18 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus; and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner, about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced against him.read more.
My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him. "When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in. But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him. But they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but--so Paul persistently maintained--is now alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters. But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar." "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak about yourself." So Paul, with outstretched arm, proceeded to make his defence.

For the King, to whom I speak freely, knows about these matters. I am not to be persuaded that any detail of them has escaped his notice; for these things have not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe them." Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."read more.
"My prayer to God, whether briefly or at length," replied Paul, "would be that not only you but all who are my hearers to-day, might become such as I am--except these chains." So the King rose, and the Governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them; and, having withdrawn, they talked to one another and said, "This man is doing nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment." And Agrippa said to Festus, "He might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar."

But hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod on the throne of Judaea, he was afraid to go there; and being instructed by God in a dream he withdrew into Galilee,

Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judaea in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east, inquiring, "Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the east, and have come here to do him homage." Reports of this soon reached the king, and greatly agitated not only him but all the people of Jerusalem.read more.
So he assembled all the High Priests and Scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born. "At Bethlehem in Judaea," they replied; "for so it stands written in the words of the Prophet, "'And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable art thou among princely places in Judah! For from thee shall come a prince--one who shall be the Shepherd of My People Israel.'" Thereupon Herod sent privately for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the star's appearing. He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and do him homage."

Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.

There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

About that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and he said to his courtiers, "This is John the Baptist: he has come back to life--and that is why these miraculous Powers are working in him." For Herod had arrested John, and had put him in chains, and imprisoned him, for the sake of Herodias his brother Philip's wife,read more.
because John had persistently said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And he would have liked to put him to death, but was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a Prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before all the company, and so pleased Herod that with an oath he promised to give her whatever she asked. So she, instigated by her mother, said, "Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist." The king was deeply vexed, yet because of his repeated oath and of the guests at his table he ordered it to be given her, and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

King Herod heard of all this (for the name of Jesus had become widely known) Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets." But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "The John, whom I beheaded, has come back to life."read more.
For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. For John had repeatedly told Herod, "You have no right to be living with your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not; for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening. At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee, at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, "Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you." He even swore to her, "Whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom." She at once went out and said to her mother: "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptizer," she replied. The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist." Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her. He at once sent a soldier of his guard with orders to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a dish and gave it to the young girl, who gave it to her mother.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor of Judaea, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene,

But Herod the Tetrarch, being repeatedly rebuked by him about Herodias his brother's wife, and about all the wicked deeds that he had done,

Now Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was going on; and he was bewildered because of its being said by some that John had come back to life, by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that some one of the ancient Prophets had come back to life. And Herod said, "John I have beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such reports?" And he sought for an opportunity of seeing Jesus.

And learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod, for he too was in Jerusalem at that time. To Herod the sight of Jesus was a great gratification, for, for a long time, he had been wanting to see Him, because he had heard so much about Him. He hoped also to see some miracle performed by Him. So he put a number of questions to Him, but Jesus gave him no reply.read more.
Meanwhile the High Priests and the Scribes were standing there and vehemently accusing Him. Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) And on that very day Herod and Pilate became friends again, for they had been for some time at enmity.

"They did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to Thy holy Servant Jesus whom Thou hadst anointed--Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel--

No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death.

Now, about that time, King Herod arrested certain members of the Church, in order to ill-treat them; and James, John's brother, he beheaded. Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.

And when Herod had had him searched for and could not find him, after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea and remained there. Now the people of Tyre and Sidon had incurred Herod's violent displeasure. So they sent a large deputation to wait on him; and having secured the good will of Blastus, his treasurer, they begged the king to be friendly with them again, because their country was dependent on his for its food supply. So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;read more.
and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!" Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the glory to God, and being eaten up by worms, he died.

It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;