60 Bible Verses about Persecution

So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish that it had been kindled already! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to grant peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! read more.
For from now on there will be five in one household, divided three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name.

Alexander the metalworker did me much harm; may the Lord pay back to him according to his deeds,

Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way. For someone {named} Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen. {These} he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, [and] said, "Men, you know that from this business {we get our prosperity}, read more.
and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this man Paul has persuaded [and] turned away a large crowd [by] saying that the [gods] made by hands are not gods. So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours [will] come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis [will] be regarded as nothing--and [she] is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, [she] whom the whole [of] Asia and the [entire] world worship!" And [when they] heard [this] and became full of rage, they began to shout, saying, "Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians!" And the city was filled with the tumult, and with one purpose they rushed into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians [who were] traveling companions of Paul. But [when] Paul wanted to enter into the popular assembly, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs who were his friends sent [word] to him [and] were urging [him] not to risk himself [by going] into the theater. So some were shouting [one thing] [and] some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know {why} they had assembled. And [some] of the crowd advised Alexander, [when] the Jews put him forward. But Alexander, motioning [with his] hand, was wanting to defend himself to the popular assembly. But [when they] recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all [of them] for about two hours, "Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians!" And [when] the city secretary had quieted the crowd, he said, "Ephesian men, for who is there among men who does not know the Ephesian city is honorary temple keeper of the great Artemis and of [her] image fallen from heaven? Therefore [because] these [things] are undeniable, it is necessary [that] you be quiet and do nothing rash! For you have brought these men [here] [who are] neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. If then Demetrius and the craftsmen [who are] with him have a complaint against anyone, the court days are observed and there are proconsuls--let them bring charges against one another! But if you desire anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, [since there] is no cause in relation to which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorderly gathering!" And [when he] had said these [things], he dismissed the assembly.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning our affliction that happened in the [province of] Asia, that we were burdened to an extraordinary degree, beyond [our] strength, so that we were in despair even of living.

But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the message of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and stirring up the crowds. So then the brothers sent Paul away at once to go to the sea, and both Silas and Timothy remained there. And those who conducted Paul brought [him] as far as Athens, and [after] receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.

And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to people. We [are] fools for the sake of Christ, but you [are] prudent in Christ! We [are] weak, but you [are] strong! You [are] honored, but we [are] dishonored! Until the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless, read more.
and we toil, working with our own hands. [When we are] reviled, we bless; [when we are] persecuted, we endure; [when we are] slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all [things], until now.

And [as] he was going out of the temple [courts], one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look! What great stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not [one] stone will be left here on [another] stone that will not be thrown down!" And [as] he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, read more.
"Tell us, when will these [things] happen, and what [will be] the sign when all these [things] are about to be accomplished?" So Jesus began to say to them, "Watch out that no one deceives you! Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am [he],' and they will deceive many. And when you hear about wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must happen, but the end [is] not yet. For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in [various] places. There will be famines. These [things] [are] the beginning of birth pains. "But you, watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues and will have to stand before governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. And when they arrest you [and] hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you should say, but whatever is given to you at that hour, say this. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father [his] child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end--this one will be saved.

"Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues. And you will be brought before both governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles. read more.
But whenever they hand you over, do not be anxious how [to speak] or what you should say, for what you should say will be given to you at that hour. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father [who is] speaking through you. "And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father [his] children, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end--this one will be saved. And whenever they persecute you in this town, flee to another, for truly I say to you, you will never finish [going through] the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor a slave superior to his master. [It is] enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household?

And [as] Jesus went out of the temple [courts] he was going along, and his disciples came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered [and] said to them, "Do you not see all these [things]? Truly I say to you, not [one] stone will be left here on [another] stone that will not be thrown down!" And [as] he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these [things] happen, and what [will be] the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" read more.
And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Watch out that no one deceives you! For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will deceive many. And you are going to hear about wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in [various] places. But all these [things] [are] the beginning of birth pains. "Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another,

O Yahweh, my God, in you I have taken refuge. Save me from all [who] pursue me, and deliver me.

My times [are] in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from [those who] pursue me.

All your commands [are] faithful. They persecute me deceitfully; help me!

My persecutors and enemies [are] many, [yet] I do not turn aside from your testimonies.

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles because of your word.

Do not be afraid of [the things] which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will experience affliction ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

"Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues.

"But before all these [things], they will lay their hands on you and will persecute [you], handing [you] over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

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

And he found a certain Jew {named} Aquila, {a native} of Pontus who had arrived recently from Italy {along with} Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome, [and] he went to them.

At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove out the Judeans from Elath. The Arameans came to Elath and have lived there until this day.

Letters [were] sent by couriers to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, {both young and old}, women and children, on one day, the thirteenth day of the month, that [is] Adar, and to plunder their goods.

They have said in their heart, "We will completely oppress them." They burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

They say, "Come, let us annihilate them from [being] a nation, so that the name of Israel will be remembered no more."

And the king commanded Jerahmeel, the son of the king, and Seraiah, the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah, the son of Abdeel, to arrest Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but Yahweh hid them.

Woe to me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of contention and quarreling {to the whole land}. I have not lent out and {I have not borrowed}. All of them [are] cursing me.

Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon [was] laying siege to Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard that [was in] the palace of the king of Judah,

You who know, Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me, and take revenge for me against my persecutors {in your forbearance}. You must take me away. Know [that] I [am] carrying disgrace because of you.

And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah second [time] while he [was] still held back in the courtyard of the guard, {saying},

And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and [after] mocking [him] [and] dressing [him] [in] glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.

And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath.

And they stood up [and] forced him out of the town and brought him up to the edge of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

And after these [things] Jesus was going about in Galilee. For he did not want to go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you.

who delivered us from so great [a risk] of death, and will deliver [us], in whom we have put our hope that he will also deliver [us] again,

{He answered}, saying, "Look, I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire and there is no damage to them, and the appearance of the fourth [man] resembles the son of a god."

Nebuchadnezzar {responded}, saying, "Blessed be their God, [the God] of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and the command of the king they disobeyed, and they gave their bodies so that they [did] not serve and [did] not worship any god except their God.

persecutions, [and] sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, [and] in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all [of them].

And [when they] heard [it], they lifted [their] voices with one mind to God and said, "Master, you [are] the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples conspire in vain? The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same [place], against the Lord and against his Christ.' read more.
For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [and] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring [them] tied up to Jerusalem. Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. read more.
And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he [said], "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every [branch] that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. read more.
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither [can] you, unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you [are] the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him--this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples. "Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have spoken these [things] to you in order that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be made complete. This is my commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain, in order that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. These [things] I command you: that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before [it hated] you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this [reason] the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these [things] to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. But now they do not have a valid excuse for their sin. The one who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But [this happened] so that the word that is written in their law would be fulfilled, 'They hated me without a reason.'

The man went and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the one who made him well. And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath. But he answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." read more.
So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, [thus] making himself equal with God.

"And it happened that [as] I was traveling and approaching Damascus around noon, suddenly a very bright light from heaven flashed around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.'

Now [after] they had gone away, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, "Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him."

And whenever they persecute you in this town, flee to another, for truly I say to you, you will never finish [going through] the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

But the Pharisees went out {and plotted} against him in order that they could destroy him. Now Jesus, [when he] learned of [it], withdrew from there, and many followed him, and he healed them all.

"But now [those] younger than I, as far as days, laugh at me, whose fathers I rejected for setting with the dogs of my sheep and goats. Moreover, {what use to me is the strength of their hands}? With them, vigor is destroyed. Through want and through barren hunger they are gnawing [in the] dry region [in the] darkness of desolation and waste. read more.
They are picking salt herbs, the leaves of bushes, and [the] roots of broom trees to warm themselves. They were driven out from fellow people; they shout at them as [at] a thief, {so that they dwell} [in] holes of [the] ground and [in the] rocks. They bray among [the] bushes; they are gathered under [the] nettles. {A senseless crowd}, yes, {a disreputable brood}, they were cast out from the land. "But now I am their mocking song, and I have become a byword for them. They abhor me; they keep aloof from me, and they do not withhold spit from my face

"But you {whitewash with lies}; all of you [are] {worthless healers}. {O that} you would keep completely silent, and [that] it would become wisdom for you. Please hear my argument, and listen attentively [to the] pleadings of my lips. read more.
"Will you speak falsely for God? And will you speak deceitfully for him? {Will you show partiality for him}? Or do you want to plead God's case? [Will it be] well, if he examines you? Or can you deceive him like deceiving a human being? "Surely he will rebuke you if {you show partiality} in secret. Will not his majesty terrify you, and his dread fall upon you? Your maxims [are] proverbs of ashes; your defenses [are] defenses of clay. "{Let me have silence}, and I myself will speak, and let come over me whatever [may].

Then Job answered and said, "I have heard many [things] like these; all of you [are] {miserable comforters}. [Is there] a limit to windy words? What provokes you that you answer? read more.
I myself also could talk as you, if {you were in my place}; I could join against you with words, and I could shake at you with my head.

{Surely} mockery [is] with me, and my eye {rests} on their provocation.

Then Job answered and said, "{How long} will you torment me and crush me with words? These ten times you have disgraced me; you are not ashamed [that] you have attacked me. read more.
And what is more, [if] I have truly erred, my error remains with me. If indeed you must magnify yourselves against me, and you must let my disgrace argue against me,

If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit [is it] to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

If {we have put our hope} in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most pitiable.

I, John, your brother and co-sharer in the affliction and kingdom and steadfastness in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening. But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand. And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem, read more.
and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest's family. And they made them stand in [their] midst [and] began to ask, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed [done to] a sick man--by what [means] this man was healed-- let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man stands before you healthy! This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become {the cornerstone}. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved." Now [when they] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. And [because they] saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in return. But [after they] had ordered them to go outside the Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, saying, "What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them [is] evident to all those who live [in] Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it]! But in order that it may not spread much [further] among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name {to anyone at all}." And they called them [back] [and] commanded [them] not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them [out] [and] said, "Go and stand in the temple [courts] [and] proclaim to the people all the words of this life." read more.
And [when they] heard [this], they entered at daybreak into the temple [courts] and began teaching. Now [when] the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin--even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel--and sent to the prison to have them brought. But the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned [and] reported, saying, "We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but [when we] opened [them], we found no one inside!" Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, [as to] what this might be. But someone came [and] reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple [courts] and teaching the people!" Then the captain went with the officers [and] brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned [by them]). And [when they] had brought them, they made [them] stand in the Sanhedrin, and the high priest put a question to them, saying, "{We strictly commanded} you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!" But Peter and the apostles answered [and] said, "It is necessary to obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed [by] hanging [him] on a tree. This one God has exalted to his right hand [as] Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things, and [so is] the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." Now [when] they heard [this], they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute them. But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee {named} Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, [and] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, "Men [and] Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men! For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined {him}. {He} was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and {caused people to follow him in revolt}. And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered. And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God." So they were persuaded by him. And they summoned the apostles, beat [them], commanded [them] not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released [them]. So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name. Every day, both in the temple [courts] and from house [to house], they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news [that] the Christ [was] Jesus.

Now at that time, Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm [them]. So he executed James the brother of John with a sword. And [when he] saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. ({Now this was during the feast} of Unleavened Bread.) read more.
[After he] had arrested {him}, he also put [him] in prison, handing [him] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him {out for public trial} after the Passover. Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him. Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near [him], and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter's side, he woke him up, saying, "Get up {quickly}!" And his chains fell off of [his] hands. And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals!" And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!" And he went out [and] was following [him]. And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking [he] was seeing a vision. And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him. And [when] Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all {that the Jewish people expected}!" And [when he] realized [this], he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (who is also called Mark), where many [people] were gathered together and were praying. And [when] he knocked at the door of the gateway, a female slave {named} Rhoda came up to answer. And recognizing Peter's voice, because of [her] joy she did not open the gate, but ran in [and] announced [that] Peter was standing at the gate. But they said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting it was so. And they kept saying, "It is his angel!" But Peter was continuing to knock, and [when they] opened [the door] they saw him and were astonished. But motioning to them with [his] hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these [things] to James and to the brothers," and he departed [and] went to another place. Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter. And [when] Herod had searched for him and did not find [him], he questioned the guards [and] ordered [that they] be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea [and] stayed [there].

"But before all these [things], they will lay their hands on you and will persecute [you], handing [you] over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

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

{who will not} receive a hundred times as much now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, together with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, [when they] came to Antioch, began to speak to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news [of] the word.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that {my circumstances} have happened instead for the progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in Christ has become known in the whole praetorium and to all the rest, and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, dare [even] more to speak the word without fear.

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

[although I] was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath.

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and [who are] not pleasing to God and [are] opposed to all people,

And a new king rose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, "Look, the people of the {Israelites} [are] greater and more numerous than us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, lest they become many, and when war happens, they also will join our enemies and will fight against us and go up from the land." read more.
And they appointed commanders of forced labor over them in order to oppress them with their {forced labor}, and they built storage cities for Pharaoh--Pithom and Rameses. And as he oppressed them, so they became many, and so they spread out, and [the Egyptians] were afraid because of the presence of the {Israelites}. And the Egyptians ruthlessly compelled the {Israelites} to work. And they made their lives bitter with hard work with mortar and with bricks and with all [sorts] of work in the field--with all their work in which they ruthlessly enslaved them.

since [it is] righteous in the sight of God to pay back those who are afflicting you with affliction,

And he has prepared for him weapons of death. He has made his arrows fiery shafts.

For [the] enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me dwell in dark places like [those] long dead.

Our pursuers were swifter than [the] eagles of [the] heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they have set an ambush for us in the desert.

Blessed [are] those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward [is] great in heaven, for in the [same] way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile [you] and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward [is] great in heaven. For their fathers used to do the same [things] to the prophets.

So {Ahaziah} sent to him the commander of fifty with his fifty [men], and he went up to him while he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, " man of God, the king says, 'Come down.'"

Then he went up from there [to] Bethel; as he [was] going up along the way, young boys came out from the city and mocked at him and said to him, "Go up, baldhead; go up, baldhead!"

{As Yahweh your God lives}, surely there is not a nation or a kingdom to which my lord has not sent me to seek you. [If] they would say, 'He is not here,' then he would make the kingdom or the nation swear that it could not find you.

[and] lest my enemy should say, "I have overcome him," [lest] my enemies rejoice because I am shaken.

And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them, and will celebrate and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.

Rejoice and be glad, because your reward [is] great in heaven, for in the [same] way they persecuted the prophets before you.

But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice [and] be glad.

so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And {for what reason} did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the [deeds] of his brother [were] righteous.

Then Cain said to his brother Abel, ["Let us go out into the field."] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

For thus said Yahweh of hosts, after glory he sent me against the nations plundering you: Truly, the one touching you [is] touching the apple of his eye.

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he [said], "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!

But the Jews incited the devout women of high social standing and the most prominent men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their district.

Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many [things] opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also [when] they were being executed, I cast [my] vote against [them]. And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often [and] tried to force [them] to blaspheme, and [because I] was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing [them] even as far as to foreign cities.

O Yahweh, my God, in you I have taken refuge. Save me from all [who] pursue me, and deliver me.

All your commands [are] faithful. They persecute me deceitfully; help me!

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [and] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring [them] tied up to Jerusalem. Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. read more.
And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he [said], "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you {what you must do}." (Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, [because they] heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but [although] his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought [him] into Damascus. And he was {unable to see} [for] three days, and he 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, [here] I [am], Lord!" And the Lord [said] to him, "Get up, go to the street called 'Straight' and in the house of Judas look for {a man named Saul from Tarsus}. For behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man {named} Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain [his] sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many [people] about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up all who call upon your name!"

because they persecute [those] whom you, yourself, have struck, and they tell of the pain of [those] you have wounded.

In arrogance [the] wicked persecutes [the] poor. Let them be caught in [the] schemes that they devised,

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile [you] and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Blessed [are] those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

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

because they persecute [those] whom you, yourself, have struck, and they tell of the pain of [those] you have wounded.

And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath.

The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the commander of the city and to Jehoash the son of the king;

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this one into the prison house, and let him eat {a meager ration of bread and water} until I return in peace." '"

so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Then they conspired against him and stoned him [with] stones at the command of the king in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh.

and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, {for not all have the faith}.

and we toil, working with our own hands. [When we are] reviled, we bless; [when we are] persecuted, we endure;

Now [when it] was evening on that day--the first [day] of the week--and the doors had been shut where the disciples were because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace to you."

They answered and said to him, "You were born completely in sin, and are you attempting to teach us?" And they threw him out.

(His parents said these [things] because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him [to be] Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.

"And then when all of these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse that I have set {before you} {and you call them to mind} among the nations there where Yahweh your God [has] scattered you, and you return to Yahweh and you listen to his voice according to all that I am commanding you {today}, [both] you and your children, with all your heart and with all your inner self, and Yahweh your God will restore your fortunes, and he will have compassion [upon] you, and {he will again gather you together} from all the peoples where Yahweh your God scattered you there. read more.
"[Even] if {you are outcasts} at the end of the heavens, [even] from there Yahweh your God shall gather you, and from there {he shall bring you back}. And Yahweh your God will bring you to the land that your ancestors had taken possession of, and he will make you successful, and he will make you more numerous than your ancestors. "And Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your inner self {so that you may live}. And Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your enemies and {on those who hate you}, [on] {those who harassed you}.

persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;

For I hear [the] rumor of many, "Terror on every side!" When conspiring together against me, they have plotted to take my life.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and from men of bloodshed save me.

"Listen to another parable: There was a man--a master of a house--who planted a vineyard, and put a fence [around] it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey. And when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. And the tenant farmers seized his slaves, [one of] whom they beat, and [one of] whom they killed, and [one of] whom they stoned. read more.
Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first [ones], and they did the same [thing] to them. So finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But [when] the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance!' And they seized him [and] threw [him] out of the vineyard and killed [him].

Then the officials said to the king, "Please, this man must be killed, {because} he [is] making slack the hands of {the soldiers} who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking to them words like these, for this man [is] not seeking for welfare to this people, {but only} for harm." And Zedekiah the king said, "Look, he [is] in your hand, for the king is not able [to do] a thing against you." So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit [of] Malchiah, the son of the king, which [was] in the courtyard of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down by ropes. Now in the pit there was no water, {but only} mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

"Too often they have attacked me from my youth." Let Israel say, "Too often they have attacked me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.

Then he said, "Why [is] my lord pursuing after his servant? For what have I done? And what evil [is] in my hand?

And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.

You who know, Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me, and take revenge for me against my persecutors {in your forbearance}. You must take me away. Know [that] I [am] carrying disgrace because of you.

As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

But just as at that time the [child] born according to human descent persecuted the [child born] according to the Spirit, so also now.

And others {experienced mocking and flogging}, and in addition bonds and imprisonment.

Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon [was] laying siege to Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard that [was in] the palace of the king of Judah,

Then these men {said}, "We will not find any pretext against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God." So the administrators and the satraps conspired {with respect to} the king and so they said to him, "Darius, O king, live {forever}! All of [the] administrators of the kingdom, and the prefects, the satraps, the counselors and the governors took counsel [and have] agreed to establish an edict of the king and to enforce a decree that {whoever} will seek a prayer from any god or human except from you [for] up to thirty days will be thrown into {the lion pit}. read more.
Now, O king, establish the edict and you must sign the document [so] that [it] cannot be changed, according to [the] law of [the] Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked." {So} the king, Darius, signed the writing and the interdict. Now {when} Daniel realized that the document was signed, he went to his house ({now he had windows in his upper room that were open} toward Jerusalem), and three times {daily} he knelt on his knees and prayed and [gave] praise before his God, {just as} he had been doing {previously}. Then these men came as a group and they found Daniel praying and pleading for mercy before his God. Then they approached {and spoke with the king} concerning the edict of the king, "{Did you not sign an edict} that any person who would seek [anything] from any God or human within thirty days except from you, O king, would be thrown into {the lion pit}?" The king answered and said, "The matter [as you have just stated] is certain according to [the] law of [the] Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked." Then {they responded} and said before the king, "Daniel, who [is] from {the exiles} of Judah, {is not paying any attention} to you, O king, or to the decree that you have signed, {and three times daily} he says his prayer." Then the king, when he heard that {report}, he was extremely distressed over it; and {concerning Daniel} {he was determined} to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him. Then these men came as group to the king and {said}, "Recall, O king, that [with respect to] [the] law of [the] Medes and Persians that {any} decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be changed." Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw [him] into {the lion pit}. {The king said} to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve {faithfully}, may he rescue you!" And a stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet [ring] and with the signet [rings] of his lords, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles because of your word.

But he does not have a root in himself, but {lasts only a little while}, and [when] affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away.

And Pharaoh heard this matter, and he sought to kill Moses, and Moses fled from Pharaoh, and he lived in the land of Midian, and he lived at {a certain well}.

And Moses cried out to Yahweh, saying, "What will I do with this people? A little longer and they will stone me."

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword.

and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

But if [someone suffers] as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name.

But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen ({as it was called}), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up [and] disputed with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!" read more.
And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came up [and] seized him and brought [him] to the Sanhedrin. And they put forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place and the law! For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us." And [as they] looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face [was] like the face of an angel.

From that time [on], Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near."

Bless those who persecute, bless and do not curse [them].

And the tenant farmers seized his slaves, [one of] whom they beat, and [one of] whom they killed, and [one of] whom they stoned. Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first [ones], and they did the same [thing] to them.

saying, "His God has abandoned him. Pursue and seize him, because there is no deliverer."

In arrogance [the] wicked persecutes [the] poor. Let them be caught in [the] schemes that they devised,

I gave my back to those who struck [me], and my cheeks to those who pulled out my {beard}; I did not hide my face from insults and spittle.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? [Will] affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword?

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was brought like lamb to [the] slaughter, and like a sheep is dumb before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth.

But the Jews incited the devout women of high social standing and the most prominent men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their district.

And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely.

In arrogance [the] wicked persecutes [the] poor. Let them be caught in [the] schemes that they devised,

For Herod, [after] arresting John, bound him and put [him] in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because John had been saying to him, "It is not permitted for you to have her." And [although he] wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they looked upon him as a prophet. read more.
But [when] Herod's birthday celebration took place, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst [of them] and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And coached by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter!" And [although] the king was distressed, because of his oaths and his {dinner guests} he commanded [the request] to be granted. And he sent [orders] [and] had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought [it] to her mother. And his disciples came [and] took away the corpse and buried it, and went [and] told Jesus.

When the men of the city got up early in the morning, look, the altar of Baal and the Asherah that [was] beside it [were] cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. {And they said to one another}, "Who did this thing?" So they searched and inquired, and they said, "Gideon son of Jehoash did this thing." And the men of the city said to Jehoash, "Bring out your son so that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah that [was] beside it." read more.
But Jehoash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal? Will you rescue him? Whoever contends for him will be put to death by the morning. If he [is] a god, let him contend for himself because {his altar has been pulled down}." Thus, on that day he was called Jerub-Baal, {which means}, "Let Baal contend against him," because he had pulled down his altar.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become,

And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.

Now at that time, Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm [them].

And they will do these [things] because they do not know the Father or me.

{Therefore} {at this time} [some] {astrologers} came forward and {they denounced the Jews}. {They responded and said} to Nebuchadnezzar the king, "O king, may [you] live {forever}! You, O king, have made a decree that {everyone} who hears the sound of the horn, the flute, [the] lyre, [the] trigon, [the] harp and [the] drum and all kinds of music, he shall fall down and shall worship the statue of gold. read more.
{And whoever} {does not fall down} and worship shall be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. [However] there are Judean men whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--these men, O king, {pay you no heed} [and] [were] not serving your god, and the statue of gold that you set up they are not worshiping." Then Nebuchadnezzar said in rage and anger to bring in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; then they brought in these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "[Is it] true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [that] you are not serving my god, and [you are] not worshiping the statue of gold that I have set up? Now if you are ready so that {when} you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, [the] trigon, [the] harp and [the] drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, [that will be good]. But if you do not worship it, {immediately} you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and {who is the god} who will rescue you from my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, "We have no need on this matter {to present a defense to you}. {If it is so}, our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us. And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that {we will not serve your gods}, and the statue of gold that you have set up we will not worship." Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and the image of his face was changed {toward} Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [so he] {ordered and said} to heat up the one furnace seven times what was usual to heat [it] up. And he commanded {the strongest men of the guards} who [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to throw [them] into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their [other] clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. {Therefore} {because} the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. But these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, [and they] were bound.

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "This is what the first and the last says, who was dead and came to life: 'I know your affliction and poverty (but you are rich), and the slander of those {who call themselves Jews} and are not, but [are] a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of [the things] which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will experience affliction ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

So the chief priests decided that they would kill Lazarus also,

Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in {the prison}, for he was enraged with him concerning this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.

And they brought out Uriah from Egypt and they brought him to King Jehoiakim, and he struck him down with the sword, and he threw his dead body into the burial sites of the sons of the people.

Know [that] our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly [enough].

{I} persecuted this Way to the death, tying up and delivering to prison both men and women,

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

It had happened that when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them {by fifties} in the cave and sustained them [with] food and water.)

And they forced a certain man who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to carry his cross.

Then he said, "May God do to me and thus may he add, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!"

'I know where you live, where the throne of Satan [is]. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.

So he executed James the brother of John with a sword.

But they said, "Step aside!" Then they said, "{This fellow} came to dwell as a foreigner and he acts as a judge! Now we shall do worse to you than them!" And they pressed very hard against the man, against Lot, and they drew near to break the door.

Judah has gone into exile with misery and under hard servitude; she lives among the nations, she has not found a resting place; all her pursuers have overtaken her amidst [her] distress.

I, John, your brother and co-sharer in the affliction and kingdom and steadfastness in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

Even a hair of your head will never perish!

So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name.

Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

You can ascertain that {it has not been more than} twelve days {since} I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple [courts] nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city. Nor can they prove [the things] to you concerning which they are now accusing me. read more.
But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things [that are] in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these [men] also themselves await: [that] there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

O Yahweh, my God, in you I have taken refuge. Save me from all [who] pursue me, and deliver me.

My times [are] in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from [those who] pursue me.

All your commands [are] faithful. They persecute me deceitfully; help me!

My persecutors and enemies [are] many, [yet] I do not turn aside from your testimonies.

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles because of your word.

Do not be afraid of [the things] which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will experience affliction ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

"Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues.

"But before all these [things], they will lay their hands on you and will persecute [you], handing [you] over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

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

And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and [after] mocking [him] [and] dressing [him] [in] glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.

And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath.

And they stood up [and] forced him out of the town and brought him up to the edge of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

And after these [things] Jesus was going about in Galilee. For he did not want to go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute [you] and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.