Bible quiz
Holy Week Bible Quiz
This Holy Week Bible quiz has 20 questions on the last days of Jesus before the cross, from his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey to the Last Supper and his arrest in Gethsemane. The questions go from easy to hard, and every answer shows the verse it comes from in the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
- Mixed levels
- 20 questions
- About 5 min
- Answers checked against the BSB
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Hi, I’m Pip. 20 questions, about 5 minutes. Every answer comes with its verse.
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1 of 20 · Easy
What does this Holy Week quiz cover?
Holy Week is the church's name for the week before Easter. The Gospels give it far more space than any other part of Jesus' life: Matthew 21-26, Mark 11-14, Luke 19-22 and John 12-18 all slow down to follow these days closely. This quiz follows the same order. It begins with the crowds, the palm branches and the shouts of Hosanna, moves through the cleansing of the temple, the fig tree and the poor widow's offering, and then comes to the dinner at Bethany, Judas' bargain, the Last Supper and the night in Gethsemane.
The crucifixion itself is covered in the separate Good Friday Bible quiz, and the resurrection in the Easter Bible trivia quiz, so you can use the three as a series. For an overview of each day and the main readings, see Holy Week in the Bible.
Which day of Holy Week did each event happen on?
Church tradition gives names to several days: Palm Sunday for the entry into Jerusalem and Maundy Thursday for the Last Supper and the foot washing. The Gospels do not label every event with a weekday, and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John arrange some scenes in a different order. Mark, for example, places the cleansing of the temple on the day after the entry, while Matthew tells it straight after the entry, and John reports a cleansing early in Jesus' ministry (John 2).
Because of this, the quiz asks what each Gospel says happened rather than on which day it happened. Each question names its book or chapter, and the verse shown after you answer settles it. If you want to go deeper, read the passages about Peter, who is at the center of several of these scenes, and the twelve apostles.
How can you use this quiz during Holy Week?
Some families take a few questions each evening from Palm Sunday to Thursday, reading the matching passage before they answer. Youth leaders often use the full set as a single round before a Good Friday or Easter service. If you start earlier, the Lent Bible quiz leads into this one, and the printable Bible quizzes help when a group has no phones.
All questions and answers
Try each question first, then open the answer to see the verse it comes from (Berean Standard Bible).
1. According to Matthew 21:1, near which village on the Mount of Olives did Jesus send two disciples to fetch a donkey?Hard
- Bethphage
- Bethany
- Emmaus
- Nazareth
Show answer
Answer: A. Bethphage
As they came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples into the village ahead to find a donkey with her colt.
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me.”
2. According to John 12:13, what did the crowd take when they went out to meet Jesus?Easy
- Olive branches
- Lamps and torches
- Their swords
- Palm branches
Show answer
Answer: D. Palm branches
The great crowd took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting "Hosanna!"
“The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!””
3. What did the crowds shout as Jesus rode into Jerusalem in Matthew 21?Easy
- Hosanna to the Son of David!
- Crucify Him!
- Long live Caesar!
- Holy, holy, holy!
Show answer
Answer: A. Hosanna to the Son of David!
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
“The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!””
4. According to John 12:14, what did Jesus sit on as he came into Jerusalem?Easy
- A white horse
- A camel
- A young donkey
- A chariot
Show answer
Answer: C. A young donkey
Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written, "your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey."
“Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.””
5. According to Luke 19:41, what did Jesus do when he approached Jerusalem and saw the city?Medium
- He shook the dust off His feet
- He sang a psalm
- He turned back to Bethany
- He wept over it
Show answer
Answer: D. He wept over it
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
“As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it”
6. When Jesus drove out the buyers and sellers, what did he say they had made the temple?Medium
- A den of robbers
- A house of trade
- A tomb of the prophets
- A pit of snakes
Show answer
Answer: A. A den of robbers
Jesus quoted the Scriptures, "My house will be called a house of prayer," and said, "But you are making it a den of robbers."
“Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’””
7. In Mark 11, what did Jesus find on the fig tree he went to see?Medium
- Ripe figs
- Nothing except leaves
- A bird's nest
- Green figs that were not ready
Show answer
Answer: B. Nothing except leaves
He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs, and he said no one would ever eat its fruit again.
“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.”
8. What did the poor widow put into the temple treasury in Mark 12?Easy
- One silver coin
- A gold ring
- Two small copper coins
- A tenth of her grain
Show answer
Answer: C. Two small copper coins
She put in two small copper coins, and Jesus said she had given more than all the others, because she gave all she had to live on.
“As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.””
9. According to John 12, at the dinner in Bethany six days before the Passover, who anointed Jesus' feet with pure nard?Medium
- Mary
- Martha
- Joanna
- Salome
Show answer
Answer: A. Mary
Martha served, Lazarus reclined at the table, and Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume made of pure nard and anointed Jesus' feet.
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
10. In John 12, who asked why the perfume was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?Medium
- Peter
- Thomas
- Judas Iscariot
- Matthew
Show answer
Answer: C. Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Jesus, asked why the perfume had not been sold for three hundred denarii.
“But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?””
11. How much did the chief priests set out for Judas when he agreed to hand Jesus over?Easy
- Twenty pieces of silver
- Thirty pieces of silver
- Fifty shekels of gold
- Three hundred denarii
Show answer
Answer: B. Thirty pieces of silver
Judas asked what they would give him, and they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
“Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.”
12. According to Luke 22:8, which two disciples did Jesus send to prepare the Passover?Medium
- James and John
- Andrew and Philip
- Peter and John
- Thomas and Matthew
Show answer
Answer: C. Peter and John
On the day the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for them to eat the Passover.
“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.””
13. In Mark 14, what sign would show the two disciples where to prepare the Passover?Hard
- A lamp in an upper window
- A man carrying a jug of water
- A donkey tied at a door
- A woman selling bread
Show answer
Answer: B. A man carrying a jug of water
Jesus told them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him."
“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him,”
14. In John 13, what did Jesus do after he wrapped a towel around his waist?Easy
- Served the bread
- Washed the disciples' feet
- Cleaned the table
- Lit the lamps
Show answer
Answer: B. Washed the disciples' feet
Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel.
“So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.”
15. According to John 13:34, what new commandment did Jesus give?Easy
- Keep the Sabbath holy
- Pray without ceasing
- Love one another
- Sell all you have
Show answer
Answer: C. Love one another
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another."
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”
16. At the Last Supper in Matthew 26, what did Jesus call the cup he gave the disciples?Medium
- The cup of salvation
- My blood of the covenant
- The wine of the kingdom
- The cup of Elijah
Show answer
Answer: B. My blood of the covenant
Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and said, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
17. What did Jesus tell Peter would happen before the rooster crowed?Easy
- Peter would walk on water
- Peter would leave Jerusalem
- Peter would be arrested
- Peter would deny Him three times
Show answer
Answer: D. Peter would deny Him three times
When Peter said he would never fall away, Jesus told him, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
“Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.””
18. In Matthew 26, whom did Jesus take with him further into Gethsemane to pray?Medium
- Judas and Thomas
- Andrew and Philip
- All twelve disciples
- Peter and the two sons of Zebedee
Show answer
Answer: D. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee
At Gethsemane Jesus told the disciples to sit, and took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John.
“At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.”
19. What signal did Judas arrange so the crowd would know whom to arrest?Easy
- A wave of his hand
- Pointing with a torch
- Calling out Jesus' name
- A kiss
Show answer
Answer: D. A kiss
Judas had told them, "The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him," and he greeted Jesus and kissed him.
“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.”
20. According to John 18:10, what was the name of the high priest's servant whose ear Peter cut off?Hard
- Malchus
- Annas
- Barabbas
- Alexander
Show answer
Answer: A. Malchus
Simon Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant, whose name was Malchus.
“Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”
Frequently asked questions
Where is Holy Week in the Bible?
The events of the last week of Jesus' life are in Matthew 21-27, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23 and John 12-19. The name Holy Week comes from church tradition; the Gospels simply follow Jesus from his arrival in Jerusalem to the cross.
Does the Bible say the crowds waved palm branches?
John 12:13 says the crowd took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus. Matthew 21:8 says people cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road, along with their cloaks.
Why is it called Maundy Thursday?
Many explain the name from the Latin word for commandment, after Jesus' words at the Last Supper: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another" (John 13:34). The Gospels themselves do not use the name.
Was the Last Supper a Passover meal?
Matthew, Mark and Luke present it as a Passover meal, prepared on the day the Passover lamb was sacrificed (Luke 22:7–8). John's Gospel times the events slightly differently, and Christians and scholars have offered several explanations of how the accounts fit together.
How much was Judas paid to betray Jesus?
Matthew 26:15 says the chief priests set out thirty pieces of silver for Judas Iscariot.