17 Bible Verses about Public Opinion

So Pilate being willing to ingratiate with the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him up to be crucified.

And Pilate called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people, and said unto them, Ye have brought to me this man as one that perverteth the people: and behold I have examined Him before you, and found nothing chargeable on Him, of the things you alledge against Him: nor Herod neither; for I sent you to him, and behold nothing worthy of death is proved upon Him. read more.
I will therefore chastise Him, and so release Him. Now he was obliged to release one to them at the feast. And they all cried out, saying, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas: (who for a riot in the city, and for murder, was committed to prison:) Pilate therefore spake to them again, being desirous to release Jesus. But they bawled out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. And he said to them a third time, what evil hath He done? I have found nothing in Him deserving death: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go. But they insisted upon it with loud clamours, demanding Him to be crucified: and their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that what they demanded should be done. And he released to them him that for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they desired; and delivered up Jesus to their will.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath He done? but they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be crucified. Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just man, look ye to it: and all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. read more.
Then he released to them Barabbas: but he ordered Jesus to be scourged, and delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the hall, and gathered the whole band about Him:

Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth? And as soon as he had spoke, he went out again to the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no fault at all in Him. But ye have a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover; will ye therefore that I release to you the king of the Jews?

Pilate therefore came out again, and saith unto them, Behold I bring Him out to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him. So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the man." When the chief priests therefore and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." Pilate saith unto 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 made himself the Son of God. Now when Pilate heard this he was the more afraid; and went into the palace again, and saith to Jesus, From whence art thou? but Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto Him, Dost thou not speak to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above; wherefore he, that delivered me up to thee, hath the greater sin. Upon this Pilate sought to release Him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cesar's friend; for whosoever maketh himself a king, opposeth Cesar. Therefore when Pilate heard this he brought Jesus forth, and sat down on the tribunal, in a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. (And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour.) And he saith to the Jews, Behold your king. But they cried out,

Do ye think that I am come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, nay; but rather division.

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man; others said, No: He deceiveth the people.

So there was a division among the people about Him.

Then said some of the pharisees, This man is not of God, because He doth not keep the sabbath: but others said, How can a wicked man do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

There was a division therefore again among the Jews on account of these words.

but if we should say, from men --- they feared the people: (for they they all thought that John was a prophet indeed:)

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but they were afraid of the people; (for they knew that He spake the parable against them) and they left Him, and went away.

But if we say, of men, we fear the people, for they all esteem John as a prophet.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how to destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were struck with his doctrine.

And when Jesus came into the parts of Cesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?

And it came to pass, as He was praying in private, his disciples were with Him: and He asked them saying, Whom say the people that I am?

But Festus, being desirous to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be tried concerning these things before me?

But after two years Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; and being willing to gain favor with the Jews lest Paul confined.

So they threatened them more severely, and let them go; not finding how to punish them, because of the people: for they all glorified God for that which was done.

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but not with violence; for they were afraid of the people least they should be stoned:

There were however many of the chief rulers that believed on Him; but because of the pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be excommunicated. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

but that he was afraid of the people; for they esteemed him as a prophet.

Now Peter was sitting without in the hall, and one of the maids came to him and said, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee: but he denied it before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; after which another maid saw him, and said to them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth: read more.
and he denied a second time, and that with an oath, saying, I know not the man. And a little after, they that stood by came to Peter and said, Verily thou also art one of them, for thy speech discovers thee: then he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who had said to him, before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

And the next day Paul went in with us to James: and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he gave a particular narrative of the things which God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many myriads there are of the believing Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. read more.
And they have heard of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews, who are among the Gentiles, to forsake the law of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after our customs. What then is to be done? The people must necessarily meet together; for they will hear that thou art come. Do this therefore, which we advise thee. Here are four men with us, that have a vow upon them: take these and be purified with them, and join in their expences, that they may shave their head: and that all may know, that there is nothing in what they have heard of thee; but thou thyself walkest according to the law. But as to the believing Gentiles, we have written and determined, that they need observe no such thing; only to keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from any thing strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day being purified with them entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification till an offering should be offered for every one of them.

but how it is that he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age, ask him; he can speak for himself. These things said his parents, because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed, that if any one confessed Him to be Christ, he should be turned out of the synagogue.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was indeed to be blamed. For before certain men came from James, he did eat with the gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews dissembled also with him; so that Barnabas too was carried away with their dissimulation. read more.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all,---If thou, who art a Jew, livest sometimes after the manner of the gentiles, and not like the Jews, why dost thou now in a manner compel the gentiles to judaize?

And after these things Joseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple of Jesus, but a concealed one for fear of the Jews) petitioned Pilate, that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave: he came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.

No one however spake openly in favor of Him, for fear of the Jews.

And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also, (in the days of unleavened bread:)

And the king was exceedingly grieved, but on account of his oath, and those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her: but immediately sent one of his guard,

And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also, (in the days of unleavened bread:)

They, who want to make a fair appearance in the flesh, would constrain you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

who came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for none can do these miracles which thou dost, unless God be with him.