Acts 25:16

So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”

except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you,

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

“ ‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.

You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.”

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother,

When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up.

Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.

So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.

They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.

“Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”

For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,

for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.

When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.

and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,

So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, then said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” The ambush was waiting in the inner room. He broke them off his arms like a thread.

The Philistines laid hold on him and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of bronze; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”

Then David said, “Do not do so, my brothers, with that which Yahweh has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”

The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

“Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.

Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;

Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”

Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.

Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”

After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

My defense to those who examine me is this:

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.

Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.