15 Bible Verses about Riots

upon hearing this, the whole synagogue were incensed against him. and breaking up the assembly, they drove him out of the city, to the precipice of the hill, upon which it was built, in order to throw him headlong down. but he pass'd thro' the midst of them and went away.

It was then a tumult happen'd at Ephesus upon account of the christian sect. for one Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made little models of Diana's temple, and so furnish'd a deal of employment to the workmen in that trade, summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight,read more.
yet your own eyes and ears have inform'd you, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by his persuasions has turn'd the heads of a world of people, asserting, that these are Gods of our own making, and not really such. so that not only our profession runs the risk of being vilified; but the temple of the great goddess Diana will be depreciated, and her majesty, so rever'd thro' all Asia, and the whole world, will be discarded." at these words, they were fir'd with indignation, and cry'd out, "great is Diana of the Ephesians." and the whole city was fill'd with confusion: all crouded in a body to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, who had travell'd with Paul. upon this Paul was bent upon going. to the populace, but was prevented by his disciples, and by the primates of Asia, who were his friends, and sent to desire he would not venture to the theatre: there the mob were in the utmost riot, some bawling out in one cry, some in another, and the greatest part at a loss to know why they were met. at last Alexander was disengag'd from the croud, and accus'd by the Jews. then he waved his hand, desiring to make his defence before them all. but when they knew he was a Jew, they cry'd out one and all for the space of two hours, "great is Diana of the Ephesians."

from imprisonments, from tumults, from labours, from watchings, from penury.

but the chief priests and senators persuaded the people to demand Barabbas, and put to death Jesus. the governor therefore having asked, which of the two would you have me release? they said, Barabbas. Pilate replied, what shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? they all cried out, let him be crucified.read more.
the governor said, why, what mischief has he done? but they cried out the more, let him be crucified. Pilate perceiving he was so far from prevailing, that they were more tumultuous, he took water, and washed his hands before all the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: you are answerable for it.

Now during the feast, it was customary to release a prisoner, to be nominated by the people. Barabbas lay then confin'd with other seditious, who had committed murder in an insurrection. the populace therefore fell a roaring, and desired him to do as was always practis'd.read more.
but Pilate answered them, saying, do you chuse to have Jesus releas'd, the king of the Jews? for he perceived plainly, it was out of malice, that the chief priests had prosecuted him. but the chief priests incited the people to demand, that he would rather release Barabbas. Pilate still urg'd them again, and said, what then would you have me do with him, that you stile king of the Jews? and they cried out again, crucify him. Pilate replied, why, what harm has he done? but they cried out more furiously, crucify him. Pilate therefore willing to humour the people, released to them Barabbas, and having caused Jesus to be scourg'd, he deliver'd him to be crucified.

Now Stephen full of grace and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. when some out of the several synagogues, belonging to the freed men, to the Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and to those of Cilicia, and of Asia, came to dispute with Stephen. but as they were not able to withstand the force of that sublime knowledge which appeared in his discourse,read more.
they suborned men, who said, we have heard him speak irreverently of Moses, and of God. and they stirred up the people, the senators, and the doctors of law, who came and seiz'd him, and brought him to the council, where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law. for we have heard him say, that Jesus the Nazarene shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered us.

but the unbelieving Jews thro' envy, by the assistance of some loose strolers, rais'd a mob, set the whole city in an uproar, and attack'd Jason's house, thinking to find them there, and deliver them up to the populace. but not finding them, they dragg'd Jason and some of the brethren to the magistrates, crying out, these that have been every where the disturbers of the publick peace, are come hither also, and have been entertain'd by Jason. they all act in defiance of the edicts of Cesar, pretending there is another king, one Jesus.read more.
the people, and the magistrates upon hearing this were alarm'd: however having oblig'd Jason and the rest to give security, they let them go.

The seven days being almost expir'd, the Asiatic Jews seeing him in the temple, rais'd a tumult, and fell upon him, bawling out, "men of Israel, help: this is the man that every where inveighs upon all occasions against the people, against the law, and against this place, where they have brought Greeks too to profane this holy place." (for having seen Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city, they imagin'd Paul had conducted him into the temple.)read more.
the whole city was in an uproar, the people crouded together: they seized Paul, dragg'd him out of the temple, and then shut the gates. as they were busy upon his execution, news came to the commander of the cohort, that the whole city was in an uproar. immediately he headed a detachment, with his centurions, and march'd briskly to them; who, upon seeing the officer and his men, left off beating Paul. the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done. in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle. as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after,

About this time the chief priests, and the elders of the people, assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and consulted how to seize Jesus by surprize, and take away his life. but they said, this must not be done on the feastday, for fear the people rise.

Within two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread. and the chief priests, with the Scribes, contriv'd how they might seize Jesus by surprize, and put him to death. but they objected, it could not be during the festival, for fear of a popular insurrection.

at length the town-clerk appeased the people, and thus began, "who is there, O Ephesians, that does not know, that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Diana, and of her statue, which fell from heaven: since this is incontestible, it behoves you to be easy, and free from any rash conduct: for the men you have brought here, have neither plunder'd your temples, nor inveigh'd against your goddess.read more.
if Demetrius and the other artists, that are with him, can lay their action against any man, the law is open, and the proconsul is near; let them begin their process. but if the contest be about other matters, it may be decided in a regular assembly. for we run the risk of being answerable for this day's sedition: there being no justifiable occasion for such a commotion." having thus harangued them, he broke up the assembly.

this man is known to be a pernicious fellow that goes about the world to raise seditions among the Jews: he is the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and has attempted to prophane the temple: we secur'd him, and would have try'd him by our law: but general Lysias interpos'd, and with open force took him out of our hands,read more.
ordering his accusers to appear before you. if you please to interrogate him yourself, you will find the whole charge to be truly laid." this the Jews confirm'd by declaring it was all fact. Then the governour sign'd to Paul to reply; who said, I enter upon my defence with the greater confidence, by considering you have govern'd this nation several years: possibly you are appriz'd, that it is not above twelve days since, that I went to Jerusalem to worship. they neither found me in conference with any one in the temple, nor working up the people either in the assemblies or in the streets:

let us behave with decency as in open view; not with rioting and drunkenness, not with lewdness and brutality, not with strife and envy.

the night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore throw off the habits of darkness, and be invested with the ornaments of light.

they place their felicity in daily pleasure: they are a vile scandal to religion: when they are present at your love-feasts they indulge their luxury: