52 Bible Verses about Persecution

Then they departed from the face of the sanhedrim, rejoicing indeed, because they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of his name.

Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake.

I have come to send fire on the earth; and what do I will, if it is already kindled? And I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it may be perfected! Do you think that I have come to give peace on the earth? I say unto you, Nay, but division. read more.
For from now, there shall be five in one house divided, three shall be divided against two, and two against three: the father against the son, and the son against the father; and the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.

Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake.

Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake.

Then they departed from the face of the sanhedrim, rejoicing indeed, because they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of his name.

Alexander the coppersmith showed to me much evil: the Lord will reward him according to his works.

And at that time there was no small commotion concerning the way. For a certain Demetrius by name, a silversmith, making silver shrines of Diana, was bringing no small gain to the mechanics, whom having assembled and the laborers about such things, he said, Men, you know that it is from this work that prosperity is to us: read more.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, that this Paul having persuaded them has turned away a great multitude, saying that there are no gods made with hands. And not only is this interest in danger to us to come into disrepute; but even the temple of the great goddess Diana to be considered for nought, and they are about even to despise the majesty of her, whom all Asia and the world worships. And hearing and being filled with rage, they continued to cry out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the city was filled with commotion: and they rushed of one accord into the theatre, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians, the companions of Paul. And Paul wishing to go in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not; and certain ones of the Asiatic rulers, also being friends to him, having sent to him, continued to entreat him not to give himself up into the theatre. Then indeed they continued to cry out some one thing, and some another: for the church was confused; and the most of them did not know on account of what they had come together. And some from the crowd forced in Alexander, the Jews precipitating him forward; and Alexander, beckoning with his hand, wished to apologize to the people. But recognizing that he is a Jew, there was one voice from all crying out about two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the city clerk having dismissed the multitudes, said, Ephesian men, for what one of men is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the statue having fallen down from Jupiter? Therefore these things being unquestionable, it is necessary that you become calm, and do nothing rashly. For you have led in these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor are they blaspheming your goddess. If indeed therefore Demetrius, and the mechanics along with him, have a charge against any one, the courts are in session, and there are lawyers: let them implead one another. But if you are seeking something concerning other things, it shall be settled in the lawful church. For indeed we are in danger of prosecution for the disturbance this day, there being no cause concerning which we shall be able to give a reason for this uproar. And having said these things, he dismissed the church.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction taking place in Asia, because we were burthened exceedingly, above our power, so that we despaired even of living:

but when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea, they came thither also, agitating and stirring up the rabbles. But immediately at that time the brethren sent away Paul to travel even to the sea: and Silas and Timothy remained there. But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him.

But truly all wishing to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles the last, as exposed to death: that we may become a theater to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are glorious, but we are dishonorable. until this hour we both hunger and thirst, and suffer for insufficient clothing, and are buffeted; and we tramp, read more.
and we toil working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it; being scandalized, we entreat: we have become as the offscourings of the world, the refuse of all things until now.

And He departing out from the temple, one of His disciples says to Him, Teacher, behold, how great stones and how great buildings! And Jesus responding said to him, Do you see these great buildings? stone may not be left upon stone, which may not be thrown down. And He sitting upon the Mount of Olives in front of the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, read more.
Tell us, when these things shall be? and what shall be the sign when all these things may be about to have an end? And Jesus began to say to them, See, lest any one may deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am He; and will deceive many. I And when you may hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not disturbed: for it behooves it to be so; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earth-quakes in divers places; and there shall be famines. These are the beginnings of travails. But you take heed to yourselves: for they will deliver you into councils; and will beat you in the synagogues: and you shall stand before governors and kings on account of me, for a testimony unto them. And it behooves the gospel first to be preached to all the nations. And when they may lead you forth, delivering you up, do not be solicitous what you may speak, nor meditate: but whatsoever may be given to you in that hour, speak this: for you are not those speaking, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the child; and the children will rise up against the parents, and put them to death. And you shall be hated by all on account of my name: but the one persevering to the end, the same shall be saved.

Behold, I send you forth like sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrins, and will beat you in their synagogues; and they will lead you before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony unto them and the Gentiles. read more.
And when they may deliver you, be not solicitous how or what you may speak: for it will be given unto you in that hour what you may say. For you are not those speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking in you. And brother will deliver brother unto death, and the father the child: and children will rise up against parents, and put them to death. And you will be hated by all on account of my name: but he that persevereth unto the end, the same shall be saved. And when they may persecute you in this city, fly to another: for truly I say unto you, You may not complete the cities of Israel, until the Son of man may come. The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his lord. It is sufficient for the disciple that he may be as his teacher, and the servant, as his lord: if they call the landlord Beelzebul, how much more the inmates of his house?

Jesus having gone out departed from the temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. And responding, He said to them, Do you not see all these? Truly, I say unto you, that stone may not be left here upon stone, which shall not be thrown down. And He sitting upon the Mount of Olives; the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when these things shall be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the age? read more.
And Jesus responding said to them, See, lest any one may deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and they will deceive many. And you will be about to hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you are not disturbed: for it behooveth all these things to be, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. And all these things are the beginning of travails. Then they will deliver you into tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name, and then many will be offended; and they will betray one another, and hate one another.

Fear not those things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.

Then they will deliver you into tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name,

Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrins, and will beat you in their synagogues;

And before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you into their synagogues and prisons, led before kings and governors on account of my name.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

And having found a certain Jew by name Aquila, a Pontic by race, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife; because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: he came to them:

But Herod along with his soldiers having indeed treated Him with contempt, and mocked Him, putting on Him a scarlet robe, sent Him back to Pilate.

And on account of this the Jews continued to persecute Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

And rising up, they cast Him out of the city, and were leading Him to the brink of the mountain on which their city was built, to hurl Him down;

After these things Jesus walked about in Galilee: for He was not willing to walk about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

I know ye are the seed of Abraham; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

who delivered us from so great a death, and will deliver: in whom he have hope that he will also yet deliver;

persecutions, sufferings; such as came to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; such persecutions as I endured: and the Lord delivered me out of them all.

And having heard, they unanimously lifted up their voice to God, and said, O Lord, thou having created the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things which are in them, the One speaking through the mouth of David, thy child, our father through the Holy Ghost, Wherefore did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and his Christ. read more.
For in truth they were assembled together in this city, against thy holy Child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint; both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the high priest, asked from him letters to Damascus against the synagogues, in order that if he should find any being of the way, both men and women, he might lead them bound to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, while prosecuting the journey he drew near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him; read more.
and falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me not producing fruit, He takes it away: and every one producing fruit, He purifies it, that it may produce more fruit. So ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. read more.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to produce fruit of itself, unless it may abide in the vine; so you are not able, unless you may abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches. The one abiding in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: because you are not able to do anything without me. If any one may not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch, and withered; and they gather it, and cast it into the fire, and it is burnt. If you may abide in me, and my words may abide in you, ask whatsoever you may wish, and it shall be done unto you. In this my Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; and ye shall be my disciples. As the Father loved me, I also loved you: abide in my love. If you may keep my commandments, abide in my love; as I have kept the commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you may love one another, as I loved you. No one has greater love than this, that he may lay down his soul for his friends. You are my friends, if you may do those things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; because the servant knows not what his lord is doing: but I have called you friends; because all things which I heard with my Father, I made known unto you. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and placed you in your position, that you may go forth and bear fruit, and your fruit may abide: in order that He may give you whatsoever you may ask in my name. I command these things unto you, that you must love one another with divine love. If the world hates you, know that it first hated me. If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you. Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him that sent me. If I did not come and speak to them, they had not sin: now they have no excuse for their sin. The one hating me hates my Father also. If I did not works among them which no other did: they had not sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But in order that the word having been written in their law may be fulfilled, That they hated me gratuitously.

And the man departed, and said to the Jews, that Jesus is the one having made him whole. And on account of this the Jews continued to persecute Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. And He responded to them, My Father worketh until now, and I work. read more.
Therefore the Jews the more sought to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but said that God was His Father, making himself equal to God.

And it came to pass, while I was journeying, and nigh unto Damascus, a great light, about midday, suddenly shone from heaven around me; and I felt upon the ground, and heard a voice, saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I responded, Who art thou, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou art persecuting.

And they having gone away, behold, the angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying; Having arisen, take the young child and His mother, and fly into Egypt; and be thou there until I may speak to thee; for Herod is about to seek the young child in order to destroy Him.

And when they may persecute you in this city, fly to another: for truly I say unto you, You may not complete the cities of Israel, until the Son of man may come.

And the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against I Him that they might destroy Him. And Jesus having known it departed thence: and many multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

If after the manner of men I have fought with the wild beasts in Ephesus, what profit is it to me? If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

I John, your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and in patience in Jesus, was in the island which is called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony of Jesus.

and they laid hands on them and put them in prison till the morrow; for it was already evening. And many of those hearing the word believed, and the number of men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, the rulers and elders and scribes read more.
assembled in Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and so many as were of the family of the high priest. And having set them in the midst, asked them, By what power or in what name have you done this? Then Peter being full of the Holy Spirit said to them, Ye rulers of the people and elders, if we are this day judged for the benefaction of the impotent man, by whom he has been saved, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, through him this man now stands sound in your presence. This is the stone rejected by your builders, which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men by which it behooveth us to he saved. And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and apprehending that they are unlearned and ignorant men, they continued to be astonished, and recognized them, that they were with Jesus; and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. And having commanded them to depart out from the assembly, they conferred with one another, saying, What can we do to these men? for that a notable miracle has been wrought by them is indeed manifest to all dwelling at Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it; but that it may extend no further unto the people, let us threaten them to speak no more in this name to any one of men. And having called them, they command them, not at all to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

and laid hands on the apostles, and placed them in the public prison. And the angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the prison during the night, and leading them out said, Go, and standing in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life. read more.
And hearing, they came into the temple at daydawn, and were teaching. And the high priest coming and those with him, called together the sanhedrim and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to bring them. And the officers arriving found them not in the prison; and having returned, reported, saying; We found the prison closed with all safety, and the guards standing at the doors, and having opened, we found no one within. And when the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were at a loss concerning them, what this might be. And a certain one coming announced to them, Behold, the men whom you placed in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain along with the officers, having gone away, led them, not with violence, for they feared the people lest they might be stoned. And leading them, they placed them in the council, and the chief priests asked them, saying, With commandment we commanded you not to teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; and you are determined to bring upon us the blood of this man. But Peter and the apostles responding said, It behooves us to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you have slain, hanging him on the wood; Him hath God exalted at His own right hand, a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel. And we are witnesses of these words, and the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to those who obey him. And hearing, they were cut through and were minded to kill them. But a certain Pharisee, Gamaliel by name, a teacher of the law, honorable to all the people, rising in the sanhedrim command them to put the men out for a short time, and he said to them; Israelitish men, take heed to yourselves in reference to these men what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas arose, saying that he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who were slain, and all, so many as confided in him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrollment, and led the people after him; he also perished, and all, so many as confided in him, were scattered abroad. And I now say this to you: Stand aloof from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, you will not be able to destroy them, lest perchance you may also be found fighting against God. And they obeyed him, and having called the apostles, beating them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and sent them away. Then they departed from the face of the sanhedrim, rejoicing indeed, because they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of his name. And all day in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But at this time king Herod reached forth his hands to persecute some of those from the church. And he slew James the brother of John with a sword. And seeing that it is pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also: and those were the days of the unleavened bread: read more.
whom having seized, he also put in prison, having committed him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; wishing to bring him out to the people after the passover. Then indeed Peter was kept in prison: but prayer to God in his behalf was incessantly made by the church. But when Herod was about to lead him forth, and Peter was sleeping that night between two soldiers, and bound with two chains; and the guards were keeping guard before the door. And, behold, the angel of the Lord stood over him, and a light shone in the house; and having touched the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying; Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he thus did. And he says to him, Throw thy cloak about thee, and follow me. And having come out, he was following; and did not know that it is true which was done by the angel; but he was thinking that he saw a vision. And having come through the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and having come out, they came on to the first street; and the angel immediately departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know truly, that the Lord sent his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, out of all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And recognizing his whereabouts, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, called Mark; where many were assembled and praying. And he knocking at the door of the gate, a damsel, by name Rhoda, came to hearken: and recognizing the voice of Peter, from joy did not open the gate, but running in, she proclaimed that Peter stands before the gate. And they said to her, You are gone mad; but she persisted that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. But Peter remained knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished. And he, beckoning to them with his hand to keep silent, related how the Lord led him out from the prison: and said, Proclaim these things to James, and the brethren. And having gone out, he departed into another place. And it being day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to where Peter then was. And Herod having sought him, and found him not, condemning the guards, commanded that they should be put to death; and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he tarried.

And before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you into their synagogues and prisons, led before kings and governors on account of my name.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

except he may receive a hundredfold now in this time, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the coming age eternal life.

Then indeed those having been dispersed abroad on account of the persecution prevailing over Stephen came through even to Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only. And of them there were certain Cyprian and Cyrenean men, who, having come into Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number having believed, turned to the Lord.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Therefore indeed, being dispersed abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word:

But I wish you, brethren, to know that the affairs appertaining to me have turned out rather unto the promotion of the gospel. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the pretorian army, and to all the rest; and many of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are bold to speak the word of God more fluently without fear.

in reference to zeal, persecuting the church, according to righteousness which was in the law being blameless.

being antecedently a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an insulter: but I obtained mercy, because I did it in unbelief being ignorant;

And on account of this the Jews continued to persecute Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

who even killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and are displeasing to God, and hostile to all men;

if indeed it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them who are troubling you,

Blessed are they, who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for the kingdom of the heavens is theirs. Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake. Rejoice, and he exceedingly glad: because your reward is great in the heavens: for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessed are ye, when the people may hate you, and when they may separate you, and cast out your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold your reward in heaven is great: for according to these things were their fathers accustomed to do to the prophets.

And those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry, and send gifts to one another; because these prophets tormented those dwelling upon the earth.

Rejoice, and he exceedingly glad: because your reward is great in the heavens: for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

but as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; in order that you may also rejoice in the revelation of his glory, being glad.

in order that all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zachariah the son of the blessed, whom they slew between the temple and the altar, may come upon you.

not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother; and on account of what did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.

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

And the Jews stirred up the noble godly women, and the first men of the city, and they raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.

Moreover indeed, I thought to myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene: which I did also in Jerusalem, and shut up many of the saints in prison; and having received authority from the chief priests, and they being slain, I gave my vote against them; and throughout all the synagogues, frequently punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceeding mad against them, I was persecuting them even also unto foreign cities.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For you have heard of my life formerly in Judaism, that I was persecuting the church of God exceedingly, and destroying it:

But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the high priest, asked from him letters to Damascus against the synagogues, in order that if he should find any being of the way, both men and women, he might lead them bound to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, while prosecuting the journey he drew near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him; read more.
and falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But stand up, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behooves thee to do. And the men journeying along with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the ground; and his eyes being open, he saw nothing: but leading him by the hand, they led him into Damascus; and he was three days not seeing, neither did he eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple in Damascus, Ananias by name; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arising, go to the street which is called Straight, and seek a Tarsean, by name Saul, in the house of Judas; for, behold, he is praying, and he saw a man, Ananias by name, coming in, and putting his hands on him, in order that he may look up. And Ananias responded, Lord I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem: and he here has authority from the chief priests to bind all those calling on thy name.

Blessed are ye, when the people may hate you, and when they may separate you, and cast out your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of man.

Blessed are they, who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for the kingdom of the heavens is theirs.

If I did not works among them which no other did: they had not sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

And on account of this the Jews continued to persecute Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

in order that all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zachariah the son of the blessed, whom they slew between the temple and the altar, may come upon you.

and in order that we may be delivered from the ungodly and wicked men; for faith does not belong to all.

and we toil working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it;

Then it being evening, on that day, on the first day of the week, and the doors being shut where the disciples were assembled, on account of the fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and says to them, Peace be unto you.

They responded and said to him, Thou art altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

And his parents said these things, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already stipulated, that if any one should confess Him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

being persecuted, but not forsaken; being cast down, but not destroyed;

Hear ye another parable. A man was a landlord, who planted a vineyard, and placed a hedge around it, and dug a wine-trough in it, and built a tower, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went away. And when the time of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits; and the husbandmen taking his servants, beat one, and slew one, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants, more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. And afterward he sent to them his own son, saying, They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take possession of his inheritance. And taking him, they cast him out of the vine-yard, and slew him.

But truly all wishing to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

But I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? then the offence of the cross would be done away.

So many as wish to make a fair show in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised; only that they do not suffer persecution on account of the cross of Christ.

and others received the trial of scourgings and mockings, and still of bonds and imprisonment:

but it has no root in him, but is temporary; and tribulation or persecution arising on account of the word, immediately he is offended.

Then Jesus says to him, Turn away thy sword into its place; for all taking the sword shall perish by the sword.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies with a divine love, bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you:

So let those indeed suffering according to the will of God submit their souls to the faithful Creator, in good work.

but if as a Christian, be not ashamed, but glorify God in this name.

And certain ones of the synagogues, called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up disputing with Stephen, and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit with which he was speaking. Then they bribed men, saying, that we have heard him speaking words blasphemous against Moses and God. read more.
And they excited the people and the elders and scribes, and coming upon him, seized him, and led him into the council, and they raised up false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him saying, that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. And all sitting in the council, having fixed their eyes on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of the heavens draweth nigh.

Bless them that persecute you; bless, and scold not.

and the husbandmen taking his servants, beat one, and slew one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

And the Jews stirred up the noble godly women, and the first men of the city, and they raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.

And having laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them safely:

For Herod having arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they esteemed him as a prophet. read more.
Herod's birthday being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod; consequently with an oath he promised to give to her whatsoever she might ask. And being instigated by her mother, she says, Give me the head of John the Baptist here in a charger. And the king was grieved; nevertheless on account of his oaths, and those who were sitting with him, he commanded it to be given. And sending, he beheaded John in prison; and his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And His disciples, having come, took the body, and buried it; and having come they proclaimed it to Jesus.

Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? and they slew those proclaiming concerning the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you became:

and laid hands on the apostles, and placed them in the public prison.

But at this time king Herod reached forth his hands to persecute some of those from the church.

And they will do these things, because they did not know the Father, nor me.

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; The first and the last, who was dead, and is alive, says these things: I know your tribulations, and your poverty, but you are rich; and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear not those things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.

But the chief priest passed an edict that they would also slay Lazarus;

Know our brother Timothy has departed; with whom, if he may come the more speedily, I shall see you.

who after this way persecuted unto death, binding and committing to prison both men and women;

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And they compel a certain Simon, a Cyrenean, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, that he must take His cross.

I know where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is: and you are holding fast my name, and did not deny my faith, in the days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

And he slew James the brother of John with a sword.

I John, your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and in patience in Jesus, was in the island which is called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony of Jesus.

and not a hair from your head shall perish.

Then they departed from the face of the sanhedrim, rejoicing indeed, because they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of his name.

And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.

you being able to know, that there are not more than twelve days to me since I came up to Jerusalem to worship. Neither did they find me in the temple disputing with any one, or causing an excitement of the multitude, neither in the synagogues, nor throughout the city: neither are they able to prove before you the things which they are now accusing me. read more.
But I confess this to you, that according to the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of our fathers, believing all things which have been written in the law and in the prophets: having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust.

Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake.

Fear not those things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.

Then they will deliver you into tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name,

Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrins, and will beat you in their synagogues;

And before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you into their synagogues and prisons, led before kings and governors on account of my name.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

But Herod along with his soldiers having indeed treated Him with contempt, and mocked Him, putting on Him a scarlet robe, sent Him back to Pilate.

And on account of this the Jews continued to persecute Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

And rising up, they cast Him out of the city, and were leading Him to the brink of the mountain on which their city was built, to hurl Him down;

After these things Jesus walked about in Galilee: for He was not willing to walk about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

I know ye are the seed of Abraham; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

Blessed are ye when they may despise you, and shall persecute you, and may say all evil against you, falsifying, for my sake.