Bible Verses About Self-Defense

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it.

And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing.

Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?

And he answered him to never a word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly.

And Pilate asked him: Art thou the king of the Jews? But he answering, saith to him: Thou sayest it.

And the chief priests accused him in many things.

And Pilate again asked him, saying: Answerest thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse thee.

But Jesus still answered nothing: so that Pilate wondered.

And Pilate asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? But he answering, said: Thou sayest it.

Doth our law judge any man, unless it first hear him and know what he doth?

Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren?

But Peter said to them: Do penance: and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.

And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

Then Paul answered (the governor making a sign to him to speak): Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge over this nation, I will with good courage answer for myself.

For thou mayest understand that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to adore in Jerusalem:

And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or causing any concourse of the people: neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.

Neither can they prove unto thee the things whereof they now accuse me.

But this I confess to thee that according to the way which they call a heresy, so do I serve the Father and my God, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets:

Having hope in God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust.

And herein do I endeavour to have always a conscience without offence, towards God and towards men.

Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings and vows.

In which I was found purified in the temple: neither with multitude nor with tumult.

But certain Jews of Asia, who ought to be present before thee and to accuse, if they had anything against me:

Or let these men themselves say if they found in me any iniquity, when standing before the council,