Self-defense

How Nave’s arranged it

• Accused persons heard inMatthew 27:11–14Mark 15:2–5Luke 23:3John 7:51Acts 2:37–40Acts 22Acts 23Acts 24:10–21Acts 26

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Matthew 27:11–14

   Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 27:11–142 voices

   “(Verse 11.) But Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Are you the king of the Jews? The Jews accuse Jesus of impiety, because they were not even able to find anything false to accuse the Savior. Jesus said to him: You say so. Thus he answered so as to speak the truth and not reveal his speech to calumny. And notice that although Pilate, who unwillingly pronounced the sentence, answered in part: yet he did not want to answer the priests and rulers, considering them unworthy of his speech.

   “And Jesus stood before the governor,.... Pilate who sat; for so was the custom for the judge to sit, and those that were judged, to stand, especially whilst witness was bore against them (f). "Says R. Bo, in the name of Rab Hona, the witnesses ought to stand whilst they bear witness. Says R. Jeremiah, in the name of R.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 27:11–14→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Mark 15:2–5

   So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

   ›Commentary on Mark 15:2–51 voice

   “(ubi sup.) By Pilate's asking Him about no other accusation, except whether He was King of the Jews, they are convicted of impiety, for they could not even find a false accusation against our Saviour. It goes on: And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest. He answers in this way so as both to speak the truth, and yet not to be open to cavil.

   Everything gathered on Mark 15:2–5→

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3. Luke 23:3

   So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

   ›Commentary on Luke 23:32 voices

   “Likewise, when Pirate asked Him, "Art thou Christ (the King)? "He answered, as He had before (to the Jewish council) "Thou sayest that I am" in order that He might not seem to have been driven by a fear of his power to give him a fuller answer.

   “Our Lord is accused and is silent, for He needs no defence. Let them cast about for defence who fear to be conquered. He does not then confirm, the accusation by His silence, but He despises it by not refuting it. Why then should He fear who does not court safety? The Safety of all men forfeits His own, that He may gain that of all.

   Everything gathered on Luke 23:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. John 7:51

   “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

   ›Commentary on John 7:512 voices

   “Doth our law judge any man,.... Or condemn any man; or can any man be lawfully condemned: before it hear him: what he has to say for himself; is this the usual process in our courts? or is this a legal one to condemn a man unheard? and know what he doth? what his crimes are. This he said, having a secret respect for Christ, though he had not courage enough openly to appear for him.

   “What does Nicodemus point out to them? He says: "Does our Law condemn a man without first hearing him?" By this he shows that they neither read the Law nor fulfilled its requirements, although they boasted much about lawfulness. For if the Law commands not …

   Everything gathered on John 7:51→

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5. Acts 2:37–40

   When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

   ›Commentary on Acts 2:37–401 voice

   And when the multitudes exclaimed, "What shall we do then? "Peter says to them, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

   Everything gathered on Acts 2:37–40→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Acts 22:1

   “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

   ›Commentary on Acts 22:11 voice

   “The expression "fathers" is a sign of respect, and the expression "brethren" is an indication of kinship. Notice, his speech is both free from flattery and full of gentleness. He did not say "lords," but "brothers," which was especially pleasing to the people. I am …

   Everything gathered on Acts 22:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Acts 23:1

   Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Acts 24:10–21

   When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 26:1

   Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

   ›Commentary on Acts 26:11 voice

   “Then Agrippa said unto Paul,.... After Festus had made the above speech to him, and to all present, and had introduced the affair of Paul, who now stood before them: thou art permitted to speak for thyself; which a prisoner might not do, until he had leave; and this leave was granted by Festus the Roman governor, who was properly the judge, and not Agrippa, though the permission might be by both; and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "we have ordered", or "permitted thee", &c.

   Everything gathered on Acts 26:1→

   Verse page →Original language →