Bible Verses About Self-Defense

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

And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.

Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”

But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.

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

And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

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

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

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

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”

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.

You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.

Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.

I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.

At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia

who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.

Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,