29 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

And after some days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause to the king, saying, A certain man has been left in bonds by Felix, about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring judgment against him.read more.
To them I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before he being accused may have the accusers face to face, and have had freedom to answer for himself concerning the accusation. Therefore, when they had come here, without any delay I sat on the judgment seat the next day and commanded the man to be brought, about whom, standing up, the accusers brought against him no charge of which I suspected, but they had certain questions about their own demon-worship, and about a certain Jesus dying, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I was perplexed about this question, I asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these matters. But Paul having appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be held until I might send him to Caesar. And Agrippa said to Festus, I also would like to hear the man myself. And he said, Tomorrow you shall hear him. And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and had entered into the auditorium with both the chiliarchs and principal men of the city, also Festus commanding, Paul was brought out. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all those men present with us, you see this one about whom all the multitude of the Jews pleaded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But I had perceived nothing he had committed worthy of death, and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I determined to send him, about whom I have no certain thing to write of him to my lord. Therefore I brought him before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, so that, after examination is made, I might have something to write.

And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then stretching out his hand, Paul made a defense:

For the king understands about these things, to whom I speak, even being bold of speech. For I am persuaded that not any of these things are hidden from him, nothing. For the doing of this was not in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe. And Agrippa said to Paul, Do you persuade me to be a Christian in but a little?read more.
And Paul said, I would pray to God, both in a little and in much, that not only you, but also all hearing me today to become as I also am, except for these bonds. And he having spoken this, the king and the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them rose up. And withdrawing, they spoke with one another, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar.

But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judea in his father Herod's place, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who is born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him. But when Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.read more.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea. For so it is written by the prophet, "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the governors of Judah. For out of you shall come a Governor who shall rule My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, inquired of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. And when you have found him, bring me word again so that I may come and worship him also.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was greatly enraged. And he sent and killed all the boys in Bethlehem, and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully inquired of the wise men.

In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus and said to his servants, This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and therefore the powerful works are working in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and had bound him, and had put him in prison because of Herodias his brother Philip's wife.read more.
For John said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And when he desired to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. And she, being instructed before by her mother, said, Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter. And the king was sorry. But for the oath's sake, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

And king Herod heard of Him (for His name had become well-known,) and he said that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead, and therefore mighty works operate in him. Others said that it was Elijah. And others said that he is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But hearing Herod said, It is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead!read more.
For Herod himself had sent out and laid hold on John and had bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For he had married her, and John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias held it against him, and desired to kill him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man. And he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly. And a convenient day came, when Herod made a supper to great men on his birthday, and to the chiliarchs, and to the first ones of Galilee. And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced and pleased Herod, and those who reclined with him, the king said to the girl, Ask me whatever you desire from me, and I will give it to you. And he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask from me, I will give it to you, to the half of my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And immediately going in with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I desire that you give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And becoming deeply grieved, the king, because of his oath, and those reclining together, he did not wish to reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.

And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the Trachonitus country, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene--

But Herod the tetrarch (being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done)

And Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things happening by Him. And he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead; and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets had risen again. And Herod said, John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see Him.

And knowing that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. And seeing Jesus, Herod greatly rejoiced, for he had desired to see Him for a long time, because he had heard many things about Him. And he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. And he questioned Him in many words, but He answered him nothing.read more.
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And humiliating Him with his guardsmen, and mocking Him by putting luxurious clothing around Him, Herod sent Him again to Pilate. And that same day Pilate and Herod became friends with one another, for before they were at enmity between themselves.

For truly, against Your holy child Jesus, whom You have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations, and the people of Israel, were gathered together

no, nor even Herod, for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him.

And at that time Herod the king threw on his hands to oppress some of those of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he went further to seize Peter also. (And they were days of Unleavened Bread.)

And searching for him, and not finding him, examining the guards, Herod commanded them to be led away to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed. And Herod was in bitter hostility with the men of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord and, having made Blastus (who had charge of the king's bedroom) their friend, desired peace, because their country was fed by the king's country. And on a certain day, Herod sat on his throne, dressed in royal clothing, and made a speech to them.read more.
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god and not of a man! And immediately the angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and gave up the spirit.

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb; yea, all their princes like Zebah, and like Zalmunna;

(This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And they killed the kings of Midian, besides the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon (whom Moses struck with the rulers of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, rulers of Sihon, the inhabitants of the land).

Then they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb. And they killed Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. And they pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their spirits toward him went away when he had said that.

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way.

The message the king sent to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the rest Beyond the River, Peace! And now,

At the same time Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, came to them and said this to them Who has commanded you to build this house and to make this wall?

The copy of the letter which Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions, the officials Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king:

And Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and your companions, the officials Beyond the River, keep away from there.

Then Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.