120 Bible Trivia Questions for Adults (with Answers)

These 120 Bible trivia questions for adults are pitched at exactly the level a church game night needs: hard enough that nobody sweeps the board, but never so obscure that only the seminary graduate in the room has a chance. Every answer comes in bold right after the question, with a verse reference so you can settle disputes on the spot.

The questions are sorted into four topical rounds of 30 -- Old Testament, New Testament, Wisdom & Prophets, and the early church in Acts -- so you can run them as themed rounds, let teams pick categories Jeopardy-style, or mix and match. If you're hosting parents and kids together, keep this list for the grown-ups' turns and grab our 100 Bible trivia questions and answers for the all-ages rounds.

How to Run Adult Bible Trivia Night

Split the room into teams of three to five and rotate through the four categories, ten questions per round -- that's a tidy 40-question game that runs about an hour. Award two points for a correct answer and one bonus point for naming the book it comes from. The verse references after each answer make you the instant referee: when someone insists the Bible says "apple" or that two of every animal boarded the ark, you can open the text and enjoy the moment.

A few hosting tips that make the difference between a quiz and a party: read questions aloud rather than passing papers around, let teams steal on a miss, and save the Acts round for last -- it's the category most adults know least, so it keeps the game alive until the end. For a full evening structure with scorekeeping and prize ideas, our family Bible trivia night guide adapts easily to an adults-only or mixed church crowd.

Old Testament Trivia Questions for Adults

1. On which day of creation did God make the sun, moon, and stars? The fourth day (Genesis 1:16-19)
2. What was Abraham's name before God changed it? Abram (Genesis 17:5)
3. Which two cities did God destroy with burning sulfur? Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24)
4. What new name did God give Jacob after he wrestled with God at Peniel? Israel (Genesis 32:28)
5. Where was Moses when he saw the burning bush? Horeb, the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1-2)
6. Who was Moses' father-in-law, the priest of Midian? Jethro (Exodus 3:1)
7. What was the first plague God sent on Egypt? The Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:20)
8. What was the tenth and final plague? The death of every firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 12:29)
9. What does the name "manna" come from -- what did the Israelites say when they first saw it? "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15, 31)
10. Which leader actually fashioned the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain? Aaron (Exodus 32:2-4)
11. Which two of the twelve spies believed Israel could take the Promised Land? Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:6-9)
12. Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land? He struck the rock at Meribah instead of speaking to it as God commanded (Numbers 20:11-12)
13. Whose donkey spoke to him on the road? Balaam's (Numbers 22:28)
14. Who buried Moses, and in what land? God himself buried him, in Moab (Deuteronomy 34:5-6)
15. How many times did Israel march around Jericho on the seventh day? Seven times (Joshua 6:15)
16. For which leader did the sun stand still during a battle at Gibeon? Joshua (Joshua 10:13)
17. Which left-handed judge killed King Eglon of Moab with a hidden sword? Ehud (Judges 3:15-21)
18. Who was the only female judge of Israel? Deborah (Judges 4:4)
19. What did Gideon lay out -- twice -- to test God's promise of victory? A wool fleece (Judges 6:37-40)
20. How many men did God leave Gideon to defeat the Midianite army? Three hundred (Judges 7:7)
21. Who was Ruth's great-grandson? King David (Ruth 4:17)
22. Which prophet anointed both Saul and David as king? Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13)
23. What was Goliath's hometown? Gath (1 Samuel 17:4)
24. Who was struck down for reaching out to steady the ark of the covenant? Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6-7)
25. Which of David's sons declared himself king and drove his father out of Jerusalem? Absalom (2 Samuel 15:10)
26. When God offered Solomon anything he wanted, what did Solomon ask for? A discerning heart to govern the people -- wisdom (1 Kings 3:9)
27. Which foreign queen traveled to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions? The queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1)
28. During which king's reign was the lost Book of the Law rediscovered in the temple? Josiah's (2 Kings 22:8)
29. Who told Esther she may have come to her royal position "for such a time as this"? Mordecai (Esther 4:14)
30. In how many days did Nehemiah's crews rebuild the wall of Jerusalem? Fifty-two (Nehemiah 6:15)

New Testament Trivia Questions for Adults

1. Which Roman ruler ordered the census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1)
2. What three gifts did the Magi bring the child Jesus? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11)
3. To which country did Joseph flee with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod? Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14)
4. How many days did Jesus fast in the wilderness before being tempted? Forty (Matthew 4:1-2)
5. What was Jesus' first recorded miracle, and where did it happen? Turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11)
6. Which disciple was collecting taxes when Jesus called him? Matthew (Matthew 9:9)
7. Which Pharisee came to Jesus at night and was told "You must be born again"? Nicodemus (John 3:1-3)
8. What food did Jesus multiply to feed the five thousand? Five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:17-21)
9. Which disciple walked on water toward Jesus -- briefly? Peter (Matthew 14:29-30)
10. Which two Old Testament figures appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration? Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:3)
11. Which wealthy tax collector climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus? Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2-4)
12. How many days had Lazarus been in the tomb when Jesus raised him? Four (John 11:39-44)
13. What is the shortest verse in the Bible? "Jesus wept" (John 11:35)
14. In which parable does a father run to embrace a son who wasted his inheritance? The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20)
15. Which parable did Jesus tell to answer the question "Who is my neighbor?" The good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37)
16. For how many pieces of silver did Judas agree to betray Jesus? Thirty (Matthew 26:15)
17. In what garden was Jesus arrested? Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)
18. How many times did Peter deny Jesus before the rooster crowed? Three (Luke 22:60-62)
19. Which prisoner did Pilate release to the crowd instead of Jesus? Barabbas (Matthew 27:26)
20. Who was forced to carry Jesus' cross? Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32)
21. Which member of the Jewish council asked Pilate for Jesus' body and buried him in his own tomb? Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60)
22. In John's Gospel, who was the first person to see the risen Jesus? Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-16)
23. Which disciple refused to believe the resurrection until he saw the nail marks himself? Thomas (John 20:27-28)
24. On the road to which village did the risen Jesus walk with two disciples who didn't recognize him? Emmaus (Luke 24:13-15)
25. Over how many days did the risen Jesus appear before ascending to heaven? Forty (Acts 1:3)
26. What question did Jesus ask Peter three times beside the Sea of Galilee? "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-17)
27. Complete the Golden Rule: "So in everything, do to others..." "...what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12)
28. Which Gospel opens with "In the beginning was the Word"? John (John 1:1)
29. Complete Jesus' words: "I am the way and the and the ." The truth and the life (John 14:6)
30. How many fish did the disciples catch in the miraculous haul after the resurrection? 153 (John 21:11)

Wisdom and Prophets Trivia Questions

1. In what land did Job live? The land of Uz (Job 1:1)
2. Name Job's three friends who came to comfort him. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (Job 2:11)
3. Who said, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised"? Job (Job 1:21)
4. What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Psalm 119, with 176 verses (Psalm 119)
5. Which psalm begins "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing"? Psalm 23 (Psalm 23:1)
6. Which psalm ends with the note "This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse"? Psalm 72 (Psalm 72:20)
7. According to Proverbs, what is "the beginning of knowledge"? The fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7)
8. Complete the proverb: "Start children off on the way they should go..." "...and even when they are old they will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6)
9. What famous portrait closes the book of Proverbs? The wife of noble character (Proverbs 31:10)
10. Which book opens with "Meaningless! Meaningless! ... Everything is meaningless"? Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
11. Which chapter of Ecclesiastes says there is "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"? Chapter 3 (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
12. Which prophet confronted David over Bathsheba with a parable about a poor man's ewe lamb? Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-7)
13. What birds brought Elijah bread and meat by the Kerith Ravine? Ravens (1 Kings 17:4-6)
14. On which mountain did fire fall from heaven in Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal? Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19, 38)
15. What did Elisha ask to inherit from Elijah? A double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:9)
16. How many times did Naaman dip in the Jordan to be healed of leprosy? Seven (2 Kings 5:14)
17. In the year which king died did Isaiah see the Lord "high and exalted" in the temple? King Uzziah (Isaiah 6:1)
18. Complete Isaiah's prophecy: "But he was pierced for our ___." Transgressions (Isaiah 53:5)
19. Which prophet is nicknamed "the weeping prophet" for lines like "Oh, that my head were a spring of water"? Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:1)
20. Which prophet delivered God's promise, "For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you"? Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:11)
21. Which prophet saw a valley of dry bones come to life? Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
22. What did God command Ezekiel to eat at his commissioning -- and it tasted as sweet as honey? A scroll (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
23. Who interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue with a gold head and clay feet? Daniel (Daniel 2:31-45)
24. Which three men walked out of the blazing furnace without even the smell of fire on them? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:26-27)
25. What four words appeared on the wall at Belshazzar's feast? Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin (Daniel 5:25)
26. What habit got Daniel thrown into the lions' den? Praying to God three times a day despite the king's decree (Daniel 6:10)
27. Which prophet was told to marry an unfaithful wife, Gomer, as a living picture of Israel? Hosea (Hosea 1:2-3)
28. Jonah was told to go to Nineveh -- where did he sail instead? Toward Tarshish (Jonah 1:3)
29. Which prophet named Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel's coming ruler? Micah (Micah 5:2)
30. Which prophet wrote "the righteous person will live by his faithfulness" -- the line Paul later built on? Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:4)

Early Church Trivia Questions (Book of Acts)

1. Who was chosen by lot to replace Judas among the twelve apostles? Matthias (Acts 1:26)
2. On which Jewish feast day did the Holy Spirit come on the believers in Jerusalem? Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)
3. What did the believers see resting on each of them that day? Tongues of fire (Acts 2:3)
4. About how many people were baptized after Peter's Pentecost sermon? About three thousand (Acts 2:41)
5. Which husband and wife dropped dead after lying about the price of the land they sold? Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)
6. Which respected Pharisee advised the Sanhedrin to leave the apostles alone, "for if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them"? Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-39)
7. Who was the first Christian martyr? Stephen (Acts 7:59-60)
8. Which future apostle watched over the coats of the men who stoned Stephen? Saul (Acts 7:58)
9. To whom did Philip explain the scroll of Isaiah on the desert road to Gaza? An Ethiopian eunuch, a royal official (Acts 8:26-35)
10. On the road to which city was Saul blinded by a light from heaven? Damascus (Acts 9:3)
11. Which disciple laid hands on Saul so that "something like scales" fell from his eyes? Ananias (Acts 9:17-18)
12. Which woman, also called Dorcas, did Peter raise from the dead in Joppa? Tabitha (Acts 9:36-40)
13. Whose household became the first Gentile believers to receive the Holy Spirit and be baptized? Cornelius the centurion's (Acts 10:44-48)
14. What did Peter see lowered from heaven in his rooftop vision? A large sheet filled with all kinds of animals (Acts 10:11-13)
15. In which city were the disciples first called Christians? Antioch (Acts 11:26)
16. Who walked out of prison past two chains and two guards while the church prayed for him? Peter, led by an angel (Acts 12:6-10)
17. Which servant girl was so overjoyed to hear Peter at the door that she left him standing outside? Rhoda (Acts 12:13-14)
18. Who was set apart with Saul for the first missionary journey? Barnabas (Acts 13:2-4)
19. Over which young companion did Paul and Barnabas disagree so sharply that they parted ways? John Mark (Acts 15:37-39)
20. Which young disciple from Lystra, with a Jewish mother and Greek father, joined Paul's team? Timothy (Acts 16:1-3)
21. In a night vision at Troas, a man begged Paul to come help -- from where? Macedonia (Acts 16:8-9)
22. What broke open the prison doors while Paul and Silas were singing hymns at midnight? A violent earthquake (Acts 16:25-26)
23. In which city did Paul preach about an altar "to an unknown god"? Athens (Acts 17:22-23)
24. Which couple took Apollos aside and explained the way of God more adequately? Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:26)
25. Which city erupted in a riot when silversmiths feared the gospel would ruin their trade in shrines of Artemis? Ephesus (Acts 19:23-28)
26. Before which two Roman governors did Paul make his defense in Caesarea? Felix, then Festus (Acts 24:27)
27. Which king told Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" King Agrippa (Acts 26:28)
28. What bit Paul on the island of Malta -- without harming him? A viper that came out of the firewood (Acts 28:3-5)
29. What was Paul's hometown? Tarsus, in Cilicia (Acts 22:3)
30. How does the book of Acts end? Paul under house arrest in Rome for two years, preaching the kingdom of God without hindrance (Acts 28:30-31)

How to Use These Questions

Don't run all 120 in one night -- pick 40, keep the pace brisk, and save the rest for a rematch. The Old Testament and New Testament rounds play well with any church crowd; Wisdom & Prophets separates the regular readers from the Christmas-and-Easter contingent; and the Acts round is the great equalizer, because almost nobody remembers Rhoda or Gamaliel until they hear the story again. If your group has teenagers in the mix, hand them our Bible trivia for teens and let them run their own bracket, or pull all-ages questions from our master list of 100 Bible trivia questions and answers.

The best part of a wrong answer is the story behind the right one. If Esther's "for such a time as this" or Paul's shipwreck drew blank stares at your table, our five-minute refreshers on who Esther was and who Paul was are written for kids but work shamelessly well for adults too. And if you want your own kids learning these stories before they're old enough to beat you at this game, Faithful Kids teaches every one of them through short videos with a quiz after each episode.

Hosting a group? Print our free Bible Trivia Pack -- 100 questions with a separate answer key, so the host is the only one who sees the answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard should Bible trivia be for adults?

Aim for a 60-70 percent success rate -- hard enough that every team misses some, easy enough that nobody feels foolish. The questions above deliberately avoid seminary-level obscurity (no genealogies, no minor kings of the divided kingdom) and stick to named people, famous scenes, and quotable verses that regular churchgoers have actually encountered.

How many trivia questions do I need for a church game night?

Forty questions fills about an hour with team discussion and scoring; sixty fills ninety minutes. Prepare more than you think you need -- rounds move faster with adults than with kids -- and keep ten tiebreaker questions in reserve. The four 30-question categories above give you three full game nights from one list.

What's the best team format for adult Bible trivia?

Teams of three to five, mixed deliberately -- split up couples and seat newer attendees with longtime members, since the game is a disguised icebreaker. Rotate through topical rounds, allow one steal per question, and give a bonus point for naming the book. A "wager round" at the end, where teams bet their points on a final question, keeps last place interested.

Which Bible category do adults get wrong most often?

The book of Acts, by a wide margin. Most adults know the Gospels and the Genesis-Exodus storyline from childhood, but the early church chapters -- Gamaliel, Rhoda, the Ethiopian official, the riot in Ephesus -- fade fast after Pentecost. That's exactly why the Acts round makes the best finale: everyone is guessing together.

Can I use these questions for a mixed group with kids?

Yes, with adjustments -- pair each adult round with easier kid questions so every generation gets turns it can win. Our 100 Bible trivia questions and answers covers all-ages material, and Bible trivia for teens sits neatly between the two levels.

Are these questions suitable for any denomination?

Yes. Every question is drawn from the 66 books shared by all Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles, and every answer cites chapter and verse rather than any tradition's interpretation. Wording follows the NIV, but the facts hold in any major translation.