18 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

But after some days king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus. And when they had staid there many days, Festus proposed the case of Paul to the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, concerning whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews gave me information, asking judgment against him;read more.
to whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the accused has the accusers face to face, and is allowed an opportunity to defend himself against the accusation. When therefore, they came here, making no delay, the next day I sat on the tribunal, and ordered the man to be brought; concerning whom his accusers standing up brought no charge of such things as I supposed, but had certain questions with him concerning their religion, and concerning one Jesus that was dead, who Paul said was alive. Being in doubt on the question concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me there on these charges. But Paul appealing, to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar. And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I should like to hear the man also myself. And he said, To-morrow you shall hear him. On the next day, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with great pomp, and entering into the place of hearing with chiliarchs and men of distinction in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all the men present with us, you see this man, of whom all the multitude of the Jews besought me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought no longer to live. But finding that he had done nothing deserving death, and he having appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. But I have nothing certain to write to the sovereign concerning him, wherefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that on examination I may have something to write;

And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense.

For the king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things have escaped his notice; for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe. And Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to be a Christian.read more.
And Paul said, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And the king arose, and the procurator, and Bernice, and those who sat with them, and departing they conversed with each other, saying, This man has done nothing deserving death or bonds. And Agrippa said to Festus, If he had not appealed to Caesar, this man might be released.

But hearing that Archelaus reigned over Judea in the place of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there; but being divinely instructed in a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee,

AND Jesus being born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold Magi came from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the king of the Jews born? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him. And Herod the king hearing this was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;read more.
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet; And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the governors of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor who shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, calling the Magi secretly, asked them the precise time when the star appeared; and sending them to Bethlehem, said, Go and inquire diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, tell me, that I also may come and worship him.

Then Herod seeing that he was despised by the Magi, was exceedingly angry, and sent and destroyed all the children in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the precise time which he had learned of the Magi.

In the days of Herod the king of Judea, there was a certain priest by the name of Zachariah, of the class 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 is raised from the dead; and on that account the mighty works are performed by him. For Herod having seized John, had bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.read more.
For John had said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And he wished to kill him; but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet. And Herod's birthday being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, on account of which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask; and she, having been put forward by her mother, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist. And the king was sorry; but on account of the oath, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison;

And Herod the king, heard [of Jesus], for his name was widely known, and said, John the Baptist has risen from the dead; and on this account the mighty works are performed by him. But others said, he is Elijah; and others said, He is a prophet, like one of the prophets. But Herod hearing of him, said, This is John whom I beheaded; he has been raised up.read more.
For Herod had sent and taken John, and, put him bound in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias was displeased with him, and wished to kill him, but was not able. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he preserved him, and hearing him, did many things, and heard him gladly. And on a convenient day, when Herod made a supper in honor of his birthday, for his great men, and the chiliarchs, and the first men of Galilee, the daughter of this Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod, and those that reclined with him. And the king said to the girl, Ask me what you will and I will give it to you; and he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask of me I will give you, to 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 coming in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I wish you to give me immediately on a plate the head of John the Baptist. And the king was extremely sorry, but on account of the oaths, and those reclining with him, he was not willing to refuse her. And the king immediately sending an executioner, commanded him to bring his head. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

AND in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituria and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene,

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

And Herod the tetrarch heard all things which were done, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that John was raised from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had arisen. And Herod said, John I beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.

And learning that he was of the province of Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem in those days. And when Herod saw Jesus he was much pleased; for he had wished for a long time to see him, because he had heard about him, and he hoped to see some miracle performed by him. And he questioned him with many words; but he answered him nothing.read more.
And the chief priests and scribes stood up, violently accusing him. And Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, and mocked him, and put on him a splendid garment, and sent him back to Pilate. And Pilate and Herod became friends to each other on that day; for they had before been enemies to each other.

For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were assembled together against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed,

but neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by him;

AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also,??nd it was during the days of unleavened bread,??4 and having seized he put him in prison, committing him to four companies of four soldiers each to guard him, wishing after the passover to bring him before the people.

And Herod seeking and not finding him, examined the guards, and commanded them to be put to death, and going down from Judea to Caesarea remained [there]. And he was displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came with one accord to him, and having persuaded Blastus who was over the king's bedchamber, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's. And on an appointed day Herod having put on his royal apparel, and sitting on the tribunal, made a speech to them;read more.
and the people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to God, and being eaten with worms he expired.

This first census was taken when Cyrenius was proconsul of Syria.