Roman in the Bible

Meaning: strong; powerful

Exact Match

After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, [I saw] a fourth beast (the Roman Empire), terrible and extremely strong; and it had huge iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns (ten kings).

Verse ConceptsIronFractions, One FourthTen ThingsStrength Of AnimalsHorns In AllegoryTeethStampingIron ObjectsResidueDifferent ThingsFourthFear And AnimalsFour Beasts Of Daniel

For ships of Cyprus [in Roman hands] will come against him; therefore he will be discouraged and turn back [to Israel] and carry out his rage against the holy covenant and take action; so he will return and show favoritism toward those [Jews] who abandon (break) the holy covenant [with God].

Verse ConceptsAbandonmentSeafaringShipsShips For AttackingBreaking The CovenantAngry PeopleCovenant Made At Sinaiventing

After Jesus had entered Capernaum, a Captain in the Roman army came up to him, entreating his help.

Verse ConceptsRankArmies, Roman

"Therefore, when you see that disgusting thing which causes total destruction [i.e., the Roman armies. See Luke 21:20], which Daniel the prophet spoke about [Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11], standing in the sacred place [i.e., Jerusalem and especially the Temple area], (let the reader understand [what is meant by this]),

Verse ConceptsAbominationsReadingHoliness, As Set Apart For GodUnderstandingAbomination Of DesolationSacrilegeNamed Prophets Of The LordThis GenerationImage Of The BeastOlivet Discourseend times prophecymath

So, they chained Him, led Him away and turned Him over to Pilate, the [Roman] governor.

Verse ConceptsGovernorsHanding Over ChristTying Up

Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Roman Governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" asked the Governor. "It is true," answered Jesus.

Verse ConceptsClaimsJews, TheKingship, DivineStandingTreasonInterrogatingAssentingChrist Is King Of Israel

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.

Verse ConceptsSoldiersMustering TroopsRoyal HousesSoldiers Treatment Of Christ

The Roman Captain, and the men with him who were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, became greatly frightened and exclaimed: "This must indeed have been God's Son!"

Verse ConceptsearthquakesCenturionCrucifixion, Of ChristGuardsMan Keeping WatchWitnessing, Importance OfFear, Of UnknownArmies, RomanMessianic Titles, Son Of GodSaid To Be The ChristWitnessingJesus Deathcrucifixion

"But when you see that disgusting thing that causes total destruction [i.e., the Roman army. See Luke 21:20] standing where it ought not to be [i.e., surrounding the besieged city of Jerusalem], (let the reader understand [what is meant by this]), then those of you in Judea are to run away into the [nearby] mountains.

Verse ConceptsAbominationsReadingSafetyUnderstandingThe Prophecy Towards JerusalemEscaping To Mountains

As soon as it was morning the leading priests, along with the [Jewish] elders and experts in the law of Moses and the entire Council, held a conference. Then they tied Jesus up, led Him away and turned Him over to Pilate [the Roman governor].

Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they *called together the whole Roman cohort.

Verse ConceptsMustering TroopsRoyal HousesSoldiers Treatment Of Christ

The Roman Officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he expired, exclaimed: "This man must indeed have been 'God's Son'!"

Verse ConceptsCenturionWitnessing, Importance OfMessianic Titles, Son Of GodThe CrossJesus Death

Joseph, from Arimathea, a highly respected member of the [Jewish] Council, who was expecting the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate [i.e., the Roman appointed governor] and asked [him] for the body of Jesus.

Verse ConceptsBoldness, To PeopleKingdom Of God, Coming OfSanhedrinWaitingWaiting On GodBoldness Examples OfMessianic HopeJesus CorpseNot DiscouragedThose Who Wait For Godrisk

Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be registered [in a census].

Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTCaesarProclamationsRankTaxationProphecies Concerning ChristArmies, RomanRoman EmperorsThe King's Orderstaxes

A Captain in the Roman army had a slave whom he valued, and who was seriously ill--almost at the point of death.

Verse ConceptsdiseasesMastersEmployers, Good ExamplesNearness Of DeathDeath Looms NearPrecious

Now there were some there at that very time who told Jesus about some people from Galilee whose blood Pilate [the Roman governor] had mixed with their sacrifices [i.e., he had them murdered while they were offering their sacrifices].

Verse ConceptsBlood Of SacrificesAnti semitismDesecration

It will be too bad for pregnant women and those who are nursing [babies] in those days! For there will be great distress in this land [i.e., Judea, and especially Jerusalem], and raging anger [will be shown] against these people [i.e., by the Roman armies].

Verse ConceptsBreasts, Nursing MothersWombWoeHarming Pregnant WomenSigns Of The TimesMothersEnd Of DaysMotherhoodStaying Strong During Hard TimesHaving A BabyThe Rapturebabychildbearing

Then He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So, they went and saw where He was staying and they stayed with Him that day. It was about ten o'clock in the morning. [Note: Hour designations in this book are being calculated by Roman time, but this would have been

Verse ConceptsHourAdventureCalling, Of IndividualsComing To ChristChrist With People On EarthStaying Temporarily

After these things happened Jesus went across to the east side of Lake Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias. [Note: This lake also bore a name honoring the Roman Emperor Tiberias].

Verse ConceptsSeaCrossing To The Other SideRelationships And Datinglakes

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Verse ConceptsChief priestsSoldiersWeaponsSoldiers Treatment Of ChristThe Chief Priests Condemning Christ

So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,

Verse ConceptsArrestingRopesArresting ChristSoldiers Treatment Of ChristTying Up

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor's residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal.

Verse ConceptsPassover lambExclusivenessGovernorsHigh Priest, In NtPalacesReligionArmies, RomanRoyal Houses

[They said this] so that the words Jesus had spoken would be fulfilled, regarding the kind of death He would die. [Note: Jesus had predicted he would be "lifted up," indicating a Roman crucifixion. See 12:32-33].

Verse ConceptsForetelling Christ's DeathMan's Words Fulfilled

Now it was about six o'clock in the morning [Note: This was according to Roman time, but if Jewish time were meant, it would have been

Verse ConceptsPreparing Food

this title, therefore, read many of the Jews, because the place was nigh to the city where Jesus was crucified, and it was having been written in Hebrew, in Greek, in Roman.

Verse ConceptsLanguagesLiteracyAramaic LanguageReading Other Mattercrucifixion

So, when the [Roman] soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His clothing and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took His seamless coat [i.e., which was left over], woven from top [to bottom] in one piece,

Verse ConceptsClothBody Of Christ, Physical DeathCrucifixion, Of ChristDressInner GarmentsDividing PlunderGarmentscrucifixion

Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds.

Verse ConceptsDuring One NightWeights Of Other Thingsweight

Some of us are Parthians, some Medes, some Elamites; and some of us live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Roman Asia,

Verse ConceptsProvinces

indeed Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya which is beyond Cyrene, and Roman sojourners, both Jews and proselytes,

Verse ConceptsLanguages Mentioned In ScriptureProselytes

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob --- the God of our forefathers --- has highly honored His servant Jesus, whom you people turned over [to the Roman authorities] and denied [Him freedom] in the presence of [governor] Pilate, who had already decided to release Him.

Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus ChristJacob, The PatriarchMoses, Significance OfPeter, Preacher And TeacherRenunciationHanding Over ChristPeople Set Free By People

[Then, at the hands of the Roman authorities] you killed the Prince of [never ending] life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we [apostles] were [reliable] witnesses of it.

Verse ConceptsApostles, Function In Early Churchevangelism, nature ofLife, HumanPeter, Preacher And TeacherApostles, Duties OfChrist The BeginningContemporary Witness To ChristGod Raising ChristChrist Was KilledChrist's Life

After him, at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax, Judas the Galilean appeared and influenced people to desert and follow him, but he too perished and all his followers were scattered.

Verse ConceptsCensusHistoryPeople Following PeopleScattering Followers

But some members of the so-called 'Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.

Verse ConceptsAlexandria The CityConfrontationMissionaries, Support ForSynagogueGod, Impartiality OfFalse Teachers, Examples OfDisputes

About three o'clock one afternoon [Note: This is based on Jewish time calculations; if Roman time were employed, it would have been

Verse ConceptsAngel of the LordCommunicationecstasyVisions And Dreams In Scripture3 PmThose Who Saw Visions

AM if calculating by Roman time], to the top of the house to pray [Note: The roofs of houses were flat areas, often used for resting, meals, prayer, etc.].

Verse ConceptsLeatherArts And Crafts, Types ofOccupationsSeashores

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.

Verse ConceptsFamine, Examples OfCaesarRoman EmperorsPredicting The Future

He was with a very intelligent magistrate, [a Roman official named] Sergius Paulus. This man called for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the message of God.

Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofDerision

They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the Message in Roman Asia.

Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofInspiration Of The Holy Spirit, Purpose OfProvincesThe Holy Spirit In The ChurchLed By The SpiritMissionaries

and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.

Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofProvinces

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!"

Verse ConceptsApologizingempiresPersecution, Forms OfPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRoman CitizensBeating BelieversSpreading StoriesAvoiding SecrecyBringing People Out Of Other PlacesNo JusticeCitizenstrailsjail

So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid [when they] heard that they were Roman citizens.

Jason has welcomed them and [now] all of them [i.e., Paul, Silas, Jason and the others] are going against the [Roman] laws of Caesar by saying that someone else is [our] king; that Jesus is [king]!"

Verse ConceptsdefianceKingship, DivineTreasonFalse Accusations, Examples OfWelcoming BelieversDifferent Personacting

There he met a certain Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, [in northern Asia Minor] who, with his wife Priscilla, had recently come from Rome, because Claudius [the Roman Emperor] had ordered all Jews out of that city. Paul met this couple

Verse Conceptsevangelism, motivation forempiresCaesarCommands, in NTPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRefugeesGood Wives ExamplesAquilaRoman EmperorsGroups Sent Away

Then, all of them [Note: This "all" could refer to the Greeks, the Jews or the Roman officers. Since the text does not specify, it seems most reasonable to suggest it was the Romans] grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court of justice. But Gallio showed no interest in the whole affair.

Verse ConceptsFloggingBeating Believers

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland districts of Roman Asia, and went to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, of whom he asked:

Verse ConceptsFindingRoadsflexibility

This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Roman Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the Lord's Message.

Verse ConceptsLordship, Human And DivineWordsProvincesTwo YearsThe Gospel To Jew And Gentilespace

But he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself remained for a while in Roman Asia.

Verse ConceptsStaying PutServing PeoplePeople Sending People

And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all.

Verse ConceptsFalse ReligionPolytheism

So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendor--though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her."

Verse ConceptsCovetousness, Example OfAll NationsWorshipping Material ThingsDeposing

If Demetrius therefore, and the artificers that are with him, have a charge against any one, the law-courts are open, and there are Roman proconsuls likewise: let them implead one another.

Verse ConceptsProconsulCourt SessionsPeople Accusing People

He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus of Roman Asia.

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so as to avoid spending much time in Roman Asia. He was making haste to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the Festival at the close of the Harvest.

Verse ConceptseagernessPentecostHasty ActionFeast Of Weeks [Pentecost]sailing

And, when they came, he spoke to them as follows: "You know well the life that I always led among you from the very first day that I set foot in Roman Asia,

Verse ConceptsSelf ConfidenceMannersFirst Among The GentilesPeople With General Knowledge

But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, the Jews from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting:

Verse ConceptsInciting To EvilSeven DaysDisciples In The TempleSeven Days For Legal Purposes

Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval.

Verse ConceptsConfusion, Examples OfArmies, RomanAttempting To Kill Specific PeopleChiliarchs

And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am a Roman born.

Verse ConceptsCivil LibertyExpensiveCitizensReligious Freedomserenity

Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Verse ConceptsChainsTying UpCitizens

having been informed he was a Roman, I had him brought before their Sanhedrim, to hear what crime they laid to his charge.

For we have found this man [to be] a public menace and one who causes riots among all the Jews throughout the Roman Empire and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

Verse ConceptsHeresiesPersecution, Forms OfSectsFalse Accusations, Examples OfDissension

There were, however, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me--

Verse ConceptsPeople Accusing People

To whom I gave answer that it is not the Roman way to give a man up, till he has been face to face with those who are attacking him, and has had a chance to give an answer to the statements made against him.

Verse ConceptsCustomContact With PeopleMan Defending

We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.

Verse ConceptsShipsThe NavySea Travel

There the Roman Officer found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her.

Verse ConceptsAlexandria The CityShipsSea Travel

The Roman Officer, however, was more influenced by the captain and the owner than by what was said by Paul.

Verse ConceptsAdvice, Rejecting Good Adviceadvisers

When Paul said to the Roman Officer and his men: "Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved."

Verse ConceptsStaying PutThose Not SavedBeing Savedsailingjumping

But the Roman Officer, anxious to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should be the first to jump into the sea and try to reach the shore;

Verse ConceptsRankSwimmingPeople JumpingRestraints From Killing

Or, do you not know, brothers, (I am talking to people who know how law works) that the law has authority over a person only as long as he lives? [Note: It is not clear whether this refers to Roman law or the law of Moses].

Verse ConceptsChristians, Names OfSinUnder The LawWhilst Alive

Give my greeting, also, to the Church that meets at their house, as well as to my dear friend Epaenetus, one of the first in Roman Asia to believe in Christ;

Verse ConceptsChristiansChurchHousesProperty, HousesChurch, Description OfConverts To ChristianityPeople ConvertedFirst Among The GentilesGoing To Church

But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia, for I am planning to go through Macedonia [Note: This was the Roman province of northern Greece].

Verse ConceptsPeople Visiting

The Churches in Roman Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca and the Church that meets at their house send you many Christian greetings.

Verse ConceptsAssemblyChurchHospitality, Examples OfHousesProperty, HousesWomenChurch, Examples Of

We want you, Brothers, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.

Verse ConceptsAgony, DescriptionEnjoyment, Lack OfHope, Results Of Its AbsenceDepression, CausesProvincesHeavy BurdensLife DespisedAfflictionsAnxiety And StressDespairHardshipBeing Overwhelmedignoranceexperiencepressureoverwhelmed

Three times I have been beaten with Roman rods, once I have been stoned, three times I have been shipwrecked, once for full four and twenty hours I was floating on the open sea.

Verse ConceptsPersecution, Forms OfSeafaringStoningShipwrecksOne DayBeating BelieversActing Three TimesIn The Heart Of The Sea

came to you. This Gospel is [now] also producing fruit all over the world [i.e., throughout the Roman Empire] and growing [in its influence], just as it is doing among you people also, since the day you [first] heard and understood God's unearned favor in [all its] truth.

Verse ConceptsGrowthResponseMissionary WorkGrowth In ProclamationBeginning Of SalvationFruitful LabourThe Truth Of The GospelThe Gospel WorldwideThe Grace Of GodUnderstanding God's WordGod's GraceGrowingSpreading The GospelChange And Growth

At my first defense [Note: Paul here refers to his initial hearing before the Roman court] no one supported me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.

Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessBeing ForsakenDesertionLonelinessForsaking All OthersSelf DefenceReckoningPeople Abandoning PeopleMan DefendingSupport

Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ: To God's own people scattered over the earth, who are living as foreigners in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia,

Verse ConceptsChristiansdispersion, theLettersPeter, The ApostlePeter, Preacher And TeacherPilgrimsThe Church ScatteredReckoned As ForeignersAlienspeterimpulsiveness

From John, to the seven Churches which are in Roman Asia. Blessing and peace be yours from him who is, and who was, and who shall be, and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne,

Verse ConceptsSevenSpiritsNames And Titles For The Holy SpiritProvincesThe Existence Of GodSeven PeopleSeven SpiritsGod In Three PersonsGrace Be To YouThe Fact Of His ComingGoing To Church

Thematic Bible



Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are You the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him.

Jesus answered, “You have said it.”

When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge’s bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in.


In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,


Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said. They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don't show partiality. Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" read more.
But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the tax." So they brought Him a denarius. "Whose image and inscription is this?" He asked them. "Caesar's," they said to Him. Then He said to them, "Therefore, give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.

Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Him to trap Him by what He said. When they came, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don't show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, or should we not pay?" But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, "Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at." read more.
So they brought one. "Whose image and inscription is this?" He asked them. "Caesar's," they said. Then Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.


After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered.

At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!”


Show Me the coin used for the tax." So they brought Him a denarius. "Whose image and inscription is this?" He asked them.


So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.


They began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King.”


This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.


In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.


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