Jesus Quiz: 35 Questions and Answers on His Life

The four Gospels give us the life of Jesus from four angles: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This quiz follows His life in order, from the manger to the empty tomb, with questions on the moments every Christian should know.

Use it as a study review, a youth group game, or a quiz night round. Each answer includes the verse, so the quiz doubles as a tour of the Gospels.

Part 1: Birth, childhood and baptism

In which town was Jesus born?
1. Nazareth
2. Jerusalem
3. Bethlehem
4. Capernaum
Show answer
Answer: Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king.
In which town did Jesus grow up?
1. Bethlehem
2. Bethany
3. Jericho
4. Nazareth
Show answer
Answer: Nazareth (Matthew 2:23; Luke 2:39-40)
He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Where was baby Jesus laid after He was born?
1. In a cradle
2. In a basket
3. In the temple
4. In a manger
Show answer
Answer: In a manger (Luke 2:7)
She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
What gifts did the wise men bring?
1. Silver, gold and bronze
2. Lambs, doves and bread
3. Oil, wine and honey
4. Gold, frankincense and myrrh
Show answer
Answer: Gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11)
They opened their treasures and presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
How old was Jesus when He stayed behind in the temple, listening and asking questions?
1. Twelve
2. Eight
3. Twenty
4. Thirty
Show answer
Answer: Twelve (Luke 2:42-46)
When He was twelve years old, His parents found Him in the temple sitting among the teachers.
About how old was Jesus when He began His ministry?
1. Twenty
2. Twelve
3. Thirty
4. Forty
Show answer
Answer: Thirty (Luke 3:23)
Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age.
What came down on Jesus like a dove at His baptism?
1. An angel
2. A bright star
3. The Holy Spirit
4. Fire
Show answer
Answer: The Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17)
He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
How long did Jesus fast in the wilderness when He was tempted?
1. Seven days
2. Three days
3. Forty days and forty nights
4. Twelve days
Show answer
Answer: Forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-2)
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and fasted forty days and forty nights.
How did Jesus answer each temptation of the devil?
1. By calling angels
2. "It is written..." — with the Scriptures
3. By staying silent
4. By performing a miracle
Show answer
Answer: "It is written..." — with the Scriptures (Matthew 4:4,7,10)
Each time Jesus answered from Deuteronomy: "It is written."

Part 2: Ministry, teaching and miracles

What was Jesus' first miracle?
1. Healing a blind man
2. Turning water into wine
3. Feeding five thousand
4. Walking on water
Show answer
Answer: Turning water into wine (John 2:1-11)
At a wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus turned water into wine; this beginning of signs manifested His glory.
How many disciples did Jesus choose to be apostles?
1. Seven
2. Ten
3. Twelve
4. Seventy
Show answer
Answer: Twelve (Luke 6:13)
He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
What did Jesus teach on the mountain, beginning "Blessed are the poor in spirit"?
1. The Olivet Discourse
2. The Upper Room Discourse
3. The parable of the sower
4. The Sermon on the Mount
Show answer
Answer: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-3)
Seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain and taught them, beginning with the Beatitudes.
Which prayer did Jesus teach His disciples, beginning "Our Father in heaven"?
1. The prayer of Jabez
2. The Lord's Prayer
3. The high priestly prayer
4. The prayer of Hannah
Show answer
Answer: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name."
How many people did Jesus feed with five loaves and two fish (not counting women and children)?
1. Four thousand
2. Three thousand
3. Ten thousand
4. Five thousand
Show answer
Answer: Five thousand (Matthew 14:17-21)
Those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
On what did Jesus walk to reach His disciples' boat?
1. A bridge
2. A sandbar
3. The water of the sea
4. The shore
Show answer
Answer: The water of the sea (Matthew 14:25)
In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Whom did Jesus raise from the dead after four days in the tomb?
1. Jairus's daughter
2. The widow's son
3. Lazarus
4. Dorcas
Show answer
Answer: Lazarus (John 11:39-44)
Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" and he who had died came out.
On what animal did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?
1. A donkey
2. A horse
3. A camel
4. A chariot
Show answer
Answer: A donkey (Matthew 21:6-9)
The crowds spread their clothes and branches and cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"
What did Jesus do to show His disciples how to serve one another at the Last Supper?
1. He washed their feet
2. He cooked the meal
3. He gave them gold
4. He built them a house
Show answer
Answer: He washed their feet (John 13:4-5,14-15)
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

Part 3: The last week, the cross and the resurrection

For how much silver did Judas betray Jesus?
1. Ten pieces
2. Twenty pieces
3. Thirty pieces
4. Fifty pieces
Show answer
Answer: Thirty pieces (Matthew 26:15)
They counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.
In which garden did Jesus pray before He was arrested?
1. Eden
2. The garden of the tomb
3. Bethany
4. Gethsemane
Show answer
Answer: Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)
Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."
How many times did Peter deny Jesus before the rooster crowed?
1. Once
2. Twice
3. Three times
4. Seven times
Show answer
Answer: Three times (Matthew 26:34,75)
"Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Which Roman governor sentenced Jesus to be crucified?
1. Herod
2. Pontius Pilate
3. Caiaphas
4. Felix
Show answer
Answer: Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:24-26)
Pilate washed his hands before the multitude, then delivered Jesus to be crucified.
What was the name of the place where Jesus was crucified?
1. Gethsemane
2. Mount Sinai
3. Golgotha (Place of a Skull)
4. Emmaus
Show answer
Answer: Golgotha (Place of a Skull) (John 19:17-18)
He went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him.
On which day did Jesus rise from the dead?
1. The seventh day
2. The Sabbath
3. The fortieth day
4. The first day of the week, the third day
Show answer
Answer: The first day of the week, the third day (Matthew 28:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:4)
Very early on the first day of the week the women found the tomb empty: "He is not here; for He is risen."
From where did Jesus ascend into heaven?
1. Mount Sinai
2. The Mount of Olives, near Bethany
3. The temple
4. The Sea of Galilee
Show answer
Answer: The Mount of Olives, near Bethany (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-12)
He led them out as far as Bethany and was carried up into heaven; they returned from the mount called Olivet.

Bonus round: 10 harder questions

These ten go back over His whole life with details that catch out even regular Bible readers. Try them as a double-points final.

Which angel announced to Mary that she would bear Jesus?
1. Michael
2. Gabriel
3. Raphael
4. An unnamed angel
Show answer
Answer: Gabriel (Luke 1:26-31)
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin named Mary.
What name did the angel tell Joseph to give the child, "for He will save His people from their sins"?
1. Jesus
2. Immanuel
3. Christ
4. Messiah
Show answer
Answer: Jesus (Matthew 1:21)
"She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Which righteous old man took baby Jesus in his arms in the temple and blessed God?
1. Zacharias
2. Simeon
3. Joseph of Arimathea
4. Nicodemus
Show answer
Answer: Simeon (Luke 2:25-32)
Simeon said, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace... for my eyes have seen Your salvation."
Where did Joseph take Mary and Jesus to escape from Herod?
1. Egypt
2. Babylon
3. Nazareth
4. Samaria
Show answer
Answer: Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14)
Joseph took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.
In which synagogue did Jesus read from Isaiah, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me"?
1. Capernaum
2. Nazareth
3. Jerusalem
4. Bethsaida
Show answer
Answer: Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21)
He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and read from Isaiah 61; "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Which town became Jesus' home base in Galilee?
1. Nazareth
2. Capernaum
3. Cana
4. Tiberias
Show answer
Answer: Capernaum (Matthew 4:13; 9:1)
Leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea.
Which three disciples saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain?
1. Peter, Andrew and Philip
2. Peter, James and John
3. James, John and Thomas
4. Matthew, Mark and Luke
Show answer
Answer: Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-2)
He took Peter, James and John his brother, and was transfigured before them; His face shone like the sun.
Who appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?
1. Abraham and David
2. Isaiah and Jeremiah
3. Moses and Elijah
4. Enoch and Noah
Show answer
Answer: Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:3)
Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
What did Peter answer when Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?"
1. "You are Elijah."
2. "You are a great teacher."
3. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
4. "You are John the Baptist."
Show answer
Answer: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16)
Jesus said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father."
Which blind beggar near Jericho cried, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"?
1. Bartimaeus
2. Malchus
3. Zacchaeus
4. Lazarus
Show answer
Answer: Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)
Jesus said, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." Immediately he received his sight.

Going further

Each Gospel has its own emphasis. Matthew often shows Jesus fulfilling Old Testament promises; Mark moves fast and focuses on what Jesus did; Luke gives careful detail about people on the edges; John records long conversations and "I am" sayings. Reading all four over a month is a wonderful way to know Jesus better.

For more, try our Christmas Bible quiz on His birth, our Easter Bible quiz on His death and resurrection, and the miracles and parables rounds in our Bible quiz for youth. To play this quiz live with a group, host it free on MyBibleQuiz.

Frequently asked questions

What are good questions to ask about Jesus?

Ask about His birth (Bethlehem, the manger, the wise men), His baptism by John, His miracles and parables, the disciples He called, and His death and resurrection. Each should point to a verse in the Gospels.

Which books of the Bible tell the life of Jesus?

The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Acts 1 describes His ascension, and the letters explain the meaning of His life, death and resurrection.

How old was Jesus when He started His ministry?

Luke 3:23 says Jesus was "about thirty years of age" when He began His ministry.