Thematic Bible: The Roman empire


Thematic Bible





Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, read more.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.






Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. read more.
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Verse ConceptsArrestingempiresGuardsHousesIsolated Persons

Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofChainsIron ChainsInterrogatingWho Is This?What Do You Do?Two Other Things

The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; Verse ConceptsChainsIntimacyFriendship, Examples OfIron ChainsBe Merciful!People Refreshedempathy

On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. Verse ConceptsLeisure, And PastimesSleep, PhysicalGod Is ImmanentIron ChainsDuring One NightTwo Other ThingsTwo Other MenSleeping Peacefullytrailsjail

and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. Verse ConceptsTen ThingsHorns In AllegoryEyes In ProphecyThree Other Things

"In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. "As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.

As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. Verse ConceptsThree MenTen PeopleTen ThingsHorns In AllegoryDifferent PersonDeposing

but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Verse ConceptsLicentiousnessCastawaysBodyAsceticism, TypesLustMortificationSelf DisciplineConduct, ProperDietsMinisters, Should BeBeating OneselfMaking SlavesslaveryRacetrainingmyself


If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Verse ConceptsFightingBitingMortalityPaul, Life OfPresent, ThePunishment, Legal Aspects OfCynicismMerrinessBeastsHow Death Is InevitableMen Similar To AnimalsImminent TomorrowMammalsAre The Dead Raised?Eating And Drinking

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. Verse ConceptsPaul, Apostle To GentilesApostles, Function In Early ChurchProcessionsAfflicted To DeathSpectacleAngels Interacting With PeopleThe End Of The WorldPutting God FirstThe Worldhumanityfatepartnershipacting


But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life And who is adequate for these things?

So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” Verse ConceptsLimitednessDeath Penalty For KillingFulfilling The Lawautonomy

But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” Verse ConceptsCustomChrist Is King Of IsraelPeople Releasing Others

So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Verse ConceptsHuman Authority, Nature OfCourage, Examples OfChrist Being SilentAuthority Delegated To PeoplePeople Releasing Others

All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. Verse ConceptsCaesarRoman Emperors

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Verse ConceptsGod Be With YouGod's Grace

in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. Verse ConceptsHigh Priest, In NtRankSin, Accepting Forgiveness OfLiving In The Wilderness

When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, Verse ConceptsProvinces

Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. Verse ConceptsAntichristIrreverenceSuperiorityAntichrist, Names ForHorns In AllegoryPlucking OutEyes In ProphecyHorns BrokenThree Other ThingsLike MenSpeaking With The Mouth

and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. read more.
"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. Verse ConceptsClothBody Of Christ, Physical DeathCrucifixion, Of ChristDressInner GarmentsDividing PlunderGarmentscrucifixion


And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. Verse ConceptsAgreement, Example OfInvestigating

They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter having this form: "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. read more.
"When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium. Verse ConceptsGuardsPalacesPunishment, Legal Aspects Of

"I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. "So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. "When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, read more.
but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. Verse ConceptsConfusion, Examples OfArmies, RomanAttempting To Kill Specific PeopleChiliarchs

its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Verse ConceptsFeetLegsIron Objects

Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. Verse ConceptsCrushingFractions, One FourthThings Like IronFourthOvercoming Obstaclesautonomytoughnesscrushes

“Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, Verse ConceptsBronzeBeastsBrassFractions, One FourthTeethStampingGrinding PeopleCosmic CreaturesMeaningIron ObjectsResidueDifferent ThingsFourthFear And AnimalsFour Beasts Of Daniel

After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. Verse ConceptsIronFractions, One FourthTen ThingsStrength Of AnimalsHorns In AllegoryTeethStampingIron ObjectsResidueDifferent ThingsFourthFear And AnimalsFour Beasts Of Daniel

the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. Verse ConceptsScourgingInterrogatingChiliarchsWhy Do Others Do This?serenity

Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains. Verse ConceptsChainsTying UpCitizens

But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But 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

But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” Verse ConceptsempiresRevenge, And RetaliationRoman CitizensScourgingBreaking Man's LawNo CondemnationTying UpCitizens

Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Verse ConceptsempiresNecessityRomeVisitingLed By The Spirit

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, Verse Conceptsevangelism, motivation forempiresCaesarCommands, in NTPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRefugeesGood Wives ExamplesAquilaRoman EmperorsGroups Sent Away

Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, Verse ConceptsMilitaryArmies, RomanVolunteering

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. Verse ConceptsCenturionRoman Emperorssailing

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; Verse ConceptsGood FriendsFellowship, In Christian ServiceAliancesFellow WorkersMessengerMissionaries, Support ForSoldiersVisitingFriendship, Examples Ofministering

Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.

and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble."

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.



Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. Verse ConceptsAthletesCrowns, Spiritual UseLeisure, And PastimesPrizesKeeping Man's WordSportsCompetitionRacefootballstrivingcrownscheatersgames


"If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar." Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go."

But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."


“Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. Verse ConceptsFractions, One FourthGrinding PeopleDifferent ThingsFourthThe Kingdom Of OthersTrampling PlacesBeing Different

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Verse ConceptsCrucifixion, Of ChristSarcasmMessianic Titles, King Of The JewsInscriptionsChrist Is King Of IsraelThe Cross

And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Verse ConceptsPeople Releasing Others

The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” Verse ConceptsCivil LibertyExpensiveCitizensReligious Freedomserenity

The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” Verse ConceptsCivil LibertyExpensiveCitizensReligious Freedomserenity

One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. Verse ConceptsFamine, Examples OfCaesarRoman EmperorsPredicting The Future

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTCaesarProclamationsRankTaxationProphecies Concerning ChristArmies, RomanRoman EmperorsThe King's Orderstaxes

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, Verse ConceptsCaesarGovernorsLeaders, PoliticalRankTetrarchRoman EmperorsRulers Of A FourthNamed Gentile Rulers

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTCaesarProclamationsRankTaxationProphecies Concerning ChristArmies, RomanRoman EmperorsThe King's Orderstaxes

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org