Act 12:1-4, 16:22-26, 21:30-31, 22:30, 24:1-9, 25:1-2, 11-12, 22-25 | 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. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him ^ein prison, delivering him over to four ^fsquads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

Acts 16:22-26

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.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

25 ^jAbout midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly ^kthere was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^lall the doors were opened, and ^meveryone’s bonds were unfastened.

Acts 21:30-31

30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and ⁿdragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 ^oAnd as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of ^pthe cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Acts 22:30

Paul Before the Council

30 But on the next day, ^qdesiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 24:1-9

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

1 And ^rafter five days the high priest ^sAnanias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^tthe 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, ^umost 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, ^wone who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^xthe sect of the Nazarenes. 6 ^yHe 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.

Acts 25:1-2

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in ^aathe province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews ^ablaid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,

Acts 25:11-12

11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. ^acI appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Acts 25:22-25

22 Then ^adAgrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day ^aeAgrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom ^afthe whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, ^agshouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that ^ahhe had done nothing deserving death. And ^aias he himself appealed to ^ajthe emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.