29 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

A few days later king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. While they were there Festus declared Paul's cause to the king. He said, There is a man that Felix left a prisoner. When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him. They desire to have judgment against him.read more.
I told them it is not the Roman practice to deliver any man to die before his accusers face him. He should answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. When they came before me, without any delay I sat in judgment, and commanded the man to be brought in. When the accusers took the stand they produced no charge of the wicked things I supposed about him. They had questions against him about their own superstition. They had one about Jesus, who is dead, but Paul affirmed to be alive. Since I doubt such manner of questions, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem to be judged there of these matters. Paul appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus. So I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man myself. Festus replied: Tomorrow, you will hear him. The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great elegance. They entered the place of hearing with the commanders and important men of the city. Festus gave the order for Paul to be brought in. Festus said, King Agrippa and all men who are present with us, you see this man, about whom all the crowds of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he should not live any longer. I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death. He has appealed to Augustus and I have determined to send him. I have no certain thing to write to my lord. I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after examination I might have something to write.

Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his arm and began his defense,

For the king knows about these things. I speak freely to him for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul: In a short time you would persuade (convince) me to become a Christian.read more.
Paul replied, I pray to God, that you and also all that hear me this day were altogether such as I am, except for these bonds. When he finished speaking, the king rose up and the governor and Bernice and all who sat with them. As they left they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of prison. Then Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.

When he heard that Archelaus succeeded his father, Herod, as king of Judea, Joseph feared going. Warned in a dream, he left for Galilee instead.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod. Astrologers arrived in Jerusalem from the east. They asked: Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and came to offer him praise. King Herod was troubled when he heard this. Jerusalem was also troubled.read more.
He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Law and asked where will the Messiah be born? Bethlehem in Judea, they answered. This is what the prophet wrote: Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are not the least of the leading cities of Judah. A leader will come out of you. He will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called the astrologers to find out exactly the time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem. He said: Search diligently for the young child. When you find him, bring me word so I may come and bow down to him also.

Herod saw that the astrologers tricked him and he was furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the time he learned from the astrologers.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah. He was of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus. He told his servants: This is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. That explains the power working in him. Herod locked John in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.read more.
For John had said to him: It is not lawful for you to have her. Herod wanted to put him to death but he feared the people since they believed John was a prophet. It was Herod's birthday. The daughter of Herodias danced for him and pleased him. So he promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted. Prompted by her mother, she said: Give me John the Baptist's head on a platter. The king was grieved. He gave his oath and many were watching so he commanded that it be done. He gave the order to behead John in prison.

John the Baptist had become well known. King Herod heard that John had risen from the dead. Therefore he was doing these powerful works. But others said: It is Elijah. And others said: It is a prophet, like one of the prophets. Herod said: It is John whom I beheaded, raised from the dead.read more.
For Herod captured John and locked him in prison for the sake of Herodias his wife. She was his brother Philip's wife before he married her. John said to Herod: It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Herodias had a grudge against John and was determined to have him killed. But Herod feared John. He knew he was a righteous and holy man so he kept him safe. That is why he listened to John but was perplexed. It was Herod's birthday. He invited his lords, the military commanders, and the prominent men of Galilee to supper. When the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests, she pleased him so much he promised her anything she desired. He pledged to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom. She asked her mother, What should I ask? And the mother said: The head of John the Baptist. At once she went to the king and asked: Will you give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king was very sorry. Even so he kept his promise to her. He did not turn her down. This also showed his dinner guests he was a man of his word. He immediately commanded his guard to behead John the Baptist and bring his head to him. He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the young lady. In turn she gave it to her mother.

It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee. Herod's brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.

John reproved Herod the tetrarch for all the evil things he had done for he took his brother Herodias' wife.

Herod the ruler of Galilee heard of all that was done and was very perplexed (confused) (skeptical). Some said John the Baptist was raised from the dead and that he did it. Others said that Elijah had appeared and others and that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said: I beheaded John, but who is this, about whom I hear such things? He wanted to see him.

When he knew that he was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod. He was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He hoped to see him perform a miracle. He offered many questions but received no answers.read more.
The chief priests and the scribes vehemently accused him. And Herod with his soldiers despised him with contempt, and mocked him. They arrayed him in magnificent apparel. Then they sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that day. Before that time they were at enmity.

Truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the people of the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you have anointed.

Herod found no fault and sent him back to us. He has done nothing worthy of death.

At that time Herod the king mistreated those of the congregation. He killed James the brother of John with a sword. He saw that it pleased the Jews so he captured Peter also. This happened during the feast of unleavened bread.

Herod had a thorough search made for him and could not find him. He cross examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea to stay for a while. Herod highly disagreed with them at Tyre and Sidon. But they finally came to an agreement. They secured the support of Blastus a trusted personal servant of the king. They desired peace because their country was supported by the king's country. Dressed in royal apparel, Herod delivered a public address to the people on a special day.read more.
The people shouted: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. Immediately the angel of God killed him, because he did not give God the glory. He was eaten by worms and died.

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

This was the first census made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Included in those killed were the five kings of Midian-Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also killed Balaam, son of Beor, in battle.

All the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses killed with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, who were dukes of Sihon, living in the country.

They captured the two Midianite chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at Oreb Rock, and Zeeb at the Winepress of Zeeb. They continued to pursue the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now east of the Jordan.

God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.

Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, sent a letter against Jerusalem, to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

The king sent an answer to Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, and their friends living in Samaria, and to the rest of those across the river, saying, Peace to you:

At the same time, Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their men, came to them and said, Who gave you orders to go on building this house and this wall?

This is a copy of the letter Tattenai, the ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and his friends the Apharsachites, from across the river, sent to Darius the king.

Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and your people the Apharsachites across the river, keep far from that place:

Then Tattenai, the ruler across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and their people, because of the order given by King Darius, did as he said with all care.