18 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea, to salute Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared the case of Paul to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix, About whom when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me, desiring judgment against him.read more.
To whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans, to give up any man, till he that is accused have the accusers face to face, and have liberty to make his defence, touching the crime laid to his charge. When therefore they were come hither, I without any delay sat at the judgment seat the next day, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed, But had certain questions against him, relating to their own religious worship, and about one Jesus that was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And as I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked, If he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters? But Paul appealing to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I command him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar. Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. And he said, To-morrow thou shalt hear him. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pomp, and were entered into the place of audience, with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all ye who are present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have pleaded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out, that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found, that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he had himself appealed to the Emperor, I determined to send him: Of whom I have nothing certain to send to my lord: wherefore I have brought him before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination taken, I may have somewhat to write.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself.

For the king knoweth of these things; to whom also I speak with freedom; for I am persuaded none of these things are hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.read more.
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but likewise all that hear me, were this day both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And as he said this, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And as they were going away, they spake one to another, saying, This man doth 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 unto Cesar.

and came into the land of Israel, But having heard, Archelaus reigneth over Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither, and being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

Now after 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 that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.read more.
And having assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he demanded of them, Where the Christ was to be born? And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art in no wise the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth a Ruler, who shall feed my people Israel. Then Herod, having privately called the wise men, inquired of them with great exactness, at what time the star appeared: And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go, inquire exactly concerning the young child, and if ye find him, bring me word again, that I also may come and worship him.

Then Herod, seeing that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sending forth, slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the confines thereof, from two years old and under; according to the time which he had exactly inquired of the wise men.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus, And said to his servants, This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore these mighty powers exert themselves in him. For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him and put him in prison, for Herodias sake, his brother Philip's wife.read more.
For John had said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they accounted him a prophet. But when Herod's birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatever she should ask. And being before instructed by her mother, she said, Give me here John the Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry; yet for the oath's sake, and them who sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger,

And king Herod heard (for his name was spread abroad) and he said, John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore divine powers exert themselves in him. Others said, It is Elijah: and others said, It is a prophet, as one of the prophets. But Herod hearing thereof, said, This is that John whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.read more.
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison, for Herodias sake, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her. For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee, to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias was incensed against him, and was desirous to have killed him; but she could not. For Herod reverenced John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and preserved him: and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And a convenient day being come, when Herod on his birth-day made a feast, for his lords, captains, and principal men of Galilee: When the daughter of Herodias had come in and danced and pleased Herod, and his guests, the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware to her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask me, I will give thee, to the half 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 quickly with haste to the king she asked, saying, I will that thou give me immediately in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry: yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of his guests, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent one of his guard, and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and concerning all the evils which Herod had done, Added also this above all,

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

And when he knew, that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at that time. And Herod seeing Jesus was exceeding glad; for he had been long desirous to see him, because he had heard many things of 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 Herod, having with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a splendid robe, sent him back to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

For of a truth, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed,

Nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him; and lo, he hath done nothing worthy of death.

About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict a certain of the church. And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword. And perceiving it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also.

And Herod having sought for him, and not found him, examined the guard, and commanded them to be put to death. And going down from Judea to Cesarea, he abode there. And he was highly incensed against them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and having gained Blastus, the king's chamberlain, sued for peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. And on a set day, Herod arrayed in royal apparel, and sitting on his throne, made an oration to them.read more.
And the people shouted, It is the voice of God, and not of a man. And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and being eaten by worms, he expired.

(Now this first inrolment was made, when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)