Luke Bible Trivia: 42 Questions and Answers for Kids & Families

These 42 Luke Bible trivia questions cover the whole gospel -- the angel Gabriel, the manger in Bethlehem, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, Zacchaeus in his tree, and the road to Emmaus -- with answers and verse references after every question. They're sorted into easy (ages 5-8), medium (ages 9-12), and hard (teens and adults) rounds so the whole family can play.

Luke is a trivia goldmine because so many favorite stories appear nowhere else: no other gospel has the shepherds at the manger, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, or the road to Emmaus. If your kids only know one gospel well, Luke gives them the most stories per page.

What Is the Book of Luke About?

The book of Luke is a carefully researched account of the life of Jesus -- his birth, teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection -- written so that a man named Theophilus could "know the certainty" of what he had been taught (Luke 1:3-4). The gospel itself is formally anonymous, but the church has traditionally attributed it to Luke, the physician and traveling companion of Paul, whom Paul calls "our dear friend Luke, the doctor" (Colossians 4:14).

Luke is the longest of the four gospels by word count, and it's volume one of a two-part work -- the book of Acts opens by addressing the same Theophilus and calling Luke "my former book" (Acts 1:1). Luke's special heartbeat is Jesus' love for the overlooked: shepherds, widows, Samaritans, tax collectors, and children all get starring roles. That makes it an ideal first gospel for kids -- and ideal trivia territory, because the details are vivid and checkable.

Easy Luke Trivia Questions (Ages 5-8)

1. What was the name of the angel who told Mary she would have a baby? Gabriel (Luke 1:26-27)

1. In what town was Jesus born? Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7)

1. Where did Mary lay baby Jesus after he was born? In a manger (Luke 2:7)

1. Who did the angels first tell the good news of Jesus' birth? Shepherds watching their flocks at night (Luke 2:8-11)

1. Who was John the Baptist's mother? Elizabeth (Luke 1:13, 57-60)

1. How old was Jesus when his parents found him talking with the teachers in the temple? Twelve years old (Luke 2:42-46)

1. In what town did Jesus grow up? Nazareth (Luke 2:39-40)

1. What short tax collector climbed a tree to see Jesus? Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2-4)

1. What kind of tree did Zacchaeus climb? A sycamore-fig tree (Luke 19:4)

1. In Jesus' parable, who stopped to help the hurt man on the road to Jericho? The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-34)

1. In the parable of the lost sheep, what did the shepherd do when one sheep out of a hundred went missing? He left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it (Luke 15:4)

1. What do we call the parable about the son who took his money, ran away, and then came home? The prodigal son (the lost son) (Luke 15:11-24)

1. What did Jesus calm with just his words while the disciples panicked in the boat? A storm on the lake (Luke 8:24)

1. Jesus healed ten men with leprosy -- how many came back to say thank you? One (Luke 17:12-15)

Medium Luke Trivia Questions (Ages 9-12)

1. To what person is the gospel of Luke addressed? Theophilus (Luke 1:3)

1. Which priest was unable to speak until his son John the Baptist was born? Zechariah (Luke 1:20, 64)

1. Why did Mary lay Jesus in a manger? There was no guest room available for them (Luke 2:7)

1. Which two elderly people recognized baby Jesus as the Messiah when he was brought to the temple? Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38)

1. About how old was Jesus when he began his public ministry? About thirty years old (Luke 3:23)

1. What did the people of Nazareth try to do after Jesus preached in their synagogue? Throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:28-29)

1. What happened when Peter let down his nets after a night of catching nothing? The nets filled with so many fish they began to break (Luke 5:5-6)

1. Which sister sat at Jesus' feet listening while the other was busy in the kitchen? Mary sat and listened; Martha was busy (Luke 10:39-40)

1. In Jesus' parable, what did the woman light a lamp and sweep her whole house to find? One lost silver coin out of ten (Luke 15:8)

1. What job did the prodigal son end up doing in the far country when his money ran out? Feeding pigs (Luke 15:15)

1. What did the father do when he saw the prodigal son coming home? He ran to him, threw his arms around him, and threw a feast with the fattened calf (Luke 15:20-23)

1. The one healed leper who came back to thank Jesus was from what group of people? He was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16)

1. What did Zacchaeus promise to give to the poor? Half of his possessions -- and to pay back anyone he cheated four times over (Luke 19:8)

1. What did Jesus do for the widow of Nain? He raised her dead son back to life (Luke 7:14-15)

1. What is the special name for Mary's song of praise that begins "My soul glorifies the Lord"? The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)

1. What was Luke's profession, according to Paul? He was a doctor -- "our dear friend Luke, the physician" (Colossians 4:14)

Hard Luke Trivia Questions (Teens and Adults)

1. What second New Testament book did Luke write as a sequel to his gospel? Acts (Acts 1:1)

1. Which ruler did Pilate send Jesus to during his trial -- a scene found only in Luke? Herod (Antipas) (Luke 23:7-11)

1. What did Jesus pray from the cross about the people crucifying him? "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34)

1. What did Jesus promise the criminal crucified beside him? "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43)

1. To which village were the two disciples walking when the risen Jesus joined them on the road? Emmaus (Luke 24:13-15)

1. When did the Emmaus disciples finally recognize Jesus? When he broke the bread (Luke 24:30-31)

1. Name a famous parable that appears only in Luke. The Good Samaritan or the prodigal son (Luke 10:30-37; 15:11-32)

1. Near what village did Jesus ascend into heaven at the end of Luke? Bethany (Luke 24:50-51)

1. How did the angel Gabriel describe his own position? "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19)

1. What detail does Luke alone record about Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives before his arrest? His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44)

1. Who was forced to carry Jesus' cross behind him? Simon of Cyrene (Luke 23:26)

1. What was Elizabeth's family relationship to Mary? She was Mary's relative (Luke 1:36)

How to Use These Questions

Run the easy round at dinner -- the birth story and the parables are the ones most kids already half-know -- and save the trial and resurrection questions for older kids at family Bible trivia night. A fun team twist: since so many of these stories are "only in Luke," challenge teens to guess which questions couldn't be answered from any other gospel.

If your kids need story prep first, our five-minute retellings are the fastest catch-up: an angel visits Mary, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, and the road to Emmaus cover the biggest point-scorers here. Our video lessons at Faithful Kids walk kids through these same Luke stories with a short video and a quiz after each episode. When your family has mastered this list, keep going with our New Testament trivia for kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the book of Luke?

The gospel is formally anonymous, but the church has traditionally attributed it to Luke, a physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14). Luke also wrote the book of Acts -- both volumes are addressed to the same man, Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1).

How many chapters does Luke have?

Luke has 24 chapters, and it is the longest of the four gospels by word count. Chapters 1-2 cover the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, chapters 3-21 cover Jesus' ministry and teaching, and chapters 22-24 cover the cross, the empty tomb, and the ascension.

What stories are only in the book of Luke?

Luke is the only gospel with the shepherds at the manger, the boy Jesus in the temple, the widow of Nain, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the ten lepers, Zacchaeus, Jesus' trial before Herod, the penitent thief, and the road to Emmaus. That's why Luke is often the best single gospel for kids' trivia.

What is the most famous story in Luke?

The Christmas story in Luke 2 is the most famous passage -- the census, the manger, and the angels appearing to the shepherds -- and it's the version most families read every December. Among the parables, the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is probably the best-known story Jesus ever told.

What age can kids start learning the book of Luke?

Kids as young as 4 or 5 can learn Luke's big stories -- the manger, the lost sheep, and Zacchaeus are preschool favorites. Ages 9-12 can handle the parables' deeper meanings, and teens can tackle the trial, crucifixion details, and Emmaus, where the risen Jesus explains the whole Old Testament.

Why did Luke write his gospel?

Luke tells us directly: he "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" and wrote an orderly account so Theophilus could "know the certainty of the things you have been taught" (Luke 1:3-4). In other words, Luke wrote like a careful historian -- interviewing eyewitnesses and putting the story in order.