The Bible Story Finder

Teaching aids

Thought for the Day

The Bible Story Finder
Derek Gillard
April 1996

The Bible Story Finder is designed to help you find popular Bible stories quickly and easily.

The stories are listed below in the order in which they appear in the Bible. If you can't find the one you're looking for, look up the subject of the story in the Subject Index (further down this page).

Stories List

The Old Testament

In the beginning

1 The Creation. Genesis 1:1- 2:4
2 The Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:5-9,15-25
3 The Fall. Genesis 3:1-24
4 Cain and Abel. Genesis 4:1-16
5 Noah and the Ark. Genesis 6:9- 9:17
6 The Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:1-9

Abraham - The 'Great Father'

7 Abram's people move to Canaan. Genesis 12:1-9
8 Hagar's story. Genesis 16:1-16; 21:9-21
9 Abram's new name. Genesis 17:1-8
10 Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 18:16-19:29
11 Lot's Wife turns to Pillar of Salt. Genesis 19:26
12 Birth of Isaac. Genesis 21:1-7
13 Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. Genesis 22:1-19
14 Esau sells his birthright. Genesis 25:24-34
15 Jacob cheats Esau. Genesis 27:1-40
16 Jacob's ladder. Genesis 28:10-22

The story of Joseph

17 Joseph's dreams Genesis 37:1-11
18 Joseph thrown into the pit, slavery in Egypt, coat of many colours. Genesis 37:12-36
19 Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Genesis 39:1-23
20 In prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharoah's baker and butler. Genesis 40:1-23
21 Joseph interprets Pharoah's dreams. Genesis 41:1-36
22 Joseph rules Egypt. Genesis 41:37-49
23 Joseph's brothers come to Egypt. Genesis 42:1-17
24 Joseph's brothers return to Canaan. Genesis 42:18-38
25 Joseph's brothers return with Benjamin. Genesis 43:1-34
26 The missing goblet. Genesis 44:1-17
27 Judah pleads for Benjamin. Genesis 44:18-34
28 Joseph reveals his identity. Genesis 45:1-28
29 Jacob and his people come to Egypt. Genesis 46:1-7
30 Joseph dies. Genesis 50:22-26

The story of Moses

31 Israelites in Egypt - killing of male babies. Exodus 1:7-22
32 Moses hidden in bulrushes. Exodus 2:1-4
33 Moses found by Pharoah's daughter. Exodus 2:5-10
34 Moses kills an Egyptian. Exodus 2:11-12
35 Moses escapes into the desert. Exodus 2:13-15
36 The women at the well, the Amalekites, Jethro. Exodus 2:16-22
37 Pharaoh dies. Exodus 2:23
38 The burning bush. Exodus 3:1- 4:17
39 Moses returns to Joshua. He resolves to go to Pharaoh. Exodus 4:18
40 Pharaoh denies the slaves straw to make bricks. Exodus 5:1-21
41 Moses' staff turns to a serpent. Exodus 7:8-13

The plagues

42 The Nile turns to blood. Exodus 7:14-25
43 Frogs. Exodus 8:1-15
44 Maggots. Exodus 8:16-19
45 Flies. Exodus 8:20-24
46 Cattle disease. Exodus 9:1-7
47 Boils. Exodus 9:8-12
48 Hailstorms. Exodus 9:13-26
49 Locusts. Exodus 10:12-20
50 Darkness. Exodus 10:21-28
51 Death of the first-born. Exodus 11:4-10
52 The Passover. Exodus 12:1-30
53 Pharaoh tells Moses to go. Exodus 12:31-32
54 The Israelites prepare to leave Egypt. Exodus 12:33-42
55 Walking through the desert. Exodus 13:17-22
56 Pharaoh changes his mind. Exodus 14:5-6
57 The Egyptian army sets out. Exodus 15:7-18
58 The crossing of the Red Sea. Exodus 14:19-31
59 The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:1-17
60 The Golden Calf. Exodus 32:1-8
61 Moses confronts the Israelites. Exodus 32:19-35
62 Joshua is appointed Moses' successor. Deuteronomy 31:14-23
63 God shows Moses the promised land. Deuteronomy 34:1-4
64 Moses dies. Deuteronomy 34:5-12

The promised land

65 The Fall of Jericho. Joshua 2:1-6:25
66 Samson and Delilah. Judges 16:4-31
67 Naomi and Ruth. Ruth 1:1-22
68 Ruth and Boaz. Ruth 2:1-4:17
69 The call of Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:1-21
70 The Israelites ask Samuel for a King. 1 Samuel 8:1-22
71 Saul becomes the first King. 1 Samuel 10:1
72 Saul and David. 1 Samuel 16:14-23
73 David and Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:1-18:5
74 David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18:6-19:7
75 Solomon builds the first Temple. 1 Kings 6:1ff
76 The Ark of the Covenant. 1 Kings 7:51-8:1
77 Solomon and Sheba. 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
78 Rehoboam's unwise decision. 1 Kings 12:1-15

Elijah the prophet

79 Elijah and the widow. 1 Kings 17:1-24
80 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 18:17-40
81 Naboth's Vineyard, Ahab and Jezebel. 1 Kings 21:1-21, 22:29-38, 2 Kings 9:30-37
82 Elijah is taken up to heaven. 2 Kings 2:1-18

Elisha the prophet

83 Elisha and the oil. 2 Kings 4:1-7
84 The Shunamite Woman's Son. 2 Kings 4:8-37
85 Elisha cures Naaman. 2 Kings 5:1-27
86 'A time to be born...' Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

In exile

87 The Valley of Dry Bones. Ezekiel 37:1-14
88 The Jews in Babylon Daniel 1:1-21
89 The Fiery Furnace Daniel 3:1-30
90 Belshazzar's Feast Daniel 5:1-31
91 Daniel in the lions' den Daniel 6:1-24
92 Jonah and the whale Jonah 1:1-2:10

The New Testament

Preparations for Jesus' birth

93 Gabriel visits Zechariah: his wife Elizabeth is to bear a son. Luke 1:11-20
94 Gabriel visits Mary. Luke 1:26-38
95 Mary visits Elizabeth and tells her of Gabriel's message. Luke 1:39-45
96 The Magnificat. Luke 1:46-55
97 Elizabeth takes her baby to the synagogue. He is named John (the Baptist). Luke 1:57-66

The birth of Jesus

98 The Census: Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem. Jesus is born. Luke 2:1-7
99 The visit of the shepherds. Luke 2:8-20
100 The circumcision and naming of Jesus. Simeon. The Nunc Dimittis. Luke 2:21-32
101 King Herod and the Three Wise Men. Matthew 2:1-12
102 Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt. Matthew 2:13-15
103 Herod gives the order to kill all infants. Matthew 2:16
104 The slaughter of the innocents. Matthew 2:17-18
105 Herod's death is announced. Matthew 2:19
106 The Holy Family returns to Nazareth. Matthew 2:20-23
107 The Holy Family visits Jerusalem - Jesus is found in the Temple. Luke 2:41-52

John the Baptist

108 John the Baptist preaches by the river. Luke 3:7-17
109 Priests and Levites ask John who he is. John 1:19-28
110 John prophesies Jesus' coming. Mark 1:6-8
111 Herod puts John in prison. Mark 6:14-20
112 Herod's wife asks for the head of John. Mark 6:21-29

Jesus' ministry

113 Jesus is baptised by John. Mark 1:9-11
114 Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. Matthew 4:1-10
115 In the synagogue, Jesus reads from Isaiah and is rejected by the people. Luke 4:14-30
116 The call of Simon, Andrew, James and John. Mark 1:16-20
117 The call of Matthew, the tax-collector. Matthew 9:9
118 Jesus eats with sinners. Matthew 9:10-13
119 A prostitute washes Jesus' feet. Luke 7:36-50
120 The Sermon on the Mount. Luke 6:20-49
121 Jesus' summary of the Law. Mark 12:28-34
122 The Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-13
123 'Pay to Caesar...' Mark 12:13-17

Parables

124 The Labourers in the Vineyard. Matthew 20:1-16
125 The Talents. Matthew 25:14-30
126 The two sons in the vineyard. Matthew 21:28-32
127 The Unforgiving Servant. Matthew 18:23-35
128 The Poor Widow's Offering. Mark 12:41-44
129 The Sower. Luke 8:4-15
130 The Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37
131 The Lost Sheep. Luke 15:1-7
132 The Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32
133 The Dishonest Steward. Luke 16:1-13
134 The Rich Man and Lazarus. Luke 16:19-31
135 The Persistent Widow. Luke 18:1-8
136 The Pharisee and the Tax Gatherer. Luke 18:9-14
137 The Vineyard Owner's Son. Luke 20:9-16

Miracles

138 Wedding at Cana - water into wine. John 2:1-11
139 The feeding of the 4000. Matthew 14:13-21
140 Jesus walks on the water. Matthew 14:22-33
141 Jesus heals paralysed man, forgives his sins, and is accused of blasphemy. Mark 2:1-12
142 The feeding of the 5000. Mark 6:30-44
143 The healing of the boy possessed by devils. Mark 9:14-29
144 Blind Bartimaeus. Mark 10:46-52
145 Jesus teaches at Capernaum and casts out a devil. Luke 4:31-37
146 Jesus heals the centurion's servant. Luke 7:1-10
147 Jesus calms the storm. Luke 8:22-25
148 Jesus cures a madman. Luke 8:26-39
149 Jesus raises Jairus' daughter. Luke 8:40-42, 49-56
150 Jesus heals the blind man and the scribes and pharisees object. John 9:1-41
151 The raising of Lazarus. John 11:17-44
152 Jesus talks with Peter about his forthcoming suffering. Mark 9:30-32
153 Judas agrees to betray Jesus. Matthew 26:14-16

Holy week

154 Palm Sunday - the triumphal entry. Matthew 21:1-11
155 The cleansing of the Temple. Matthew 21:12-13
156 Jesus teaches in the Temple. Matthew 21:23-23:39

The trial and death of Jesus

157 The Last Supper. Mark 14:12-25
158 In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus is arrested. Mark 14:32-52
159 Jesus appears before the Council. Luke 22:66-71
160 Peter denies knowing Jesus. Matthew 26:69-75
161 Judas hangs himself. Matthew 27:3-5
162 The release of Barabbas. Pontius Pilate sends Jesus to be flogged. Mark 15:6-20
163 Simon carries the cross. Mark 15:21
164 The Crucifixion. Mark 15:22-36
165 Jesus dies. Mark 15:37-41
166 The body is removed. Matthew 27:55-61
167 The priests and pharisees ask the Romans to guard the tomb. Matthew 27:62-66
168 The women come to anoint the body but it has gone. Matthew 28:1-7
169 Mary says Jesus is alive. Mark 16:1-11
170 Jesus appears to the disciples. John 20:19-23
171 Doubting Thomas. John 20:24-29
172 The Ascension. Acts 1:1-14
173 A successor to Judas. Acts 1:15-29

The early church

174 The Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4
175 Common ownership - Ananias' death. Acts 5:1-12
176 Stephen - the first martyr. Acts 6:8-8:1
177 Paul's Damascus road conversion. Acts 9:1-19
178 The plot to kill Paul; his escape. Acts 9:20-30
179 Peter is told to preach to Gentiles - Cornelius the centurion. Acts 10:1-48
180 Peter escapes from prison. Acts 12:1-19
181 Paul's missionary journeys. Acts 13:1ff
182 Controversy about circumcision. Acts 15:1-20
183 Paul in Ephesus - shrines of Diana. Acts 19:23-41
184 Paul is arrested. Acts 21:27ff
185 Paul arrives in Rome. Acts 28:14-31

Paul's writings

186 If God is on our side... Romans 8:31
187 Christian behaviour. Romans 21:1ff
188 Gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
189 We are all parts of one body. 1 Corinthians 12:14-31
190 Love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
191 Life after death. 1 Corinthians 15:1-32
192 Justification by faith alone. Galatians 2:15ff
193 Circumcision. Galatians 6:11-16
194 Husbands, wives and children. Ephesians 5:21-6:4
195 Faith. Hebrews 11:1ff

Subject Index

Abel 4
Abram/Abraham
  - moves to Canaan 7
  - new name 9
  - Birth of Isaac 12
  - Sacrifice of Isaac 13
Adam and Eve 2, 3
Ahab and Elijah 81
Ananias 175
Andrew - call of 116
Ark
  - Noah's 5
  - Covenant 76
Ascension 172

Baal, prophets of 80
Babel, Tower of 6
Babylon 88
Baptist see John
Barabbas 162
Bartimaeus 144
Belshazzar's Feast 90
Benjamin 25, 26, 27
Blasphemy - Jesus accused of 141
Blind man cured by Jesus 150
Boaz 68
Body - we are all parts of one 189
Boy possessed by devils 143
Burning Bush 38

Caesar - pay to... 123
Cain 4
Calf, Golden 60
Calming of the storm 147
Cana - wedding - water into wine 138
Canaan 7, 24
Census 98
Centurion's servant healed 146
Children and parents 194
Christian behaviour 187
Circumcision
  - of John the Baptist 97
  - of Jesus 100
  - Paul's views 182, 193
Cleansing of the Temple 155
Commandments
  - Ten 59
  - Jesus' summary 121
Common ownership 175
Cornelius the Centurion 179
Covenant, Ark of 76
Creation 1
Crucifixion 164