Defense

How Nave’s arranged it

• (An argument made before a court)
• Of JeremiahJeremiah 26:12–16
• Of PeterActs 4:8–13Acts 5:23–29
• Of StephenActs 7
• Of PaulActs 22Acts 23:1–6Acts 24:10–21Acts 26:1–23
• Military defenses
• See Fort
• See Armies

The passages, in Bible order (8)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 8 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Jeremiah 26:12–16

   But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 26:12–161 voice

   “(Verse 12 and following) And Jeremiah said to all the leaders and to all the people, saying: The Lord has sent me to prophesy to this house (or over this house) and to this city (or over this city) all the words that you have heard. Therefore, now make your ways and your pursuits good, and listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil that He has spoken against you (or the Lord will cease from the evils that He has spoken against you).

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 26:12–16→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Acts 4:8–13

   Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

   ›Commentary on Acts 4:8–132 voices

   “That Christ also is called a Stone. In Isaiah: "Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I place on the foundations of Sion a precious stone, elect, chief, a corner stone, honourable; and he who trusteth in Him shall not be confounded." Also in the cxviith Psalm: "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day, which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save therefore, O Lord, direct therefore.

   “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,.... At that very instant, having received a fresh measure of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, besides what he had poured forth upon him at the day of Pentecost; so that he had great courage and presence of mind, and freedom of speech, as Christ had promised his disciples they should have, when they were brought before governors and magistrates, Mat 10:

   Everything gathered on Acts 4:8–13→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Acts 5:23–29

   “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

   ›Commentary on Acts 5:23–292 voices

   “We found the prison indeed closed with all diligence, and the guards standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no one inside. Why, profane Jew, are you driven by blind madness, saying that the apostles stole the Lord from the tomb? Say, I …

   “Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety,.... Locked, barred and bolted; and the keepers standing without before the doors; both inner and outer in their proper places, diligently discharging their office: but when we had opened we found no man within; that is, none of the apostles, for there might be other prisoners in it, who were not released by this means.

   Everything gathered on Acts 5:23–29→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Acts 7:1

   Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:11 voice

   "they saw his face." It even happens that someone who is in a lower rank appears graceful and splendid. Therefore, so that those to whom he was about to speak might be struck dumb by his words, he begins with a facial display, by which …

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 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 →

6. Acts 23:1–6

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

   ›Commentary on Acts 23:1–61 voice

   "And Paul looking upon the council, said," etc. When Paul had said right in front of the council: "Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day," the high priest Ananias commanded the men who stood by him to …

   Everything gathered on Acts 23:1–6→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 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.

   ›Commentary on Acts 24:10–211 voice

   "Then Paul answered (the governor making a sign to him), saying." When the orator Tertullus had made the claims he wanted, Paul, after first saying things that might win him the goodwill of the judge, responded thus: when he had come to Jerusalem following the …

   Everything gathered on Acts 24:10–21→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Acts 26:1–23

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

   ›Commentary on Acts 26:1–232 voices

   "Then Agrippa said to Paul." Then Agrippa gave Paul permission to speak for himself. Paul first praised the judge, then gave a truthful summary of all that had happened to him from the beginning, relating how he had persecuted the Christian people, what he had …

   “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 26:1–23→

   Verse page →Original language →