15 Bible Verses about Riots

And they were all filled with rage in the synagogue, when they heard these observations: and rising up, dragged him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill, on which their city was built, in order to cast him down headlong: but he passing through the midst of them, went away.

And there happened at that time no small disturbance about this way. For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made little temples in silver to represent that of Diana, brought to the artificers no small gain; whom collecting together, with the workmen also of such trinkets, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this employment we make our advantageous livelihood:read more.
and ye see and hear how not only at Ephesus, but almost through all Asia, this fellow Paul, by his persuasions, hath perverted a vast multitude, affirming that they are not gods which are made with hands: so that not only is this our trade in danger of falling into contempt, but also that this temple of the great goddess Diana should be counted as nothing, and that henceforth also her magnificence should be utterly destroyed, whom all Asia and the whole world worshippeth. On hearing this then, and being filled with rage, they cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion; and they rushed unanimously into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travelling companions. But though Paul wished to go in to the people, the disciples would not permit him. And some of the Asiarchs also, who were his friends, sent unto him, admonishing him not to venture himself into the theatre. So they were crying out some one thing and some another: for the assembly was a scene of confusion, and the greater part knew not on what account they were collected together. Then out of the crowd they brought forward Alexander, the Jews pushing him on: and Alexander, waving his hand, would fain have addressed his apology to the people. But when they knew he was a Jew, one shout burst from all, crying for about the space of two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the populace that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor repeating the question, said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah? They all say to him, Let him be crucified.read more.
The governor replied, But what evil hath he done? They cried out with greater vehemence, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that it was of no use to contend, but that rather a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: ye must answer for it.

Now at the feast, he released one prisoner to them, whomsoever they petitioned for. And there was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made an insurrection with him, and had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude, clamorous, began to petition him to do, as he had always done to them.read more.
Then Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews? (For he knew that out of envy the chief priests had delivered him up.) Then the chief priests stirred up the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Then Pilate addressing them, said unto them again, What therefore do you wish that I should do with him whom ye call the king of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, But what criminal act hath he done? And they cried the more vociferously, Crucify him. So Pilate, willing to do what would be satisfactory to the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus to be scourged, in order to be crucified.

Now Stephen, full of faith and of power, wrought great miracles and signs among the people. Then rose up certain men of the synagogue of the freed-men, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.read more.
Then they suborned men to say, We heard him speak blasphemous things against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him together, and dragged him to the sanhedrim; and they set up false witnesses, saying, This man doth not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him affirm, that Jesus the Nazarean, even he, will destroy this place, and change the accustomed ordinances which Moses delivered to us.

But the unbelieving Jews, roused to a fit of zeal, and taking some of the lowest vulgar men of vile characters, and raising a mob, set the city in an uproar, and besetting the house of Jason, sought them to bring them unto the people. But not finding them there, they dragged Jason and certain brethren to the city magistrates, roaring out, These are the men who are movers of sedition through the world, and are come in hither; whom Jason has entertained in his house: and the practice of all these fellows is in direct opposition to all Caesar's ordinances, for they affirm that another is king, one Jesus.read more.
And they greatly agitated the people and the city magistrates when they heard these things. So after taking sufficient security from Jason and the rest, they dismissed them.

But as the seven days were now drawing to their period, some Jews from Asia seeing him in the temple, excited all the populace to tumult, and laid hands upon him, crying out, Men of Israel, help! This is the man, who, by his preaching, sets all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: yea and more still, hath brought Greeks into the temple, and defiled this holy place: (for they had before seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they imagined that Paul had introduced into the temple.)read more.
And the whole city was in motion, and there was a concourse of people assembled: and laying hands on Paul, they dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. And as they were attempting to murder him, the report reached the military tribune of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. Who instantly taking soldiers and centurions ran down unto them: and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul. Then the tribune approaching him, laid hold on him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and asked who he was, and what he had done. Then some among the multitude bellowed out one thing, and some another: so unable to know the certainty of the case because of the tumult, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress. But when he was on the stairs, it happened that he was borne up by the soldiers, because of the press of the crowd.

Then were the chief priests and scribes, and the elders of the people gathered together in the palace of the high-priest, called Caiaphas. And they consulted together, how they might seize Jesus by guile, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be a tumult among the people.

NOW the passover and the feast of unleavened bread were but two days distant; and the chief priests, and the scribes, sought how they might seize him by craft, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be a commotion among the people.

Then the recorder having quieted the multitude, said, Men of Ephesus, who indeed is the man that doth not know that the city of the Ephesians is wholly devoted to the great goddess Diana, and to the image which fell down from Jupiter? These things being then incontrovertible, it becomes you to be quiet, and to do nothing with precipitation. For ye have brought hither these men, neither robbers of the temple, nor blasphemers of your goddess.read more.
If then indeed Demetrius and the artificers that are with him have a charge against any man, the courts are held, and there are proconsuls: let them implead one another. And if ye have any dispute about other matters, it shall be terminated in a lawful assembly, For we are even in danger of being called to account for this day's insurrection, there being no cause on account of which we can justify this tumultuary concourse: and so saying, he dissolved the assembly.

For we found this fellow a pest [to society], and exciting sedition among all the Jews throughout the whole world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazareans: who even attempted to profane the temple: we seized him therefore, and intended to judge him according to our own law. But Lysias the tribune came, and with great violence took him out of our hands,read more.
commanding his accusers to appear before thee: whereby thou mayest thyself be able after examination to know the certainty of those things whereof we accuse him. Then the Jews also joined in affirming, that these things were so. But Paul (the governor having made him a sign to speak) replied, Knowing that for so many years thou hast been the judge of this nation, I with the more confidence offer my defence respecting the matters which concern me: as thou mayest be ascertained, that it is not more than twelve days ago since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. And neither in the temple found they me disputing with any man, nor raising any sedition among the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

Let us walk becomingly as in the face of day, not in revels and drunkenness, not in impurities and wantonness, not in strife and envy.

The night is far advanced, the day approaches: let us therefore put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

receiving the recompence of iniquity, counting daily luxury their pleasure; spots and blemishes, when they feast together with you; riotously indulging in their own delusions: