60 Bible Verses about Persecution

Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus.

Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me.

I came to cast fire upon the earth, and what I desire is if it were kindled already. But I have an immersion to be immersed, and how am I constrained until it will be accomplished. Do ye suppose that I came to give peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. read more.
For henceforth there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. A father will be divided against a son, and a son against a father, a mother against a daughter, and a daughter against a mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me.

Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me.

Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus.

Alexander the coppersmith did many evil things to me. May the Lord repay him according to his works,

And about that time there developed no small stir about the Way. For a certain silversmith named Demetrius who makes silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little work to the craftsmen, to whom also (having assembled the workmen about such things) he said, Men, ye know that our prosperity is from this work. read more.
And ye see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost in all Asia, this man Paul, having persuaded them, turned away a considerable multitude, saying that there are no gods made by hands. And not only is this our part liable to come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis is going to be regarded for nothing, and also her magnificence be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship. And when they heard this, having become full of wrath, they cried out, saying, The great Artemis of Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with the confusion. And they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, traveling companions of Paul. And when Paul wanted to enter in to the crowd, the disciples did not let him. And also some of the Asian officers, being their friends, having sent to him, implored him not to give himself into the theatre. Indeed therefore some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was confused, and most had not seen why they had come together. And they urged forward Alexander out of the multitude, having put him forward from the Jews. And Alexander having waved his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But after recognizing that he was a Jew, one voice developed from them all, crying out for about two hours, The great Artemis of Ephesians. And when the town clerk calmed the multitude, he says, Ephesian men, now who is the man who does not know the city of the Ephesians being temple-guardian of the great goddess Artemis, and of what fell from Zeus? Therefore these things being undeniable, ye ought to be restrained, and do nothing rash. For ye brought these men, who are neither sacrilegious nor blaspheming your goddess. Indeed therefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen with him, have a matter against any man, forums are brought, and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse each other. And if ye seek anything about other things, it will be decided in the assembly within law. For we are also in danger to be accused about the uproar today, there being no cause about which we can give account of this commotion. And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about our affliction that happened to us in Asia, because we were extraordinarily weighed down, above strength, so as for us to despair even to be alive.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica also learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there also, agitating the crowds. But then straightaway the brothers sent Paul away to go as far as to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy remained there. And those who brought Paul led him as far as Athens. And after taking a command for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they departed.

And also all those who want to live devoutly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

For I think God has exhibited us the apostles least, as men sentenced to die, because we became a spectacle to the world, both to heavenly agents and to men. We are foolish for the sake of Christ, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weak, but ye are strong. Ye are esteemed, but we are disreputable. As far as the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are ill clothed, and are treated roughly, and are homeless. read more.
And we toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being slandered, we entreat. We became as trash of the world, an offscouring of all things, until now.

And as he went forth out of the temple, one of his disciples says to him, Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings. And Jesus having answered, he said to him, See thou these great buildings? There will be left, no, not a stone upon a stone, that will, no, not be brought down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew questioned him privately, read more.
Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled? And having answered them, Jesus began to say to them, Watch that not any man lead you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am, and they will lead many astray. And when ye may hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not alarmed, for it must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginnings of travails. But watch ye yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and ye will be beaten in synagogues. And ye will be stood before rulers and kings because of me, for a testimony to them. And the good-news must first be preached to all the nations. But when they lead you, delivering you up, be not anxious before what ye might speak, nor meditate. But whatever may be given you in that hour, speak ye this, for ye are not who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will betray brother to death, and a father a child. And children will rise up against parents, and will condemn them to death. And ye will be hated by all men because of my name, but he who endures to the end, this man will be saved.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, and ye will be brought to governors and even kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles. read more.
But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye should speak, for it will be given you in that hour what ye will speak. For ye are not who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you. And a brother will deliver up a brother to death, and a father a child. And children will rise up against parents, and condemn them to death. And ye will be hated by all men because of my name, but he who endures to the end, this man will be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other, for truly I say to you, ye will, no, not have completed the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes. A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a bondman above his lord. It is enough for the pupil that he becomes like his teacher, and the bondman like his lord. If they have called the house-ruler Beelzebub, how much more those of his household.

And when Jesus departed he was going from the temple. And his disciples came near to exhibit to him the buildings of the temple. But Jesus said to them, Do ye not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there will be left here, no, not a stone upon a stone, that will not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of thy coming, and of the termination of the age? read more.
And having answered, Jesus said to them, See that not any man may lead you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will lead many astray. And ye are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye not be alarmed, for all the things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in places. But all these things are the beginning of travail. Then they will deliver you up for tribulation, and will kill you, and ye will be hated by all the nations because of my name. And then many will be caused to stumble, and they will betray each other and will hate each other.

O LORD my God, in thee do I take refuge. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

My times are in thy hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

All thy commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help thou me.

Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I have not swerved from thy testimonies.

Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of thy words.

Fear none of the things that thou are going to suffer. Behold, the devil is indeed going to cast some of you into prison, so that ye may be tried, and ye will have tribulation ten days. Become thou faithful until death, and I will

Then they will deliver you up for tribulation, and will kill you, and ye will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues,

But before all these things, they will throw their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to you, A bondman is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And having found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by origin, who recently came from Italy, and his wife Priscilla, because Claudius arranged for all the Jews to separate from Rome, he came to them.

At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath. And the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there to this day.

And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little sons and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which

They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether. They have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.

They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but LORD hid them.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou have bore me, a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, nor have men lent to me, [yet] every one of them curses me.

Now at that time the king of Babylon's army was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah's house.

O LORD, thou know. Remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors. Take me not away in thy longsuffering. Know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach.

Moreover the word of LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying,

But Herod having disdained him with his soldiers, and having mocked him, having arraying him in a bright robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

And because of this the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on a Sabbath.

And having risen up, they thrust him outside of the city, and brought him as far as the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw him down headlong.

And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for he did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that ye are Abraham's seed, yet ye seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

Who rescued us out of so great a death, and does rescue, in whom we have hoped that he will also still rescue.

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no harm. And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his [heavenly] agent, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies

persecutions, sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. I endured such persecutions, and the Lord rescued me out of them all.

And those who heard lifted up a voice to God with one accord, and said, Thou Master, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things in them. He who said through the mouth of thy boy David, Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. read more.
For in truth, against thy holy Boy Jesus, whom thou anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,

But Saul, still breathing threat and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, after going to the high priest, he requested letters from him for Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And on going, it came to pass for him to approach Damascus. And suddenly there shone around him a light out of heaven. read more.
And after falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me? And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute.

I am the TRUE grapevine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me not bearing fruit, he removes it. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. Now ye are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. read more.
Dwell in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it dwells in the grapevine, so neither ye, if ye do not dwell in me. I am the grapevine, ye are the branches. He who dwells in me, and I in him, this man bears much fruit, because without me ye can do nothing. If any man does not dwell in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and are burned. If ye dwell in me, and my sayings dwell in you, ye will ask whatever ye may want, and it will be done to you. By this my Father is glorified, that ye may bear much fruit, and ye will become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Dwell ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye will dwell in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and dwell in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may dwell in you, and your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that ye love each other, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that some man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do as many things as I command you. I no longer call you bondmen, because the bondman does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I made known to you. Ye did not choose out me, but I chose out you, and appointed you, so that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain, so that anything whatever ye may ask of the Father in my name, he may give you. These things I command you, so that ye may love each other. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own, but because ye are not of the world (instead I chose you out of the world), because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A bondman is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you because of my name, because they have not known him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would not have had sin, but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But, that the word that is written in their law may be fulfilled, They hated me without cause.

The man departed and reported to the Jews that Jesus is the man who made him well. And because of this the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on a Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now and I work. read more.
Because of this therefore the Jews sought even more to kill him, because not only did he relax the Sabbath, but also he called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

And there happened to me, while going and approaching Damascus about noon, suddenly to flash forth from heaven a great light around me. And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me? And I answered, Who are thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou persecute.

Now after they departed, behold, an agent of Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, After rising, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and thou be there until I tell thee, for Herod is going to seek the child to

But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other, for truly I say to you, ye will, no, not have completed the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes.

But when they went out, the Pharisees held a consultation against him, how they might destroy him. And having known it Jesus withdrew from there, and many multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock. Yea, the strength of their hands, to what should it profit me? Men in whom ripe age is perished. They are gaunt with want and famine. They gnaw the dry ground in the gloom of waste and desolation. read more.
They pluck mallows by the bushes, and the roots of the juniper are their food. They are driven forth from the midst [of men]. They cry out after them as after a thief, so that they dwell in frightful valleys, in holes of the earth and of the rocks. Among the bushes they bray, under the nettles they are gathered together. [They are] sons of fools, yea, sons of base men. They were scourged out of the land. And now I have become their song, Yea, I am a byword to them. They abhor me. They stand aloof from me, and do not spare to spit in my face.

But ye are forgers of lies. Ye are all physicians of no value. O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. read more.
Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him? He will surely reprove you if ye secretly show partiality. Shall not his majesty make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you? Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay. Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Then Job answered, and said, I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer? read more.
I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

Surely there are mockers with me, and my eye dwells upon their provocation.

Then Job answered, and said, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times ye have reproached me. Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me. read more.
And be it indeed that I have erred, my error remains with myself. If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach,

If in respect to men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what is the benefit to me if the dead are not raised? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

If we are men who have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men more miserable.

I John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Christ Jesus, happened to be on the isle that is called Patmos because of the word of God, and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And they threw hands on them, and put them in custody for the morrow, for it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, to be assembled in Jerusalem, their rulers, and elders, and scholars, read more.
and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high priestly family. And after placing them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? Then Peter being filled with Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are examined today about a good deed, of a feeble man, by what this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this, this man stands here before you healthy. This is the stone that was rejected by you who build, which became into the head of the corner. And salvation is not in any other man, for there is no other name under the heaven, that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to contradict. But after commanding them to go outside of the council, they conferred among each other, saying, What will we do to these men? For that indeed a notable sign has happened by them, is apparent to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it may not spread on further among the people, let us threaten them with threats to speak no longer in this name, to not one man. And having called them, they commanded them entirely, not to utter nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

And they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. But an agent of Lord opened the prison doors by night, and after leading them out, he said, Go ye, and after standing in the temple, speak to the people all the sayings of this Life. read more.
And having heard, they entered into the temple at early morning, and taught. But the high priest having arrived, and those with him, they called the council together, and all the senate of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the p But the subordinates who came did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported, saying, We found the prison indeed shut in all security, and the guards standing before the doors, but after opening, we found no man inside. Now when they heard these words, the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, were perplexed about them, whatever this would become. But a certain man who arrived, reported to them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then after departing, the captain with the subordinates brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they would be stoned. And having brought them, they placed them in the council. And the high priest demanded them, saying, Did we not command by an order for you not to teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem of your doctrine, and intend to bring upon us this man's blood. And Peter and the apostles having answered, they said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye murdered, having hung on a tree. God exalted this man with his right hand, a Pathfinder and a Savior to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. And when they heard this, they were as being split with a saw, and wanted to annihilate them. But after standing up in the council, a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a law teacher, esteemed by all the people, commanded to make the apostles be outside a little while. And he said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what ye are going to do against these men. For before these days Theudas rose up saying himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, bonded themselves, who was killed. And all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed and developed into nothi After this man Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration, and drew a considerable crowd behind him. That man was also destroyed, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them go, because if the project or this work is from men, it will be overthrown, but if it is from God, ye cannot overthrow it, and perhaps ye may be found to be fighting against God. And they were persuaded by him. And after summoning the apostles, having beat them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching good news, Jesus, the Christ.

Now about that time Herod the king threw on hands to harm some of those from the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And after seeing that it was pleasing the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also (and those were the days of unleavened bread), read more.
whom, having also arrested, he put in prison, having delivered to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. Indeed therefore Peter was kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was being made by the church to God for him. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two chains. And guards in front of the door guarded the prison. And behold, an agent of Lord stood near, and light shone in the room. And after striking the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, Get up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the agent said to him, Gird thyself, and tie on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Throw on thy garment, and follow me. And after going out, he followed him. And he had not seen that the thing happening by the heavenly agent was true, but presumed to see a vision. And when they passed a first and a second watch, they came to the iron gate, the one leading to the city, which opened spontaneously to them. And after going out, they advanced one street. And straightaway the agent withdrew from h And when Peter came to himself, he said, Now I know truly, that Lord dispatched his agent and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And having realized it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a considerable were gathered and praying. And when Peter knocked the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to hearken. And after recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but having ran in, she reported Peter was standing in front of the gate. And they said to her, Thou are mad. But she insisted to have it so. But they said, It is his heavenly agent. But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him, and were astonished. But after motioning to them with the hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison. And he said, Report these things to James, and to the brothers. And having departed, he went to a different pl But having become day, there was no small stir among the soldiers what then became of Peter. And Herod, who sought for him, and not having found, having examined the guards, he commanded them to be led away. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he remained there.

But before all these things, they will throw their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to you, A bondman is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

but he will receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands--with persecutions--and in the coming age, eternal life.

Indeed therefore those who were scattered abroad from the persecution that occurred against Stephen passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews only. And some of them were men, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who, having come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching good-news, the Lord Jesus. And the hand of Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

And Saul was approving the killing of him. And on that day there developed a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Indeed therefore those who were scattered abroad passed through proclaiming the good-news, the word.

But I want you to know, brothers, that the things in respect to me have come more for the advancement of the good-news, in order for my bonds in Christ to became apparent in the whole Praetorium, and in all the others. And more of the brothers in Lord have been convinced by my bonds to be much more bold to speak the word fearlessly.

regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness in law, having become blameless.

the man who was formerly blasphemous, and a persecutor, and an aggressor. But I obtained mercy because I did it being ignorant in unbelief.

And because of this the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on a Sabbath.

The men who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and who persecuted us, and are not pleasing to God, and are contrary to all men.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us deal craftily with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when war happens, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land. read more.
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built store-cities for Pharaoh, Pithom and Rameses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. And they were grieved because of the sons of Israel. And the Egyptians made the sons of Israel to serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, with which they made them serve with rigor.

Since it is a righteous thing according to God to repay restriction to those who restrict you,

He has also prepared for him the instruments of death. He makes his arrows fiery.

For the enemy has persecuted my soul. He has smitten my life down to the ground. He has made me to dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead.

Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. They chased us upon the mountains. They laid wait for us in the wilderness.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted because of righteousness, because the kingdom of the heavens is theirs. Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

Blessed are ye, when men will hate you, and when they will exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of man. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did in the same way to the prophets.

Then [the king] sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and, behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he spoke to him, O man of God, the king has said, Come down.

And he went up from there to Bethel. And as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.

As LORD thy God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek thee. And when they said, He is not here, he took an oath from the kingdom and nation that they did not find thee.

lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him, [lest] my adversaries rejoice when I am moved.

And those who dwell upon the earth rejoice over them, and will celebrate, and will give gifts to each other, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

But rejoice in so far as ye are partakers in the sufferings of the Christ, so that also at the revealing of his glory ye may rejoice, having exceeding joy.

so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

Not as Cain. He was of the wicked, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were wrong, and his brother's right.

And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him.

For thus says LORD of hosts: After glory he has sent me to the nations which plundered you. For he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.

And after falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me? And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute.

But the Jews incited the religious women, and the prominent women, and the principle men of the city, and raised up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they threw them out of their boundaries.

Indeed therefore I thought it necessary for myself to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, which also I did at Jerusalem. And I locked up many of the sanctified in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were killed, I gave a vote against them. And punishing them often at all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being extraordinarily furious toward them, I persecuted them even as far as to outside cities.

O LORD my God, in thee do I take refuge. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

All thy commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help thou me.

And Saul was approving the killing of him. And on that day there developed a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For ye heard of my former behavior in Judaism, that I persecuted the church of God to extraordinariness, and ravaged it.

But Saul, still breathing threat and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, after going to the high priest, he requested letters from him for Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And on going, it came to pass for him to approach Damascus. And suddenly there shone around him a light out of heaven. read more.
And after falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me? And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute. But arise, and enter into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do. And the men who traveled with him had stopped, speechless, indeed hearing the voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw no man. But they brought him into Damascus, leading him by the hand. And he was three days not seeing, and did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold me, Lord. And the Lord said to him, After rising, go into the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, a man named Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And he saw in a vision a man named Ananias who came in and laid a hand on him, so that he might receive sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he did to thy sanctified at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.

For they persecute him whom thou have smitten, and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou have wounded.

In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.

Blessed are ye, when men will hate you, and when they will exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of man.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted because of righteousness, because the kingdom of the heavens is theirs.

If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would not have had sin, but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Remember the word that I said to you, A bondman is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

For they persecute him whom thou have smitten, and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou have wounded.

And because of this the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on a Sabbath.

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,

and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of LORD.

and that we may be delivered from aberrant and wicked men, for the faith is not of all men.

And we toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

Therefore being evening that day, the first day of the week, and the doors having been shut where the disciples were who assembled because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and says to them, Peace to you.

They answered and said to him, Thou were born entirely in sins, and thou teach us. And they cast him outside.

His parents spoke these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man confessed him as Christ, he should become excommunicated from the synagogue.

And it shall come to pass, when all these things have come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shall call them to mind among all the nations, where LORD thy God has driven thee, and shall return to LORD thy God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy sons, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that then LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples where LORD thy God has scattered thee. read more.
If [any of] thine outcasts be in the outermost parts of heaven, from there LORD thy God will gather thee, and from there he will fetch thee. And LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shall possess it, and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And LORD thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou may live. And LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on those who hate thee, who persecuted thee.

persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.

For I have heard the slander of many. Fear [was] on every side, while they took counsel together against me. They devised to take away my life.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the bloodthirsty men.

Hear ye another parable. There was a certain man who was a house-ruler, who planted a vineyard, and placed a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it to farmers, and went on a journey. And when the time of the fruits approached, he sent his bondmen to the farmers to receive his fruits. And the farmers having taken his bondmen, they beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again, he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them in like manner. But finally he sent to them his son, saying, They will be made ashamed by my son. But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and possess his inheritance. And having seized him, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

Then the rulers said to the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death, inasmuch as he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them. For this ma And Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand, for the king is not he who can do anything against you. Then they took Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king's son, that was in the court of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire, and Jeremiah sank in th

Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say, Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

And also all those who want to live devoutly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling-block of the cross has been abolished.

O LORD, thou know. Remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors. Take me not away in thy longsuffering. Know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach.

As many as desire to make a good impression in flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of the Christ.

But just as then, the man who was born according to flesh persecuted the man according to Spirit, so also now.

And others took a trial of mockings and scourgings, and moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

Now at that time the king of Babylon's army was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah's house.

Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him: King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god o read more.
Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter. Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he knelt upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he d Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict. Have thou not signed an interdict, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to thee, O king, shall be cast i Then they answered and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the sons of the captivity of Judah, does not regard thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said to Daniel, Thy God whom thou serve continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den. And the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of thy words.

yet he has no root in himself, instead it is temporary. And when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway he is caused to stumble.

Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

And Moses cried to LORD, saying, What shall I do to this people? They are almost ready to stone me.

Then Jesus says to him, Return thy sword into its place, for all those who take a sword will die by a sword.

and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

Therefore also let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls as to a faithful Creator by well-doing.

But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this regard.

But some of those from the synagogue called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they instigated men who said, We have heard him speaking blasphemous sayings against Moses and God. read more.
And they incited the people, and the elders, and the scholars. And after approaching, they seized him, and brought him to the council. And they put forward FALSE witnesses who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous sayings against the holy place, and the law. For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. And all who sat in the council, having gazed upon him, saw his face like a face of a heavenly agent.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens has approached.

Bless those who persecute you. Bless ye and do not curse.

And the farmers having taken his bondmen, they beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them in like manner.

saying, God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver.

In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or restriction, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that is mute before its shearers, so he opened not his mouth.

But the Jews incited the religious women, and the prominent women, and the principle men of the city, and raised up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they threw them out of their boundaries.

And having laid many blows upon them, they cast them into prison, having ordered the jailor to guard them securely,

In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.

For Herod having arrested John, bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John said to him, It is not permitted for thee to have her. And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the multitude because they held him as a prophet. read more.
But Herod's birthday being brought, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. And she, having been put forward by her mother, says, Give me here on a platter the head of John the immerser. And he became sad, but because of the oaths, and of those dining together, the king commanded it to be given. And having sent, he beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the maiden, and she brought it to her mother. And after coming, his disciples took up the body and buried it, and having gone, they informed Jesus.

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing. Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it. read more.
And Joash said to all who stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? Or will ye save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death while [it is] morning. If he be a god, let him contend for himself because he has brok Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him because he has broken down his altar.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold about the coming of the Righteous man, of whom ye now have become betrayers and murderers,

And they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.

Now about that time Herod the king threw on hands to harm some of those from the church.

And they will do these things, because they have not known the Father nor me.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live forever. Thou, O king, have made a decree, that every man who shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. read more.
And he who does not fall down and worship, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee. They do not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that ye do not serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, [well]. But if ye do not worship, ye Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [Therefore] he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was accustomed to And he commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their tunics, and their turbans, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

And to the agent of the congregation in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived: I know thy works and tribulation and poverty (but thou are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say themselves to be Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear none of the things that thou are going to suffer. Behold, the devil is indeed going to cast some of you into prison, so that ye may be tried, and ye will have tribulation ten days. Become thou faithful until death, and I will

But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also,

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison-house. For he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

Know ye, brother Timothy who was set free is with whom I will see you, if he comes sooner.

And I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

And Saul was approving the killing of him. And on that day there developed a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

And they draft a certain Simon, a Cyrenian passing by coming from the countryside, the father of Alexander and Rufus, so that he would take his cross.

Then he said, God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

I know thy works, and where thou dwell, where Satan's throne is. And thou hold firm my name, and did not deny my faith in the days in which Antipas was my faithful witness, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And they said, Stand back. And they said, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will be a judge. Now we will deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed greatly upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the doo

I John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Christ Jesus, happened to be on the isle that is called Patmos because of the word of God, and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And, no, not a hair of your head will perish.

Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus.

But when Paul ascertained that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee. About the hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged.

thou being able to learn that there are for me not more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem. And they found me neither in the temple disputing against any man, nor making a gang of a group, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city. Neither can they prove against me of which things they now accuse me. read more.
But this I confess to thee, that according to the Way that they call a sect, so serve I the paternal God, believing all things written according to the law and the prophets, having hope toward God, which they themselves also await, to come to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me.

O LORD my God, in thee do I take refuge. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

My times are in thy hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

All thy commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help thou me.

Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I have not swerved from thy testimonies.

Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of thy words.

Fear none of the things that thou are going to suffer. Behold, the devil is indeed going to cast some of you into prison, so that ye may be tried, and ye will have tribulation ten days. Become thou faithful until death, and I will

Then they will deliver you up for tribulation, and will kill you, and ye will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues,

But before all these things, they will throw their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to you, A bondman is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

But Herod having disdained him with his soldiers, and having mocked him, having arraying him in a bright robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

And because of this the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on a Sabbath.

And having risen up, they thrust him outside of the city, and brought him as far as the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw him down headlong.

And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for he did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that ye are Abraham's seed, yet ye seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

Blessed are ye when they revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil word, being deceitful against you because of me.