Thematic Bible: Religious Intolerance


Thematic Bible



The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Verse ConceptsConfrontationHigh Priest, In NtSmitingSmiting Of The RighteousOther References To MouthsRivers

But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men from the market place, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; they attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people. Verse ConceptsEnvyIntoleranceJealousyMarketsUnbelieversEnvy, Example OfUnbelief, Examples OfDisorder Among PeopleBringing People Out Of Other PlacesIsrael HardenedMaking Israel Jealous

saying, "This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law." Verse ConceptsIntoleranceInciting To EvilHow Not To WorshipBreaking God's Law

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. Verse ConceptsDevout MenIntoleranceInciting To EvilUnbelief, As Response To GodPersecution, OriginPersecution Of The Apostle Paul

crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place; and besides he also brought Greeks into the temple, and he has defiled this holy place." For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. read more.
While they were trying to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Up to this word they listened to him, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live." And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, and, entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." read more.
They stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came on him and seized him, and brought him before the council. They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place, and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us." And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed together upon him with. Then they cast him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."



But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Verse ConceptsGospel, Responses ToPreaching, Effects OfInciting To EvilSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfUnbelief, As Response To GodIsrael Hardened

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they seized them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they conferred with one another, saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a noteworthy miracle has been performed through them is apparent to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any one in this name." read more.
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all the people were praising God for what had happened.

Now John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." Verse Conceptsdriving outIntoleranceMiracles, Nature OfPeople Casting Out DemonsIn The Name Of ChristNot With PeopleMan's Authority Over The DevilCasting Out DemonsgroupsDemonic Influence

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name and we forbade him, because he was not one of us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me.