18 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

Some time after, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea on a state visit to Festus, and as they stayed there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "who was left in prison by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem the Jewish high priests and elders presented their case against him, and asked for his conviction.read more.
I told them that it was not the Roman custom to give anybody up until the accused met his accusers face to face and had a chance to defend himself against their accusations. So they came back here with me and the next day without losing any time I took my place in the judge's chair and ordered the man brought in. But when his accusers got up, they did not charge him with any such crimes as I had expected. Their differences with him were about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul said was alive. I was at a loss as to how to investigate such matters, and I asked him if he would like to go to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges there. But Paul appealed to have his case reserved for his Majesty's decision, and I have ordered him kept in custody until I can send him to the emperor." "I should like to hear the man myself," Agrippa said to Festus. "You shall hear him tomorrow," Festus answered. So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and went into the audience-room attended by officers and the leading citizens of the town, and at the command of Festus Paul was brought in. Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present, you see here the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me both at Jerusalem and here, clamoring that he ought not to live any longer. I could not find that he had done anything for which he deserved death, but as he appealed to his Majesty I decided to send him to him. Yet I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. So I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order to get from your examination of him something to put in writing.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are at liberty to speak in your own defense." So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense.

The king knows about this, and I can speak to him with freedom. I do not believe that he missed any of this, for it did not happen in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!" "You are in a hurry to persuade me and make a Christian of me!" Agrippa said to Paul.read more.
"In a hurry or not," said Paul, "I would to God that not only you, but all who hear me today, might be what I am??xcept for these chains!" Then the king rose, with the governor and Bernice and those who had sat with them, and after leaving the room, in talking the matter over together, they said, "This man has not done anything to deserve death or imprisonment." "He might have been set at liberty," said Agrippa to Festus, "if he had not appealed to the emperor."

But hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to return there; and being warned in a dream, he took refuge in the region of Galilee,

Now after the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the days of King Herod, astrologers from the east arrived at Jerusalem, and asked, "Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star rise and we have come to do homage to him." When King Herod heard of this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.read more.
So he called together all the high priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, "At Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: " 'And you, Bethlehem in Judah's land, You are by no means least important among the leading places of Judah, For from you will come a leader Who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' " Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers, and found out from them the exact time when the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said to them, "Go and inquire particularly about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I may go and do homage to him too."

Then Herod saw that he had been tricked by the astrologers, and he was very angry, and he sent and made away with all the boys in Bethlehem and in all that neighborhood who were two years old or under, for that was the tune he had learned from the astrologers by his inquiries.

In the days when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

At that time, Herod the governor heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This man must be John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why wonderful powers are working through him." For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,read more.
for John said to him, "It is not right for you to be living with her." And while he wanted him killed, he was afraid of the people; for they considered him a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the company. And Herod was delighted with her, and swore that he would give her anything she asked for. But she, at her mother's instigation, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter!" And the king was sorry, but because he had sworn to do it, and because of the guests who were present, he ordered it to be given to her. And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

King Herod heard of him, for his name was now well known, and people were saying that John the baptizer had risen from the dead, and that that was why he was endowed with these extraordinary powers. But others said he was Elijah, and still others that he was a prophet of the old prophetic kind. But when Herod heard of him he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead."read more.
For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. John said to Herod, "It is not right for you to be living with your brother's wife." Herodias felt bitterly toward him and wanted him killed. But she could not bring it about, for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing that he was an upright and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him talk he was very much disturbed, and yet he liked to hear him. When a holiday came and Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to his courtiers and officers and to the leading men of Galilee, Herodias' own daughter came in and danced for them. And Herod and his guests were delighted, and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you like and I will give it to you." And he made oath to her, "I will give you whatever you ask me for, up to half my kingdom." When she had left the room she said to her mother, "What shall I ask him for?" But she said, "The head of John the baptizer." And she hurried back at once to the king and asked him for it, saying, "I want you right away to give me John the Baptist's head on a platter." The king was exceedingly sorry, but on account of his oath and his guests he did not like to break his word to her, and he immediately sent one of his guard with orders to get John's head. And he went off and beheaded him in the prison and brought back his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod governor of Galilee, while his brother Philip was governor of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the governor of Abilene,

but Herod the governor, whom he condemned because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the wicked things Herod had done,

Herod the governor heard of all that was happening, and he was perplexed because some people said that John had risen from the dead, and some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who can this be about whom I hear such reports?" And he endeavored to see him.

and learning that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he turned him over to Herod, for Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus he was delighted, for he had wanted for a long time to see him, because he had heard about him and he hoped to see some wonder done by him. And he questioned him at some length, but he made him no answer.read more.
Meanwhile the high priests and the scribes stood by and vehemently accused him. And Herod and his guards made light of him and ridiculed him, and they put a gorgeous robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends that day, for they had been at enmity before.

For they have assembled here in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you had consecrated??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and the peoples of Israel,

Neither has Herod, for he has sent him back to us. You see he has done nothing to call for his death.

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had John's brother, James, beheaded, and when he saw that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, at the time of the festival of Unleavened Bread.

Herod had inquiries 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. Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came before him in a body, and after winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended upon the king's dominions for its food supply. So a day was fixed and on it Herod, dressed in his robes of state, took his seat on his throne in the theater, and made them an address,read more.
and the people shouted in applause, "It is a god's voice, not a man's!" But the angel of the Lord struck him down immediately, because he did not give the honor to God; and he was eaten by worms and died.

It was the first census, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.