Thematic Bible: Rulers'


Thematic Bible











especially those who satisfy their lower nature by indulging in its evil passions which defile them, and who despise authority. Daring, headstrong men! They do not tremble when they abuse persons of majesty, whereas angels who are far superior in strength and power to these beings bring no abusive accusation against them before the Lord.











In just the same way these dreamers defile the body, discard authority, and deride the majesties. Verse ConceptsDefilement, Objects OfCivic DutiesHonouring RulersAnarchyMisleading DreamsRespecting Authority





Paul answered, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest, for the Scripture says, 'You must not speak evil against any ruler of your people.'" Verse ConceptsApologizingethics, socialCivic DutiesHonouring RulersResistanceSelf DefenceMagistratesIs It Really?Attitudes Towards Kings






"I count myself fortunate, King Agrippa," said he, "that it is before you that I can defend myself today against all the charges which the Jews have preferred against me, Verse ConceptsRejoicing In ProsperityMan DefendingChanging Yourself














In just the same way these dreamers defile the body, discard authority, and deride the majesties. Verse ConceptsDefilement, Objects OfCivic DutiesHonouring RulersAnarchyMisleading DreamsRespecting Authority



so that anyone who resists the authorities sets himself against what God has established, and those who set themselves against Him will get the penalty due them. Verse ConceptsdefianceRebellion, Against Human AuthorityCivil GovernmentAnarchyRebellion against GodRespecting Authority



































Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Yes." And while the charges were being made against Him by the high priests and elders, He made no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do you not hear how strong is the evidence they are bringing against you?" read more.
But He did not answer him a single word, so that the governor was dumbfounded beyond expression. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to set any prisoner free whom the people wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when they met for this purpose, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to set free, Barabbas, or Jesus, the so-called Christ?" For he knew that they had turned Him over to the court out of envy. Now while he was on the bench, his wife sent him this word, "Do not have anything to do with that righteous man, for I have this morning suffered excruciating pain in a dream caused by Him." But the high priests and the elders lined up the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus put to death. Still the governor answered, "Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate asked them, "What then shall I do with Jesus. the so-called Christ?" They all answered, "Have Him crucified!" He asked, "Why, what has He done that is wrong?" But they kept on shouting louder and louder, "Have Him crucified!" So Pilate, since he saw that he was making no headway with them, but that a riot was about to break out instead, took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, and said, "I am not responsible for this man's death; you must see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he set Barabbas free for them, but had Jesus flogged and turned over to be crucified.





Just at that time some Pharisees came up and said to Him, "Get out at once! Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you!" But He said to them: "Go and tell that fox, 'Here I am, driving out demons and performing cures, today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish these tasks.

When Pilate heard this, He asked if the man were a Galilean. So when he learned with certainty that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, He sent Him up to Herod, for he was in Jerusalem at that time. Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, for he had been wanting to see Him for a long time on account of what he had heard about Him; also he was hoping to see some spectacular performance done by Him. read more.
So he continued to question Him for a long time, but Jesus gave him no answer at all. Meanwhile, the high priests and the scribes stood by and continued vehemently to accuse Him. Then Herod and his bodyguard treated Him with contempt and made sport of Him and put a gorgeous robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. So Herod and Pilate became personal friends that very day; they had been at enmity before. Then Pilate called a meeting of the high priests, the leaders of the council, and the people, and said to them, "You brought this man to me on a charge of turning the people from allegiance, and here in your presence I have examined Him and do not find Him guilty of the charges you make against Him. No; nor does Herod, for he has sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing to deserve the death penalty.







































About that time Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, in order to do them violence. He had James the brother of John murdered with a sword, and when he saw that this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too -- it was at the time of the feast of Unleavened Bread. read more.
He had him seized and put into prison, and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning after the Passover to bring him out again to the people. So Peter was being kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was persistently made by the church. Now just as Herod was going to bring him out, that is, the very night before, Peter was fastened with two chains and was sleeping between two soldiers, and the guards were at the door guarding the prison. And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in his cell, and by striking Peter on the side the angel woke him, and said, "Get up quickly!" At once the chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, "Tighten your belt and put on your shoes? He did so. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your coat and follow me!" So he kept following him out, but he was not conscious that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was dreaming it. They passed the first guard, then the second, and at last came to the iron gate which led into the city. The gate of itself opened to them, and they passed out and proceeded one block when all at once the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I really know that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting to do to me." When he became conscious of his situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, were a large number of people had met and were praying. When he knocked at the outer door, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it, and on recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she failed to open the door but ran and told them that Peter was standing at the door. They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she persistently insisted that it was so. Then they said, "It is his guardian angel!" But Peter, meanwhile, kept on knocking. So they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were astounded. With his hand he motioned to them to be quiet, and then he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He added, "Tell all these things to James and the brothers." Then he left them and went somewhere else. When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. Herod had search made for him, and when he could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he left Judea for Caesarea, and stayed there.


At that time Herod the governor heard the reports about Jesus, and said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why the powers are at work through him." For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him out of the way by putting him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, read more.
for John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife." Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the guests. Herod was fascinated by her, and so passionately promised to give her anything she might ask for. And she, prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head right here on a platter." And the king was sorry, but on account of his oath and his guests, he ordered it to be given her. And he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother.

Then Herod, because he saw that a trick had been played on him by the stargazers, was very angry, and sent and slaughtered all the boy babies in Bethlehem and in all that neighborhood, from two years down, in accordance with the time which he had found out from the stargazers. Then the saying was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A sob was heard in Ramah, weeping and great wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they were gone."



























Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualAttempts To Kill ChristSeeking For Abstract ThingsThe Chief Priests Condemning Christaccusations


At this the high priest Ananias ordered the people standing near him to strike him on the mouth. Verse ConceptsConfrontationHigh Priest, In NtSmitingSmiting Of The RighteousOther References To MouthsRivers