18 Bible Verses about Named Gentile Rulers

After the passing of a few days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay official respects to Festus, and as they stayed for several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. He said, "There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix, and when I was in Jerusalem, the Jewish high priests and elders presented their case against him, and continued to ask for a judgment against him.read more.
I answered them that it was not the Roman custom to give up anyone for punishment until the accused met his accusers face to face and had an opportunity to defend himself against their accusations. So they came back here with me, and I made no delay to take my seat on the judge's bench, and ordered the man to be brought in. But when his accusers appeared before me, they did not charge him with the crimes of which I had been suspecting him. They merely had a quarrel with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, but who Paul kept saying was still alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters and so asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. But as Paul appealed to have his case kept for his Majesty's decision, I ordered him kept in custody until I could send him up to the emperor." "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa to Festus. "Tomorrow you shall hear him," said Festus. So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with splendid pomp and went into the audience-room, attended by the colonels 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 with us, you now see this man about whom the whole Jewish nation made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, continuously clamoring that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had not done anything for which he deserved to die; however, as he has himself appealed to his Majesty, I have decided to send him up. Yet, I have nothing definite to write our Sovereign about him. So I have brought him before all of you, especially before you, King Agrippa, to get from your examination something to put in writing.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak in defense of yourself." So Paul with outstretched arm began to make his defense.

The king, indeed, knows about this and I can speak to him with freedom. I do not believe that any of this escaped his notice, for it did not occur in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." Then Agrippa answered Paul, "In brief you are trying to persuade me and make a Christian of me!"read more.
Paul answered, "In brief or at length, I would to God that not only you but all my hearers today were what I am -- excepting these chains!" Then the king rose, with the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them, and after leaving the room, as they continued to talk the matter over together, they said, "This man has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." Agrippa said to Festus, "He might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to the emperor."

But because he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there; and because he was divinely warned in a dream, he set out for the region of Galilee.

Now when Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea in the days of King Herod, stargazers came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." Now when King Herod heard of it, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.read more.
So he called together all the high priests and scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "At Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 'And you, Bethlehem in Judah's land, You are not at all the least among the leading places of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler, who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly sent for the stargazers, and found out from them exactly the time the star appeared. So he sent them to Bethlehem with this order, "Go and carefully search for the child, and when you find Him, bring back word to me, and I too may come and do Him homage."

Then Herod, because he saw that a trick had been played on him by the stargazers, was very angry, and sent and slaughtered all the boy babies in Bethlehem and in all that neighborhood, from two years down, in accordance with the time which he had found out from the stargazers.

In the days when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest whose name was 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 said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why the powers are at work through him." For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him out of the way by putting him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,read more.
for John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife." Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the guests. Herod was fascinated by her, and so passionately promised to give her anything she might ask for. And she, prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head right here on a platter." And the king was sorry, but on account of his oath and his guests, he ordered it to be given her. And he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

King Herod heard of Him, for His name was now on everybody's lips, and people were saying that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, and that this was why such mighty powers were working in Him. But others were saying that He was Elijah, and still others that He was a prophet like the prophets of old. But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead."read more.
For this very Herod had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John kept saying to Herod, "It is not right for you to be living with your brother's wife." So Herodias had it in for him and wanted to have him killed. But she could not have it done, for Herod stood in awe of John, because he knew that he was an upright and holy man, and so he protected him. When he heard him speak, 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 state officials, his military officers, and other leading men of Galilee, Herodias' daughter came in and danced for them, and fascinated Herod and his guests. So the king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you." And he promised her on oath, "I will give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom." She left the room and asked her mother, "What shall I ask him for?" And she answered, "The head of John the Baptist." Then she rushed at once before the king, and made this request, "I want you this very minute to give me John the Baptist's head on a platter." The king, although exceedingly sorry, yet on account of his oath and his guests, did not like to refuse her, and so at once ordered a soldier of his guard to bring his head. The soldier went off and beheaded John 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 was governor of Galilee, and his brother Philip was governor of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was governor of Abilene,

But Herod the governor, because he was repeatedly reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the wicked deeds that Herod had done,

Now Herod the governor heard of all that was taking place, and he continued to be puzzled over the reports -- by some that John had risen from the dead, by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. So Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who can this be about whom I hear such reports?" So he was trying to see Him.

So when he learned with certainty that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, He sent Him up to Herod, for he was in Jerusalem at that time. Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, for he had been wanting to see Him for a long time on account of what he had heard about Him; also he was hoping to see some spectacular performance done by Him. So he continued to question Him for a long time, but Jesus gave him no answer at all.read more.
Meanwhile, the high priests and the scribes stood by and continued vehemently to accuse Him. Then Herod and his bodyguard treated Him with contempt and made sport of Him and put a gorgeous robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. So Herod and Pilate became personal friends that very day; they had been at enmity before.

"For in this city they actually met against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you had consecrated -- Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and the peoples of Israel,

No; nor does Herod, for he has sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing to deserve the death penalty.

About that time Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, in order to do them violence. He had James the brother of John murdered with a sword, and when he saw that this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too -- it was at the time of the feast of Unleavened Bread.

Herod had search 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. Now Herod cherished a bitter grudge against the people of Tyre and Sidon. So in a united body they came to meet him, and after winning the favor of Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended for its food supply upon the king's country. So, on a day appointed, Herod, dressed in his royal robes, took his seat on his throne, and made them a popular address,read more.
and the people shouted, "It is a god's voice, not a man's!" But the angel of the Lord at once struck him down, because he did not give the glory to God; he was eaten by worms, and so died.

This, the first census, was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.