Act 12:1-3, 16:20-24, 21:11, 31-40, 22:19-20, 23:1-2, 24:1-9 | ESV | STEP | About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church .

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed ^aJames the brother of John ^bwith the sword, 3 and when he saw ^cthat it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ^dthe days of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 16:20-24

20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They ^eadvocate customs that are not lawful for us ^fas Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders ^gto beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner ^hprison and fastened their feet in ⁱthe stocks.

Acts 21:11

11 And coming to us, he ^jtook Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ^k“Thus says the Holy Spirit, ^l‘This is how the Jews ^{▼▼Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time} at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and ⁿdeliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

Acts 21:31-40

31 ^oAnd as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of ^pthe cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 ^qHe at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him ^rto be bound ^swith two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 ^tSome in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into ^uthe barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, ^v“Away with him!”

Paul Speaks to the People

37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not ^wthe Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out ^xinto the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, ^y“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, ^zmotioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in ^aathe Hebrew language, ^{▼▼Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)} saying:

Acts 22:19-20

19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another ^acI imprisoned and ^adbeat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen ^aeyour witness was being shed, ^afI myself was standing by and ^agapproving and ^ahwatching over the garments of those who killed him.’

Acts 23:1-2

1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, ^aiI have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest ^ajAnanias commanded those who stood by him ^akto strike him on the mouth.

Acts 24:1-9

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

1 And ^alafter five days the high priest ^amAnanias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^anthe governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, ^aomost excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain ^{▼▼Or weary} you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, ^aqone who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^arthe sect of the Nazarenes. 6 ^asHe even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add and we would have judged him according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come before you.} 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.