We've selected both rare and common Bible verses for this disciple quiz. How many disciples can you match with verses that either refer to disciples or contain their words? Be advised from the start that many of these verses refer to Peter. Jesus singled Peter out to help him establish many of the teachings that Christians enjoy today, so it was only right that we highlight examples of Peter's contributions to the faith.
John also makes quite a few appearances on this test. Be ready to dig into your memory bank for post-Ascension facts about the disciples. Remember how John goes deep into faith philosophy after Christ departed the second time? And no quiz on Jesus's disciples would be right without showcasing Judas Iscariot and his fateful deeds. Sure, Judas committed the naughtiest of the naughties against the son of God, but without his grand betrayal, the world would be a much different place. So we give a nod or two when it is due.
Now give your best try matching up the verses with the right disciples. You have great clues to score big on this one. Good luck!
"Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?" - John 12:5
Jesus visited Bethany where he had raised Lazarus from the dead. While there, Mary anointed Jesus's feet with very expensive ointment. Judas Iscariot criticized the use of the ointment, pretending to be concerned for the poor.
"Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” - John 13:6
Before Passover feast, Jesus poured water into a basin and started to wash the disciples' feet. Peter was troubled by Jesus's act and questioned him in disbelief.
"Lord, who is it?" - John 13:25
When Jesus disclosed to his disciples details about the betrayal that would take place, he mentioned that his accuser would be one of them. Since Jesus would not identify the one who would betray him, Peter beckoned the disciple "whom Jesus loved" to ask for the guilty disciple's name.
"Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake."
Before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples that he was going away and that they would not see him for a while. Peter was anxious at hearing this news and wanted to know why he wasn't able to follow Jesus. Peter was willing to lay down his life for Jesus.
"Lord we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way?" - John 14:5
During a dialogue between Jesus and is disciples, Jesus was preparing them for his earthly departure and his subsequent return. Thomas expressed that the disciples didn't know where he was going off to so it was impossible for them to know the way.
"Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." - John 14:8
Jesus had been explaining to his disciples who the Father is, when Philip expressed that he still did not understand. He asked Jesus to show them the Father and it would be enough. Jesus responded to Philip that he and the Father are one and the same.
"Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" - John 14:22
As Jesus prepared the disciples for his earthly departure, he assured them that they, and not the world, would see him. He said that at the appointed time, the disciples would know that he is in His Father and that they are in Him and that he is in them.
"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." - John 20:25
After he was resurrected from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples when Thomas was not present. Although the disciples told him they had seen Jesus, Thomas did not believe them. Thomas Didymus is also known as "Doubting Thomas" because of this.
"And...answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." - John 20:28
Jesus appeared before his disciples after his resurrection, but Thomas was not present. Jesus then appeared before his disciples a second time when Thomas was present. At the second meeting, Jesus allowed Thomas to examine his death wounds and advised him to be faithful and not doubt.
"I go a fishing." - John 21:3
After Jesus had resurrected, he appeared at the Sea of Tiberias before his disciples Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the two sons of Zebedee and two other disciples. Peter said, "I go a fishing," and they all joined him but they didn't catch any fish until Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the ship.
"It is the Lord." - John 21:7
When Jesus appeared before the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, none of them had recognized him. But after they were able to catch a miraculous amount of fish, the "beloved disciple" (whom many scholars believe was John) recognized that the strange man was, in fact, Jesus.
"Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." - John 21:15
Before Jesus went back to his Father in heaven, he wanted to strengthen Peter. Jesus asked Peter three times, "lovest thou me?" Peter grew frustrated because Jesus had asked him the same question three times. After the third time, Peter told Jesus, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."
"...this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." - Acts 2:16
On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the multitude of people who had observed the disciples speaking in strange tongues. The people accused the disciples of being filled with new wine, but Peter reminded the multitude that what was taking place had been prophesied by the prophet Joel.
"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." - Acts 3:6
Peter performed the first miracle after the Ascension of Jesus. A lame man begged for alms at the gate of the temple called "Beautiful." Peter healed the man after speaking these words.
"Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." - Acts 4:19-20
Disciples Peter and John were called to stand before the Sanhedrin Council, which had concluded that preaching in Jesus's name was forbidden. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John told the council members that they could not speak of the things that they had seen and heard.
"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" - Acts 5:3
Ananias lied to Peter about land he had sold; Ananias sold the land and kept some of the money. Peter, having discernment of the Holy Spirit, asked Ananias why he had lied to the Holy Ghost. Peter explained that Ananias had not lied to man, but unto God. Hearing this, Ananias fell dead.
"Understandest thou what thou readest?" - Acts 8:30
An angel of the Lord instructed Philip to go toward the south unto Gaza. While there, Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch who needed understanding of prophet Esaias's scripture. After Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch replied, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"
"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." - Acts 10:34-35
Cornelius was an Italian centurion who feared God. It was unlawful for Jews and Gentiles to interact with each other, but God gave Peter a vision of clean and unclean animals and told Peter to eat. God sent Peter to Cornelius' house to preach; Cornelius and his entire house received the Holy Ghost.
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." - 1 Peter 2:2
Apostle Peter encouraged the dispersed Jewish Christians who had fled Jerusalem and were scattered throughout Asia Minor. Peter warned that they should avoid acts of dissension and that they should instead feed on the truth of the word.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." - 1 Peter 2:9
Peter addressed Jewish Christians during the time of their displacement. Peter affirmed that the church was the body of Christ and a spiritual temple where believers were royal priests offering praise and worship.
"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." - 1 Peter 4:16
The dispersed Christian Jews were suffering persecution by the Roman government. Peter wrote encouraging words to them so that they might stand firm in their beliefs.
"...no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." - 2 Peter 1:20
The word "origin" is the basis for the Greek word that means interpretation. Peter submitted that the scriptures' origin was of God and not of the credentialed individuals who interpreted them.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7
John was writing to believers who were dealing in false doctrine. He wanted to encourage others to follow the light of God's Word.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - 1 John 1:8
In the history of the Christian church, believers have excused their wrongful deeds, claiming to be right with God. John is addressing this recurrent human tendency.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
The confession of sins does not simply involve reciting wrongdoings. John is reminding believers that true confession involves a commitment to not continue in sin.
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:2
In this verse, John reinforces the believers' identities as "sons of God." John offers them the hope of seeing God and being like Him.
"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." - Matthew 14:28
While Jesus's disicples were at sea, a storm tossed their boat against the waves. In the midst of these brutal conditions, they saw Jesus, who appeared like a ghost and said, "it is I, be not afraid." Peter was the only disciple who reacted in faith and responded, "Lord, if it be thou,bid me come unto thee on the water."
"Declare unto us this parable." - Matthew 15:15
When Jesus spoke about defilement, he rebuked and offended the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus insisted that they were blind leaders of the blind. Peter responded to Jesus with a request that the disciples be given understanding about the "blind lead the blind" parable.
"Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." - Matthew 17:4
While up in a high mountain, Jesus transfigured before Peter, James and John; his face shined "as the sun" and his "raiment was white as the light." Moses and Elijah appeared at this moment and talked with Jesus. Peter reacted to what he was witnessing by suggesting the three tabernacles for the great men.
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." - Matthew 16:16
While on the coast of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples to tell him what the people said that he was. All the disciples, except Peter, said that the people considered Jesus to be one of the great prophets that had come back to life. But Peter answered differently.
"...Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" - Matthew 18:21
As far as Peter was concerned, forgiving someone seven times seemed sufficient since some rabbis required their students to forgive offenders only three times. Jesus responded that forgiveness should be unlimited when there is true repentance.
"We are able." - Matthew 20:22
James and John requested to sit with Jesus in his kingdom, one on the left and the other on the right. Jesus then asked the two disciples if they were able to drink of the cup that he would one day drink.
"What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" - Matthew 26:15
Religious leaders plotted how they might capture and kill Jesus. Disciple Judas Iscariot went to the leaders and offered to betray Jesus for a price. They accepted his offer and gave him thirty pieces of silver.
"Master, is it I?" - Matthew 26:25
While sharing Passover feast with his disciples, Jesus announced that one among them would betray him. Some of the disciples became distraught, asking "Lord, is it I"? Judas Iscariot also asked, "Master, is it I?"
"And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him." - Matthew 26:49
While in the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James and John, Jesus was finishing his third prayer when Judas entered the garden with a great multitude who had swords and staves. Judas had advised the weapon-wielding multitude that whomever he kissed would be Jesus.
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