Thematic Bible: Indictments


Thematic Bible



"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this Temple, which was constructed by hand, and in three days I will build another one, not made by hand.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple

The Jews replied, "We have a law which requires that he ought to die because he claimed to be the Son of God." Verse ConceptsDeath penaltyClaimsNecessitySonsDeath As PunishmentCalled Himself The ChristEffect Of The LawChild Of God

But Jesus did not say anything. So, the head priest said to Him, "I command you [to swear] by the living God, [and] to tell us if you are the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one], the Son of God!" Jesus replied to him, "You have said so; nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right side of Power [i.e., God Himself], and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the head priest tore at his clothing [i.e., as an expression of frustration], saying, "He has spoken against God [i.e., by claiming Deity for Himself]. What additional need do we have for witnesses? Look, you [yourselves] have now heard him speaking against God.

and said, "This man [i.e., Jesus] said, 'I can destroy the Temple of God, and [then] rebuild it within three days.'" Verse ConceptsAbolitionThe Perfect TempleDestruction Of The TempleRebuilding The Temple

But Jesus kept quiet and did not give them any answer. Again the head priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one]?" And Jesus answered, "Yes, I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right side of Power [i.e., God, Himself], and coming on the clouds of the sky." And the head priest tore at his clothing [i.e., as an expression of frustration] and said, "What additional need do we have for witnesses? read more.
You [yourselves] have heard him speaking against God. What do you people think [i.e., about such statements]?" And they all condemned Him as deserving the death penalty.

"Tell us if you are the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one]." But He replied, "You would not believe me if I [did] tell you [who I am]. And if I asked you [who I am] you would not answer. But from now on the Son of man will be seated at the right side of the powerful God." read more.
So, they all asked [Him], "Then are you the Son of God?" And He answered them, "You [are right to] say that I am [the Christ]." And they replied, "Why do we need any more evidence? For we have heard [enough] from his own mouth, ourselves."

The Jewish authorities answered Pilate, "If this man were not guilty of wrongdoing, we would not have turned him over to you." Verse ConceptsIndignities Suffered By ChristFalse Accusations, Examples OfHanding Over Christ

After [hearing] this, Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews shouted out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's. Everyone who claims to be a king [i.e., as they had accused Jesus of doing. See 18:37] is in opposition to Caesar." Verse ConceptsCaesarClaimsPeople OpposedFriends FailingPeople Set Free By PeoplePeople Releasing Others

Now Jesus stood in front of the governor [i.e., Pilate], who asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "You have said so." Verse ConceptsClaimsJews, TheKingship, DivineStandingTreasonInterrogatingAssentingChrist Is King Of Israel

So, Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus. He said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Verse ConceptsJews, TheRoyal HousesChrist Is King Of Israel

They attached over His head [i.e., to the upright portion of the cross] the charge made against Him, which read, "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews." Verse ConceptsCrucifixion, Of ChristJews, TheNames And Titles For ChristMessianic Titles, King Of The JewsChrist Is King Of Israelaccusationscrucifixion

Pilate asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "You have said so." Verse ConceptsClaimsJews, TheKingship, DivineInterrogatingAssentingWho Is Jesus?Christ Is King Of IsraelJews

The inscription, stating the charge against Him, was attached above His head [i.e., to the upright portion of the cross]. It read, "The king of the Jews." Verse ConceptsJews, TheAccusations, Against ChristMessianic Titles, King Of The JewsInscriptionsChrist Is King Of Israel

They began bringing accusations against Him, saying, "We discovered this man misleading the people of our nation and telling them not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he himself was the Messiah, a king!" So, Pilate asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" And Jesus answered him, "You have said so."


Then Pilate had an inscription written and placed on the cross [i.e., on the upright portion, above His head]. It read, "Jesus from Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this notice, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city [of Jerusalem]. It was written in the Hebrew, Latin and Greek languages. But the Jewish leading priests said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but 'He said, I am the King of the Jews.'" read more.
Pilate replied, "What I have written I have written." [i.e., "I am not going to change it."]

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

We have found this man [i.e., Paul] to be extremely bothersome, and an instigator of strife among the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Verse ConceptsHeresiesPersecution, Forms OfSectsFalse Accusations, Examples OfDissension

and said [about him], "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law [of Moses]." Verse ConceptsIntoleranceInciting To EvilHow Not To WorshipBreaking God's Law

When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge of wrongdoing as I had expected [they would]. All they had was a controversy with him over their own religion and about someone named Jesus, who had died [but] whom Paul alleges is [now] alive.

But I do not have anything specific to write to His Majesty. This is the reason I have brought him before this assembly, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after you have questioned him, I would [then] have something [substantial] to write. For it does not seem reasonable for me to send a prisoner [to Rome] without indicating what the [formal] charges are against him."








When Paul was about to respond [to this charge], Gallio said to the Jews, "[My] Jewish [constituents], if it were a simple case of wrongdoing or some serious crime, there would be good reason for me to consider your charge [against this man]. But if it is only a dispute over words, titles and your [religious] law, tend to it yourselves; I refuse to pass judgment on such [trivial] matters." And he had them thrown out of the courtroom.

And when they brought them before the city officials, they made this charge [against them]: "These Jewish men are causing too much trouble in our city, and they are teaching people to observe customs which we Romans are not permitted to accept or practice."

Then they enlisted men to say [i.e., to testify falsely against Stephen, verse 13], "We heard him criticizing Moses and [even] God." Verse ConceptsFalse Accusations, Examples OfBlasphemy, Falsely AccusedIrreverenceLiesPersecution, Forms OfSecrecyHoly Spirit, Types OfActing In SecretBlasphemy

They had arranged for the false witnesses to say, "This man will not stop speaking against the Temple and the law of Moses, Verse ConceptsCrimesHoliness, As Set Apart For GodJudaism