Bible Trivia Question
What's the Answer?
What did James and John want to do to the unwelcoming Samaritan village?
Call down fire from heaven
Shake the dust of the village from their feet
Perform a miracle to convert them
Find this question in our The 12 Disciples of Jesus Bible Quiz
Click to reveal the answerThe answer is: Call down fire from heaven
Luke 9:54 - The vengeance belonged to God, it was not for them to attempt it and so Jesus rebukes them.
In Luke 9:54, we see a spirited reaction from James and John, often dubbed "the Sons of Thunder." Their request to rain down fire on an unwelcoming Samaritan village may seem harsh at first glance, but it echoes a deep-seated cultural tension. The Samaritans, who had a complicated history with the Jews, hadn’t welcomed Jesus—essentially shunning their Rabbi was a big deal!
In those days, such a forceful response would not have been surprising; the interpretation of divine retribution was common. Isn’t it intriguing that, even in biblically toned anger, these disciples missed the point of Jesus’ message of love and mercy? Instead of power and vengeance, Jesus showed them a much better way as they journeyed together. His gentle rebuke toward the fiery disciples is a nudge toward the truer nature of his mission: reconciliation, not condemnation.
Furthermore, there’s a fascinating parallel to explore! The concept of calling down fire isn’t foreign in biblical stories—think of tales like Elijah’s ascent, when he called fire from heaven against challenges to God’s authority. However, those moments reveal not just divine judgment but also the need for the prophets to pursue love, not In this light, Jesus’ teaching becomes particularly poignant. The ultimate goal isn’t retaliation but the transformation of hearts, encouraging even those stubborn souls in the at least outward context defined by conflict and altenradication. So, the next time you feel like calling down some “fire,” remember the lesson of the Gospel—kindness often transforms more than anger ever could.
Similar Bible Trivia Questions
James: According to James which part of the body is full of deadly poison?
Heart
Hand
Mind
As Jesus entered a village while going between Samaria and Galilee, how many lepers did he meet?
Eighteen
Four
Ten
What profession did Zebedee, father of James and John, have?
Physician
Carpenter
Tax-collector
What did James and John ask Jesus that displeased the other disciples?
To perform miracles by themselves
To teach in the temple with him
To lead his donkey into Jerusalem
What event did Peter, James and John witness in a mountain with Jesus?
Atonement
Ascension
Transfiguration
What did James and John's mother ask Jesus?
For her sons to receive Jesus' blessing
For her sons to sit on Jesus' right and left hands in the kingdom
For her sons to become great preachers in the land
Luke: After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to which village?
Derbe
Philippi
Lystra
What was the name of James and John's father?
Zecharias
Zebedee
Alphaeus
What first aid did the Samaritan give to the wounded man?
Cleaned his wounds with a cloth
Washed his wounded with water
Covered his wounds in balm