'Punish' in the Bible

So they threatened Peter and John even more and then let them go. They couldn't find any way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened,

"But I will punish the nation they serve,' said God, "and afterwards they will leave and worship me in this place.'

I would even punish them frequently in every synagogue and try to make them blaspheme. Raging furiously against them, I would hunt them down even in distant cities.