17 Bible Verses about Public Opinion

Pilate therefore willing to humour the people, released to them Barabbas, and having caused Jesus to be scourg'd, he deliver'd him to be crucified.

Pilate having order'd the chief priests, the senators, and people to appear, he said to them, you have represented this man to me as one that was stirring up the people to a revolt: you see I have examin'd him in your presence; yet I don't find he is guilty of the crimes you have laid to his charge: no, nor even Herod; for I referr'd you to him, and you see nothing that is capital, has been made out against him. read more.
I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and then release him. now as it was customary for the governor to release one of the prisoners at the feast; all the people cry'd out, let this man die, and release to us Barabbas. Barabbas had been imprison'd for murder in a riot he had rais'd in the city. Pilate therefore, desirous to release Jesus, expostulated with them again. but they cry'd out, crucify him, crucify him. however he urg'd it a third time, why, what crime has he done? I don't find he has done any thing that deserves death: I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and so dismiss him. but they persisted with great clamour in their demands, to have him crucified: and as the people and chief priests redoubled their clamours, Pilate determin'd to grant their request. accordingly he discharg'd the prisoner they desired, him that was committed for riot and murder; but he abandon'd Jesus to their discretion.

the governor said, why, what mischief has he done? but they cried out the more, let him be crucified. Pilate perceiving he was so far from prevailing, that they were more tumultuous, he took water, and washed his hands before all the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: you are answerable for it. at this all the people cry'd out, "his blood be on us, and on our children." read more.
Then he released to them Barabbas: but he order'd Jesus to be scourged, and delivered up to be crucified. after this the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered all the foot-guards about him.

what is truth? said Pilate. and upon saying this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I don't find he is guilty of any crime. but as it is customary with you to get me to discharge some prisoner at the time of the passover, would you have me release the king of the Jews?

Pilate therefore went out again, and said to them, observe, I bring him out to you, to acquaint you that I find no fault in him. so Jesus marched out wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. and Pilate said to them, here's the man. as soon as the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, "crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. read more.
the Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he pretended to be the son of God. Pilate upon hearing that, was still more apprehensive. and went again into the Pretorium, and said to Jesus, who was your father? but Jesus gave him no answer. then said Pilate to him, won't you give me an answer? don't you know that it is in my power to crucify you, or to release you? Jesus answered, you could not have any power over me, except you deriv'd it from above: therefore they who delivered me into your hands are the most culpable. upon this, Pilate propos'd to release him: but the Jews cried out, if you let this man go, you are not Cesar's friend: he that sets up for king, opposes Cesar. Pilate therefore hearing them talk at this rate, order'd Jesus to be brought forth, and then sat down in a place of Mosaic work on his tribunal, in Syriac call'd Gabbatha. it was then about the sixth hour of the day before the sabbath of the passover: and he said to the Jews, behold your king.

do you imagine that my coming will produce peace on the earth? I tell you, no; but rather division.

and the people were much divided about him: for some said, he is a good man: others said, not at all; but he seduces the people.

so that the people were divided in their opinions about him.

thereupon some of the Pharisees said, this man has no divine mission, because he does not observe the sabbath. but said others, if he be an impostor, how can he do such miracles? and there was a schism among them.

There was another schism therefore among the Jews, occasion'd by this discourse.

if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.)

then they contriv'd how they might seize him, for they perceived, that he applied the parable to them; but for fear of the people they left him, and went away.

but if we say, it was merely human, we are obnoxious to the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

the Scribes and Pharisees upon hearing this consulted together how to destroy him; but they stood in awe of him, because all the people were strangely affected with his doctrine.

As Jesus was going to the district of Cesarea-Philippi, he asked his disciples, what do people say of me? that I am a common man?

One day having retired alone to prayer, he came to his disciples, and ask'd them, saying, whom do the people judge me to be?

but Festus willing to oblige the Jews ask'd him, will you consent to go to Jerusalem, and take your trial before me there?

offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge. but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.

so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done.

upon which the captain went with his officers, and brought them, without offering any violence, for fear of being stoned, he and his men by the people.

nevertheless there were many even among the chief rulers, who believed on him; but they did not own it publickly for fear the Pharisees should excommunicate them. for they preferr'd their own reputation to the glory of God.

he would have put him to death, but for fear of the people, who reckoned him a prophet.

In the mean time Peter was sitting without in the court: and a servant maid came to him, and said, you likewise was one of Jesus the Galilean's comrades. but he denied it before them all, saying, I know nothing of the matter. and when he was going out at the porch, another maid saw him, and said to those that were by, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. read more.
but he denied it again, and swore I don't know the man. soon after they that stood by coming up, said to Peter, certainly you are one of them, for thy speech bewrays thee. then he fell to solemn imprecations, and swore, "I don't know the man." and immediately the cock crew: when Peter remembred what Jesus had said to him, "before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." and he went out, and wept bitterly.

the next day Paul went with us to James, where all the pastors assembled. after having saluted them, he gave a particular account of what God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles. upon hearing this, they gave glory to God: and thus address'd Paul, you see, brother, how many thousand believing Jews there are, all however zealous for the law. read more.
now they have heard that you instruct the Jews that are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them they must not circumcise their children, nor observe the establish'd rites. what then is to be done? they will necessarily be all assembled, for they can't but hear, you are come. yield then to our advice: there are four men here, who have made a vow: these take, and perform the rites of purification with them, contributing to the expence of having their heads shav'd: this will convince them, what has been reported of you, is all groundless, and that you stick to the observances of the law. as for the believing Gentiles, we have given them by letter this decision, "they need only take care to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from the flesh of animals strangled, and from fornication." accordingly Paul went to the men, and the next day was purified with them; then entring into the temple, he declar'd how long the time of the purification was to last, and when the offering was to be made for each of them.

but by what means it was that he now sees, that we know not; or who made him see, we know not: he is of age, ask him, he will answer for himself. his parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews: for the Jews had agreed in this, that if any man did own him for the Messias, he should be excommunicated.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for he was to be blamed. for till certain Jews came thither from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, for fear of those, who were for circumcision: and the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas himself was carried away with their hypocrisy. read more.
but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize?

after this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but for fear of the Jews a conceal'd one, pray'd Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave: so he went and took the body of Jesus.

However, no body talk'd openly in favour of him, for fear of the Jews.

and perceiving that the Jews were pleas'd with this, he proceeded to secure Peter during the feast of unleavened bread:

at this the king was exceedingly concern'd; however, in regard to his oath, and to those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her;

and perceiving that the Jews were pleas'd with this, he proceeded to secure Peter during the feast of unleavened bread:

they who desire to make a figure in the world, constrain you to be circumcised, only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

so he took him and had him circumcised, out of regard to the Jews of that country, who all knew his father was a Greek.

who came to Jesus by night, and said to him, rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher sent from God: for no man can perform the miracles that you do, except God be with him.