'Rather' in the Bible

Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!"

It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means."

Felix was rather well informed about the Way, and so he adjourned the trial with the comment, "When Tribune Lysias arrives, I'll decide your case."

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,

Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said.