Thematic Bible: Religious Intolerance


Thematic Bible



The high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.

But the Jews which believed not, having indignation, took unto them evil men which were vagabonds, and gathered a company, and set all the city on a roar, and made assault unto the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

saying, "This fellow counceleth men to worship God contrary to the law."

But the Jews moved the worshipful and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas: and expelled them out of their coasts.

"Men of Israel, help. This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover also he hath brought Greeks into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place." For they saw one Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him in the city: Him they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. And all the city was moved, and the people swarmed together. And they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple, and forthwith the doors were shut to. read more.
As they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the high captain of the soldiers, that all Jerusalem was moved.

They gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: it is pity that he should live." And as they cried and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,


Saul had pleasure in his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Jewry and Samaria, except the apostles. Then devout men dressed Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul made havoc of the congregation, entering into every house: and drew out both man and woman, and thrust them into prison.

Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen. And they could not resist the wisdom, and the spirit, with which he spake. Then sent they in men which said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God," read more.
and they moved the people, and the elders, and the scribes: and they came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council, and brought forth false witnesses which said, "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, for we heard him say, 'This Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the ordinances which Moses gave unto us.'" And all that sat in the council looked steadfastly on him, and saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and all ran upon him at once, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling on and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."



Thou shalt offer unto the LORD thy God no ox or sheep wherein is any deformity, whatsoever evil favouredness it be: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. If there be found among you, in any of thy cities which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy so that they have gone and served strange gods and worshipped them, whether it be the sun or moon or anything contained in heaven which I forbade, read more.
and it was told thee and thou hast heard of it: Then thou shalt enquire diligently. And if it be true and the thing of a surety that such abomination is wrought in Israel, then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates and shalt stone them with stones and they shall die. At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death, die: but at the mouth of one witness he shall not die. And the hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to kill him, and afterward the hands of all the people: so shalt thou put wickedness away from thee.


When the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came there and moved the people:

As they spake unto the people, the priests and the ruler of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, taking it grievously that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from death. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold until the next day. For it was now eventide.

but they commanded them to go aside out of the council; And counseled among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? For a manifest sign is done by them, and is openly known to all them that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it: But that it be noised no farther among the people, let us threaten and charge them that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." read more.
And they called them, and commanded them that in no wise they should speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered unto them and said, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard." So threatened they them and let them go; And found nothing how to punish them, because of the people: For all men lauded God for the miracle which was done.


And John answered and said, "Master we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us."

And whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." John answered him, saying, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, which followeth not us and we forbade him, because he followeth us not." But Jesus said, "Forbid him not. For there is no man that shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.


And they made a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers, with all their hearts and all their souls: so that all that sought not the LORD God of Israel, should die for it, whether he were small or great, man or woman.


After that, Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little: but Jehu shall serve him a good. Now, therefore, call unto me all the Prophets of Baal and all his servants and all his priests that none be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal: and if any be missed, he shall not live." But Jehu did it for a subtlety, to destroy the servants of Baal. Wherefore Jehu said, "Appoint a solemn feast for Baal." And they proclaimed it. read more.
Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel. And all the servants of Baal came, that there was not a man left behind that came not. And when they were come into the temple of Baal, the temple was full from one end to another. Then he said to the keeper of the vestry, bring forth garments for the servants of Baal. And he brought them out garments. And Jehu went with Jehonadab son of Rechab into the house of Baal: and said to the servants of Baal, "Search and look that there be none here with you of the servants of the LORD, but the servants of Baal only." And they went in, to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. But Jehu appointed him four score men without, and said, "If any of the men that I shall bring unto your hands escape, he that letteth him go shall die for him." And as soon as he had made an end of offering of burnt sacrifice, he said to them of the guard and to the lords, "Go in and slay them, let none come out." And they smote them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the lords cast them out, and went unto the city of the house of Baal, and fetched out the image out of the house of Baal and burnt it. And they brake the image of Baal, and brake the house of Baal, and made a privy house thereof, unto this day. And so Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, Jehu departed not. Then the LORD said to Jehu, "Because thou hast lustily done that pleaseth me, and hast done to the house of Ahab all that was in mine heart, therefore shall thy children in the fourth generation sit on the seat of Israel." But Jehu cared not to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel sin.


And Moses went out and told the people the saying of the LORD, and gathered the seventy elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And the LORD came down in a cloud and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders. And as the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and did nought else. But there remained two of the men in the host: the one called Eldad, and the other Medad. And the spirit rested upon them for they were of them that were written, but they went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the host. read more.
And there ran a young man and told Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the host." And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of Moses which he had chosen out, answered and said, "Master Moses, forbid them."


Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.