18 Bible Verses about Riots

But before they went to rest, the men of the city of Sodom compassed the house round about both old and young, all the people from all quarters. And they called unto Lot and said unto him, "Where are the men which came into thy house tonight? Bring them out unto us that we may do our lust with them." And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him,read more.
and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door, the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door. And the men that were at the door of the house, they smote with blindness - both small and great, so that they could not find the door.

Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it." And Joash said unto all that stood by him, "Will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders? He that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a god, let him strive with him that cast down his altar!"

Now when he had spoken out all the words that the LORD commanded him to preach unto all the people, then the priests, the prophets and all the people took hold upon him, and said, "Thou shalt die. How darest thou be so bold, as to say in the name of the LORD, 'It shall happen to this house as it did unto Shiloh? And this city shall be so waste, that no man shall dwell therein?'" And when all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, the princes of Judah heard of this rumor, and they came soon out of the king's Palace into the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD.read more.
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the rulers and to all the people, these words, "This man is worthy to die, for he hath preached against this city, as ye yourselves have heard with your ears."

And as many as were in the synagogue when they heard that, were filled with wrath and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him even unto the edge of the hill, whereon their city was built, to cast him down headlong. But he went his way even through the midst of them:

The same time there arose no little ado about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith which made silver shrines for Diana, was not a little beneficial unto the craftsmen: which he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs ye know that by this craft we have vantage.read more.
Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth." When they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." And all the city was on a roar, and they rushed into the common hall with one assent, and caught Gaius, and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions. When Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. Certain also of the chief of Asia which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not press into the common hall. Some cried one thing, and some another and the congregation was all out of quiet, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Some of the company drew forth Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forwards. Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have given the people an answer. When they knew that he was a Jew, there arose a shout almost for the space of two hours of all men crying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

in stripes, in prisonment, in strife, in labour, in watching, in fasting,

But the chief priests and the elders had persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus. Then the deputy answered and said unto them, "Whether of the twain will ye that I let loose unto you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said unto them, "What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified."read more.
Then said the deputy, "What evil hath he done?" And they cried the more saying, "Let him be crucified." When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that more business was made, he took water and washed his hands before the people saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person: see ye thereto."

At that feast Pilate was wont to deliver at their pleasure a prisoner: whomsoever they would desire. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them, that made insurrection: and in the insurrection, committed murder. And the people called unto him, and began to desire of him, according as he had ever done unto them.read more.
Pilate answered them, and said, "Will ye that I loose unto you the King of the Jews?" For he knew that the high priests had delivered him of envy. But the high priests had moved the people that he should, rather, deliver Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered again, and said unto them, "What will ye then that I do with him, whom ye call the King of the Jews?" And they cried again, "Crucify him." Pilate said unto them, "What evil hath he done?" And they cried the more fervently, "Crucify him." And so Pilate, willing to content the people, loosed them Barabbas; And delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, for to be crucified.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen. And they could not resist the wisdom, and the spirit, with which he spake.read more.
Then sent they in men which said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God," and they moved the people, and the elders, and the scribes: and they came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council, and brought forth false witnesses which said, "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, for we heard him say, 'This Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the ordinances which Moses gave unto us.'"

But the Jews which believed not, having indignation, took unto them evil men which were vagabonds, and gathered a company, and set all the city on a roar, and made assault unto the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the heads of the city crying, "These that trouble the world are come hither also, which Jason hath received privily. And these all do contrary to the elders of Caesar, affirming another King: one Jesus."read more.
And they troubled the people and the officers of the city when they heard these things. And when they were sufficiently answered of Jason, and of the others they let them go.

And as the seven days should have been ended, the Jews which were of Asia when they saw him in the temple, they moved all the people and laid hands on him crying, "Men of Israel, help. This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover also he hath brought Greeks into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place." For they saw one Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him in the city: Him they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.read more.
And all the city was moved, and the people swarmed together. And they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple, and forthwith the doors were shut to. As they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the high captain of the soldiers, that all Jerusalem was moved. Which immediately took soldiers and under-captains, and ran down unto them. When they saw the upper-captain and the soldiers; They left smiting of Paul. Then the captain came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded what he was, and what he had done. And one cried this, another that, among the people. And when he could not know the certainty, for the rage, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came unto a grece, it fortuned that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people:

Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people into the palace of the high priest, called Caiaphas: and held a counsel, how they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him. But they said, "Not on the holy day, lest any uproar arise among the people."

After two days followed Easter, and the days of sweet bread. And the high priests and the scribes sought means, how they might take him by craft and put him to death. But they said, "Not in the feast day, lest any business arise among the people."

When the town clerk had ceased the people he said, "Ye men of Ephesus: what man is it that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which came from heaven? Seeing then that no man saith here against, ye ought to be content, and to do nothing rashly; For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet despisers of your goddess.read more.
Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have any saying to any man: the law is open, and there are rulers. Let them accuse one another. If ye go about any other thing, it may be determined in a lawful congregation. For we are in jeopardy to be accused of this day's business: forasmuch as there is no cause whereby we may give a reckoning of this concourse of people." And when he had thus spoken, he let the congregation depart.

We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of debate unto all the Jews throughout the world; And a maintainer of sedition, of the sect of the Nazarenes; and also hath enforced to pollute the temple: Whom we took, and would have judged according to our law, but the high captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,read more.
commanding his accusers to come unto thee: of whom thou mayest, if thou wilt enquire, know the certain of all these things where of we accuse him." The Jews likewise affirmed, saying that it was even so. Then Paul, after that the ruler himself had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, "I shall with a more quiet mind answer for myself, forasmuch as I understand that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this people, because that thou mayest know that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to pray. And that they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, either raising up the people, neither in the synagogues nor in the city.

Let us walk honestly as it were in the daylight: not in eating and drinking: neither in chambering and wantonness: neither in strife and envying:

The night is past and the day is come nigh. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

and receive the reward of unrighteousness. They count it pleasure to live deliciously for a season. Spots they are, and filthiness, living at pleasure, and in deceitful ways feasting with you: