
Answer: Manna, which tasted like wafers made with honey.
NIV reference: Exodus 16:13-14, 31.
Each morning it lay on the desert floor after the dew had gone, like thin flakes of frost.
11. [Easy] What happened to the walls of Jericho after the Israelites marched around the city and the people shouted?
Answer: They collapsed.
NIV reference: Joshua 6:15, 20. The NIV says: “the wall collapsed”
The march took seven days, and on the seventh day the army circled the city seven times before the shout.
12. [Medium] According to Samson, what would make his strength leave him?
Answer: Having his head shaved.
NIV reference: Judges 16:17.
Samson explained that he had been a Nazirite, dedicated to God from his mother's womb, and his hair was part of that vow.
13. [Medium] Which woman told her mother-in-law, 'Where you go I will go'?
Answer: Ruth, speaking to Naomi.
NIV reference: Ruth 1:16, 22; 4:17. The NIV says: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay”
Ruth came from Moab, yet she went with Naomi to Bethlehem and became the great-grandmother of King David.
14. [Medium] As a boy, who heard God calling his name in the night while sleeping near the ark of God?
Answer: Samuel.
NIV reference: 1 Samuel 3:3-10. The NIV says: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
Samuel thought Eli was calling him. Eli realised it was the Lord and told him how to answer.
15. [Easy] With what weapon did David defeat Goliath?
Answer: A sling and a stone.
NIV reference: 1 Samuel 17:45, 50. The NIV says: “David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone”
David told Goliath he came in the name of the Lord Almighty, not trusting in armour or a sword.
16. [Medium] When God offered to give Solomon whatever he asked, what did Solomon request?
Answer: A discerning heart to govern God's people and to tell right from wrong.
NIV reference: 1 Kings 3:5-13.
God was pleased, and he also gave Solomon riches and honour that he had not asked for.
17. [Easy] Which psalm begins 'The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing'?
Answer: Psalm 23.
NIV reference: Psalm 23:1, 4. The NIV says: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing”
Verse 4 speaks of walking through the darkest valley without fear because God is close. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles number this psalm 22, following the Greek numbering.
18. [Hard] Which prophet gave a coming child four titles, beginning with 'Wonderful Counselor'?
Answer: Isaiah.
NIV reference: Isaiah 9:6.
Christians have long read the verse as pointing to Jesus, while Jewish readers understand the passage differently, so it helps to know both readings exist.
19. [Hard] Which prophet summed up what the Lord requires as acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God?
Answer: Micah.
NIV reference: Micah 6:8. The NIV says: “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”
The verse is a reminder that faithfulness covers daily conduct as well as worship.
20. [Easy] Which Old Testament book says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart'?
Answer: Proverbs.
NIV reference: Proverbs 3:5-6. The NIV says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
Verse 6 adds that if we submit to him in all our ways, he will make our paths straight.
Quizmaster tip: after this round, ask the group which story surprised them most. The Old Testament is full of details that people only notice on a second reading, such as why Jacob was renamed Israel or what Solomon asked for.
Round 2: How well do you know the Gospels?
The four Gospels tell the story of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This round runs from the birth of Jesus to his resurrection and takes in the miracles, parables and teaching on the way. If you are new to the Gospels, Luke is a good place to begin.
21. [Easy] Which angel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus?
Answer: Gabriel.
NIV reference: Luke 1:26-31.
The angel was sent to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and told Mary she had found favour with God.
22. [Easy] What gifts did the Magi bring to the child Jesus?
Answer: Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
NIV reference: Matthew 2:1-2, 11.
Matthew names three kinds of gift but never says how many Magi there were, so the familiar 'three kings' is a tradition rather than something the text states.
23. [Medium] Roughly how old was Jesus when he began his public ministry?
Answer: About thirty.
NIV reference: Luke 3:23. The NIV says: “Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry”
Luke gives the age with the word 'about', so it is an approximate figure.
24. [Easy] For how long did Jesus fast in the wilderness before the devil tempted him?
Answer: Forty days and forty nights.
NIV reference: Matthew 4:1-4. The NIV says: “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry”
Jesus answered the first temptation by quoting Scripture, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
25. [Medium] At a wedding in Cana, what did Jesus turn water into?
Answer: Wine.
NIV reference: John 2:1-11.
John calls it the first of the signs through which Jesus revealed his glory.
26. [Medium] Which famous sermon opens with 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'?
Answer: The Sermon on the Mount.
NIV reference: Matthew 5:1-3. The NIV says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
This opening set of sayings is known as the Beatitudes, from the Latin word for blessed.
27. [Easy] How does the Lord's Prayer begin in Matthew's Gospel?
Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
NIV reference: Matthew 6:9-13. The NIV says: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”
The NIV text ends at 'deliver us from the evil one'. Many churches add a closing line of praise that is not found in the earliest manuscripts.
28. [Medium] What did Jesus say to the wind and the waves during the storm on the lake?
Answer: Quiet! Be still!
NIV reference: Mark 4:39-41. The NIV says: “Quiet! Be still!”
The disciples were terrified and asked, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'
29. [Easy] What food did the boy have that Jesus used to feed the crowd of five thousand?
Answer: Five small barley loaves and two small fish.
NIV reference: John 6:8-9.
Andrew pointed the boy out and asked how far so little could go among so many people.
30. [Medium] Which disciple stepped out of the boat to walk on the water towards Jesus?
Answer: Peter.
NIV reference: Matthew 14:28-31.
Peter began to sink when he saw the wind, and Jesus caught him and asked why he had doubted.
31. [Medium] What did Jesus call out at the tomb of Lazarus?
Answer: Lazarus, come out!
NIV reference: John 11:17, 43-44. The NIV says: “Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
32. [Medium] In the parable told in answer to 'Who is my neighbour?', who proved to be a neighbour to the injured man?
Answer: The Samaritan who showed him mercy.
NIV reference: Luke 10:29-37.
A priest and a Levite had both passed by on the other side of the road before the Samaritan stopped.
33. [Medium] In the parable of the lost son, what job did the younger son end up doing in the far country?
Answer: Feeding pigs.
NIV reference: Luke 15:15-20.
It was when he came to his senses that he decided to go home to his father.
34. [Easy] What did the short tax collector Zacchaeus climb so that he could see Jesus?
Answer: A sycamore-fig tree.
NIV reference: Luke 19:1-8.
Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus's house, and Zacchaeus promised to give half of his possessions to the poor.
35. [Easy] Complete the verse: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only ...'
Answer: Son.
NIV reference: John 3:1-2, 16. The NIV says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who had come to him at night.
36. [Medium] At the Last Supper, which two things did Jesus take and give thanks for as he shared the meal?
Answer: Bread and a cup.
NIV reference: Matthew 26:26-29.
Christian traditions understand communion differently, and Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed and Baptist churches each describe it in their own way, but all trace it back to this meal.
37. [Medium] What was written on the notice fastened to the cross above Jesus?
Answer: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
NIV reference: John 19:19-20.
The notice was written in three languages: Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
38. [Medium] In John's account, who spoke with Jesus outside the empty tomb and at first mistook him for the gardener?
Answer: Mary Magdalene.
NIV reference: John 20:11-16.
She recognised him only when he spoke her name, and she answered 'Rabboni', which means Teacher.
39. [Medium] What instruction did the risen Jesus give his followers at the end of Matthew's Gospel?
Answer: Go and make disciples of all nations.
NIV reference: Matthew 28:18-20. The NIV says: “go and make disciples of all nations”
This is often called the Great Commission, and it ends with the promise 'I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'
40. [Easy] In John's Gospel, what title does the opening verse give to Jesus?
Answer: The Word.
NIV reference: John 1:1, 14. The NIV says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
Verse 14 says that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
If you enjoyed this round, 100 Facts About Jesus goes deeper into his life, and Who Was Jesus Christ? tells the whole story step by step.
Round 3: What can you recall from Acts and the letters?
After the Gospels, the New Testament follows the first Christians. Acts records the birth of the church and the journeys of Paul. The letters, from Romans to Jude, teach believers how to live, and Revelation closes the Bible. Several of the questions here ask you to complete a verse.
41. [Medium] What did the believers see resting on each of them at Pentecost?
Answer: Tongues of fire.
NIV reference: Acts 2:1-4, 41.
After Peter preached that day, about three thousand people were added to the believers.
42. [Medium] Who was stoned to death and is remembered as the first Christian martyr?
Answer: Stephen.
NIV reference: Acts 7:58-60; 8:1.
The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul, who approved of the killing.
43. [Easy] On the road to Damascus, what did the voice from heaven say to Saul?
Answer: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
NIV reference: Acts 9:3-4, 9, 17-18. The NIV says: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul was blind for three days until Ananias placed his hands on him and something like scales fell from his eyes.
44. [Medium] In which city were the disciples first called Christians?
Answer: Antioch.
NIV reference: Acts 11:26. The NIV says: “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch”
Barnabas had brought Saul to Antioch, and together they taught large numbers of people for a whole year.
45. [Medium] When the Philippian jailer asked what he must do to be saved, what did Paul and Silas answer?
Answer: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
NIV reference: Acts 16:25-31.
The question came after an earthquake that shook the prison and opened its doors.
46. [Hard] What inscription did Paul find on an altar when he spoke to the people of Athens?
Answer: To an unknown god.
NIV reference: Acts 17:22-24.
Paul used the altar as a starting point to tell them about the God who made the world and everything in it.
47. [Hard] Which young man fell asleep and tumbled from a window while Paul preached late into the night?
Answer: Eutychus.
NIV reference: Acts 20:7-12.
He was taken home alive, and the people were greatly comforted.
48. [Medium] Complete Romans 3:23: 'for all have sinned and ...'
Answer: Fall short of the glory of God.
NIV reference: Romans 3:23-24. The NIV says: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
The next verse says that all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
49. [Medium] Complete Romans 6:23: 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is ...'
Answer: Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV reference: Romans 6:23. The NIV says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Paul sets a wage that is earned beside a gift that is freely given.
50. [Easy] According to 1 Corinthians 13, which of faith, hope and love is the greatest?
Answer: Love.
NIV reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4, 13. The NIV says: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
The chapter begins its description of love with the words 'Love is patient, love is kind.'
51. [Medium] In 1 Corinthians 15, on which day does Paul say Christ was raised?
Answer: On the third day.
NIV reference: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
Paul describes this message as being 'of first importance'.
52. [Medium] How many qualities make up the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, and which is listed first?
Answer: Nine, beginning with love.
NIV reference: Galatians 5:22-23.
Paul adds that 'against such things there is no law'.
53. [Medium] Complete Ephesians 2:8: 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is ...'
Answer: The gift of God.
NIV reference: Ephesians 2:8-10.
Verse 10 goes on to say that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
54. [Medium] Which piece of the armour of God does Paul say can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one?
Answer: The shield of faith.
NIV reference: Ephesians 6:14-17.
The passage also names the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
55. [Easy] Complete the verse: 'I can do all this through him who ...'
Answer: Gives me strength.
NIV reference: Philippians 1:13; 4:11-13. The NIV says: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”
Paul wrote the letter while in chains, and he says he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
56. [Medium] Which New Testament letter says that 'All Scripture is God-breathed'?
Answer: 2 Timothy.
NIV reference: 2 Timothy 3:16. The NIV says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”
Paul wrote the letter to Timothy, a younger leader he was mentoring.
57. [Medium] How does Hebrews 11:1 define faith?
Answer: Confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
NIV reference: Hebrews 11:1-8. The NIV says: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”
The chapter goes on to name Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham among those who lived by faith.
58. [Medium] According to James, what should you do if you lack wisdom?
Answer: Ask God, who gives generously.
NIV reference: James 1:5. The NIV says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault”
James adds that the request should be made in faith, without doubting.
59. [Easy] Complete 1 John 4:8: 'Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is ...'
Answer: Love.
NIV reference: 1 John 4:8, 16. The NIV says: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love”
Verse 16 repeats the idea: 'Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.'
60. [Hard] How many churches does the book of Revelation address, and which is named first?
Answer: Seven, and Ephesus is named first.
NIV reference: Revelation 1:11.
Each church receives its own short message in chapters 2 and 3.
Many of these verses are about grace, faith and love. If you want to read more on those themes, try What Is Faith? and What Is Salvation in Christianity?.
Round 4: Which Bible characters can you name?
This round is about people. It moves between Eve and Noah, Esther and Daniel, Peter and Judas, and a few lesser-known names such as Barnabas and Deborah. Remember that Scripture often shows people at their best and at their worst, and that is part of why their stories still ring true.
61. [Easy] What name did Adam give his wife, and what did it point to?
Answer: Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
NIV reference: Genesis 3:20. The NIV says: “mother of all the living”
Eve's name comes from the Hebrew for life, and Genesis presents her as the first mother of the human family.
62. [Easy] Who were Noah's three sons?
Answer: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
NIV reference: Genesis 6:10. The NIV says: “Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth”
They and their wives were the other people carried through the flood in the ark.
63. [Medium] Which patriarch wrestled with a man until daybreak and was renamed Israel?
Answer: Jacob.
NIV reference: Genesis 32:24-28. The NIV says: “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel”
The name Israel later became the name of the whole nation descended from Jacob's twelve sons.
64. [Medium] Which prophet went up to heaven in a whirlwind as a chariot of fire appeared?
Answer: Elijah.
NIV reference: 2 Kings 2:11.
His successor Elisha watched him go and picked up the cloak that fell from him.
65. [Medium] Which queen of Persia risked her life by going to the king uninvited to plead for her people?
Answer: Esther.
NIV reference: Esther 4:16. The NIV says: “if I perish, I perish”
Esther asked the Jews of Susa to fast for three days before she went in to the king.
66. [Easy] Who was thrown into a den of lions for praying to God, and what was the outcome?
Answer: Daniel, who was unharmed.
NIV reference: Daniel 6:10, 16, 22.
Daniel prayed three times a day with his windows open towards Jerusalem, even after the king's decree forbade it.
67. [Easy] What did the Lord provide to swallow Jonah when he was thrown into the sea?
Answer: A huge fish.
NIV reference: Jonah 1:17.
Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. The Bible calls it a huge fish rather than naming a whale.
68. [Medium] Which three men were thrown into a blazing furnace for refusing to bow to a golden image?
Answer: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
NIV reference: Daniel 3:12, 25.
King Nebuchadnezzar looked in and was astonished to see a fourth figure walking with them, unbound and unharmed.
69. [Medium] Which relative of Mary was told she would give birth to John the Baptist in her old age?
Answer: Elizabeth.
NIV reference: Luke 1:13, 36.
The text calls Elizabeth Mary's relative. The word is not specific, so the popular description of John and Jesus as cousins is a tradition rather than a precise statement.
70. [Medium] Which disciple went to the chief priests and offered to hand Jesus over to them?
Answer: Judas Iscariot.
NIV reference: Matthew 26:14-16.
The chief priests counted out thirty pieces of silver for him, and from then on he watched for an opportunity.
71. [Medium] Which disciple remembered Jesus's words and wept bitterly after denying him three times?
Answer: Peter.
NIV reference: Matthew 26:74-75.
Peter was later restored, and Jesus asked him three times, 'Do you love me?' in John 21.
72. [Medium] Which tax collector did Jesus call with the words 'Follow me'?
Answer: Matthew.
NIV reference: Matthew 9:9. The NIV says: “Follow me”
Matthew was sitting at his tax booth when Jesus called him, and he left it to follow.
73. [Hard] Which early Christian was nicknamed 'son of encouragement' by the apostles?
Answer: Barnabas.
NIV reference: Acts 4:36-37.
He sold a field and brought the money to the apostles, and he later travelled with Paul.
74. [Hard] Which woman served as a prophet and led Israel at the time of Barak?
Answer: Deborah.
NIV reference: Judges 4:4-5.
She held court under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel, and Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.
Round 5: Where did it happen?
Bible stories happen in real places, from gardens and mountains to cities and islands. This round tests whether you can match a story to its setting. Reading a Bible with a good map beside it makes these questions much easier.
75. [Easy] In which town was Jesus born?
Answer: Bethlehem.
NIV reference: Luke 2:4-7.
Joseph and Mary travelled there from Nazareth for a census, and the baby was laid in a manger because there was no guest room available.
76. [Easy] In which town was Jesus brought up?
Answer: Nazareth.
NIV reference: Luke 4:16. The NIV says: “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up”
Luke describes Jesus going into the synagogue there on the Sabbath, as was his custom.
77. [Easy] In which river did John baptise Jesus?
Answer: The Jordan.
NIV reference: Mark 1:9-11.
A voice from heaven spoke and the Spirit descended like a dove.
78. [Medium] What was the name of the place where Jesus went with his disciples to pray before his arrest?
Answer: Gethsemane.
NIV reference: Matthew 26:36-39.
Jesus prayed that the cup might pass from him, and then added 'Yet not as I will, but as you will.'
79. [Medium] What was the name of the place where Jesus was crucified?
Answer: Golgotha.
NIV reference: Matthew 27:33. The NIV says: “a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”)”
Luke's Gospel gives the place the name 'the Skull' in some translations, and the Latin form 'Calvary' comes from that.
80. [Medium] To which village were two followers of Jesus walking when the risen Jesus joined them?
Answer: Emmaus.
NIV reference: Luke 24:13-16, 30-31.
They did not recognise him until he broke bread with them.
81. [Medium] In which part of the world does Genesis 2 place the garden God planted in Eden?
Answer: In the east.
NIV reference: Genesis 2:8. The NIV says: “the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden”
The Bible places Eden in the east but gives no location that anyone has been able to confirm.
82. [Medium] On which mountains did Noah's ark come to rest?
Answer: The mountains of Ararat.
NIV reference: Genesis 8:4.
Genesis speaks of a mountain range, not one named peak. The exact spot is not identified.
83. [Easy] On which mountain did God give Moses the law?
Answer: Mount Sinai.
NIV reference: Exodus 19:20.
Moses went up and received the commandments, and the people waited below.
84. [Medium] To which great city did God send Jonah to call the people to repent?
Answer: Nineveh.
NIV reference: Jonah 1:2. The NIV says: “Go to the great city of Nineveh”
Jonah first ran the other way, towards Tarshish, and only went to Nineveh after the fish.
85. [Hard] Which city's broken walls did Nehemiah return to rebuild?
Answer: Jerusalem.
NIV reference: Nehemiah 2:17; 6:15. The NIV says: “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem”
The wall was finished in just fifty-two days despite opposition.
86. [Hard] On which island was John when he wrote that he was there 'because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus'?
Answer: Patmos.
NIV reference: Revelation 1:9. The NIV says: “on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”
Patmos lies in the Aegean Sea off the coast of what is now Turkey, and tradition says John was exiled there.
87. [Hard] On which island did Paul and his companions come ashore after the shipwreck?
Answer: Malta.
NIV reference: Acts 28:1-2.
The islanders showed them unusual kindness and lit a fire to welcome them.
Round 6: How many, how long and how much?
Numbers appear everywhere in the Bible. Forty days, twelve tribes, seven years, thirty pieces of silver. The last round collects the figures that Scripture states directly. Some of them carry symbolic weight, but the questions only ask what the text says.
88. [Medium] On which day of the creation account does Genesis say God finished his work and rested?
Answer: The seventh day.
NIV reference: Genesis 2:2-3.
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The Sabbath command later in Exodus 20 echoes this.
89. [Easy] For how many days and nights did the rain fall on the earth in the flood?
Answer: Forty.
NIV reference: Genesis 7:12. The NIV says: “rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights”
The same number turns up again at the fast of Moses, Elijah and Jesus.
90. [Hard] For how many shekels of silver did Joseph's brothers sell him?
Answer: Twenty.
NIV reference: Genesis 37:28. The NIV says: “sold him for twenty shekels of silver”
The brothers sold Joseph to a caravan heading to Egypt, and the story later brings the family back together.
91. [Medium] How many sons did Jacob have?
Answer: Twelve.
NIV reference: Genesis 35:22. The NIV says: “Jacob had twelve sons”
Their names became the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
92. [Medium] For how many years did Moses remind Israel they had been led through the wilderness?
Answer: Forty.
NIV reference: Deuteronomy 8:2. The NIV says: “these forty years”
Moses told them God had humbled and tested them so that he could know what was in their hearts.
93. [Medium] How many men did Gideon finally take into battle against Midian?
Answer: Three hundred.
NIV reference: Judges 7:7. The NIV says: “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you”
Gideon's army began with thousands, and God reduced it so that Israel could not claim the victory as its own.
94. [Easy] How many smooth stones did David choose from the stream before facing Goliath?
Answer: Five.
NIV reference: 1 Samuel 17:40. The NIV says: “chose five smooth stones from the stream”
He needed only one, but he took five along with his staff and sling.
95. [Hard] How many years did Solomon spend building the temple?
Answer: Seven.
NIV reference: 1 Kings 6:38. The NIV says: “He had spent seven years building it”
It was finished in the eleventh year of his reign.
96. [Medium] How many baskets of leftovers did the disciples gather after Jesus fed the five thousand?
Answer: Twelve.
NIV reference: John 6:12-13.
Jesus asked them to gather the pieces so that nothing would be wasted.
97. [Medium] How many times did Jesus say we should forgive, in reply to Peter's 'Up to seven times?'
Answer: Seventy-seven times.
NIV reference: Matthew 18:21-22. The NIV says: “not seven times, but seventy-seven times”
The NIV footnote says some manuscripts read seventy times seven. Either way, the point is limitless forgiveness.
98. [Medium] How many apostles did Jesus choose from among his disciples?
Answer: Twelve.
NIV reference: Luke 6:12-13. The NIV says: “chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles”
He chose them after spending the whole night in prayer.
99. [Medium] How many pieces of silver were counted out for Judas in Matthew's account?
Answer: Thirty.
NIV reference: Matthew 26:15. The NIV says: “they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver”
The detail echoes the prophecy Matthew goes on to cite about the price of a shepherd's betrayal.
100. [Hard] How many large fish were in the net when the disciples met the risen Jesus on the shore of Galilee?
Answer: 153.
NIV reference: John 21:11. The NIV says: “It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn”
John records the exact figure, and scholars have offered many theories about why.
How did you score?
Add up your correct answers across all six rounds. These bands are only a guide, and the point is to learn rather than to rank yourself.
0 to 29: you are at the start of a good journey. Choose one Gospel and read a chapter a day.
30 to 59: you know the main stories. Try reading the books that stand behind the questions you missed.
60 to 79: you have a solid grasp of the Bible. Pick a hard question you missed and read the whole chapter around it.
80 to 94: you read Scripture closely. Set yourself the challenge of writing your own questions from a book you love.
95 to 100: an excellent result. Offer to host the next quiz night for your group.
If you want a routine for building this knowledge, How to Start Reading the Bible explains where to begin, how to read a little each day and which book to open first.
Want to play offline? Our free Family Bible Quiz has 50 questions with an answer key, ready to print for the table or the church hall. You can also browse all 70 free Christian downloads.
How can you use these Bible quiz questions in a group?
These questions are suitable for a small group, a youth evening, a school assembly or a family meal. You do not need to be an expert to run them. The answer lines do the explaining, so the quizmaster only has to read.
Here is a simple plan for a 40 minute quiz night. Use the plan as a starting point and change it to suit the people in the room.
Five minutes: welcome the group, form teams of three to five people and explain that every answer is checked against the NIV.
Twenty five minutes: ask ten questions from each of three rounds. Mix easy, medium and hard questions so that every team scores something.
Five minutes: take a break, and invite each team to share the question they found most surprising.
Five minutes: ask the Numbers round as a tie-breaker, with the closest guess winning.
For children, choose the easy questions from the Old Testament, Gospels and People rounds. For a mixed congregation, the Places and Numbers rounds work well because they depend on memory rather than on theology.
Keep the tone kind. Nobody should be embarrassed for a wrong answer, because the whole point is to open the Bible together. A good habit is to read the context line aloud after every answer and ask whether anyone would like to read the passage in full.
Where do Christians differ on questions like these?
Most of the answers on this page are matters of plain reading, but a few touch topics where Christian traditions understand things differently. It is fair to say so.
The Ten Commandments. Catholic and Lutheran churches join the ban on other gods and the ban on idols into one commandment and divide the ban on coveting into two. Most other Protestant churches number them the other way.
The Magi. Matthew does not say how many there were. The number three comes from the three gifts and from later tradition.
The Psalms. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles follow the Greek numbering, so Psalm 23 in the NIV is Psalm 22 in those Bibles.
Isaiah 9:6. Christians read the four titles as pointing to Jesus. Jewish readers understand the passage in other ways, and the quiz simply asks what the verse says.
The Lord's Supper. Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed and Baptist churches each teach something different about communion, though all trace it back to the Last Supper.
Mary and Elizabeth. Luke calls Elizabeth Mary's relative. The popular description of John and Jesus as cousins is a tradition rather than a statement of the text.
Where should you go next?
If this quiz made you curious about a topic, these guides on the site are good next steps. Start with How to Start Reading the Bible and then try 50 Christian FAQs, which answers the questions that new readers most often ask.
For verses to read slowly, see Bible Verses About Hope and Bible Verses About Love. And if you want to talk to God about what you have read, How To Pray: A Complete Christian Guide For Beginners is a gentle place to start.
If the quiz has you curious about the faith behind these questions, the Christian faith explained in plain English is a good place to begin.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bible trivia?
Bible trivia is a quiz format that tests what you know about the Bible through short questions with clear answers. It covers stories, people, places, numbers and well-known verses. The best quizzes also give the reference so that you can read the passage for yourself.
What are good Bible quiz questions and answers for beginners?
Start with the easy questions in each round, such as who killed Goliath, where Jesus was born and what Moses saw in the burning bush. These are well-known stories and the answers come with references. When you feel ready, move on to the medium questions.
Are the answers on this page based on the NIV?
Yes. Every answer and every quotation was checked against the text of the New International Version before publication. The page names the book, chapter and verse for each answer, so you can check it in any translation you prefer.
Can I use these Bible trivia questions for a church quiz night or Sunday school?
Yes, you are welcome to read them aloud in a church, small group, school or family setting. Use the easy questions for children and mix the difficulty levels for adults. The sample 40 minute plan on this page shows one way to run an evening.
Why do some Bibles give different numbers or names from the answers here?
Catholic and Orthodox Bibles follow different numbering for the Psalms and include extra books, and some translations render names in other ways. The quiz uses the NIV and the 66-book canon, and the section on where Christians differ explains the main cases.
How can I get better at Bible quizzes?
Read a little of the Bible every day and focus on stories rather than isolated verses. A Gospel such as Luke or Mark is a good place to begin, and the guide on how to start reading the Bible explains a simple routine. Reading the chapter around a missed answer helps it stay in your memory.
Key takeaways
Bible trivia is most useful when it sends you back to the passage itself.
This page has 100 original questions in six rounds, with every answer checked against the NIV.
The questions use the 66-book canon, and none depends on the extra books in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
Where traditions differ, such as the numbering of the Ten Commandments or the Psalms, the page says so openly.
A good quiz night needs a kind quizmaster, mixed difficulty and time to read the context lines aloud.
Further reading
Bible Gateway: New International Version (NIV) information for the history of the translation and its copyright terms.
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Biblical literature for a scholarly overview of the Old Testament canon, the Christian canon and the main translations.
Bible Society: Explore the Bible for an online reader where you can open any passage from this quiz in context.
Conclusion
Bible trivia is a friendly way to learn, and this page gives you 100 questions to enjoy alone or with others. The best use of any answer is to read the verses around it. May the quiz send you back to the Bible with fresh curiosity and a little more confidence.
Explore more Christian guides on jesuslightstudio.com, and come back to try the rounds again in a few weeks to see how much you remember.
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