Bible Basics
This Old Testament book famously never mentions God by name.
What is Esther?
“Bad company corrupts good character.”
Bible
1 Corinthians 15:33.
This king asked God for wisdom rather than wealth or a long life.
Who is Solomon?
This disciple betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Who is Judas Iscariot?
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Who is Joshua?
Joshua 24:15
These two Old Testament figures appeared with Jesus during the Transfiguration.
Who are Moses and Elijah?
"God helps those who help themselves.”
Not in the Bible
This queen risked approaching the king without being summoned in order to save her people.
Who is Esther?
This ruler repeatedly hardened his heart and refused to release the Israelites from slavery.
Who is Pharaoh?
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Who is Ruth?
Ruth 1:16
This young man fell asleep during one of Paul’s lengthy sermons and tumbled from a third-story window.
Who is Eutychus?
Reference: Acts 20:7–12
“Spare the rod, spoil the child.”
Not in the Bible
This king ordered the killing of the young boys in and around Bethlehem after being deceived by the Magi.
Who is Herod the Great?
This ruler had John the Baptist beheaded after making a reckless promise at his birthday banquet.
Who is Herod Antipas?
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done—the saving of many lives.”
Who is Joseph?
Genesis 50:20
This lesser-known judge killed 600 Philistines using an oxgoad—apparently proving almost anything can be a weapon in Judges.
Who is Shamgar?
Reference: Judges 3:31
"The lion shall lie down with the lamb.”
Note the Bible
After accepting the crowd’s praise that he had the voice of a god, this king was struck down and eaten by worms.
Who is Herod Agrippa I?
Acts 12:21–23
This husband-and-wife duo lied about the amount of money they received from selling their property—and both dropped dead.
Who are Ananias and Sapphira?
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Who are Martha and Mary?
John 11:21 and John 11:32
John is the only Gospel writer to give us the name of the high priest’s servant whose ear Peter cut off.
Who is Malchus?
Reference: John 18:10
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Bible
Jesus says this in Mark 3:25 and gives the same teaching in Matthew 12:25.
After being told to put his house in order because he was going to die, this king prayed—and God added 15 years to his life.
Who is Hezekiah?
This high priest argued that it was better for one man to die than for the entire nation to perish, unintentionally prophesying about Jesus’ death.
Who is Caiaphas?
John 11:49–53
“I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
Who is Judas Iscariot?
Matthew 27:4