Matthew 10:16-25 - Persecution Of Disciples Predicted

¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and ye will be brought to governors and even kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye should speak, for it will be given you in that hour what ye will speak. ²⁰ For ye are not who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.

²¹ And a brother will deliver up a brother to death, and a father a child. And children will rise up against parents, and condemn them to death. ²² And ye will be hated by all men because of my name, but he who endures to the end, this man will be saved. ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other, for truly I say to you, ye will, no, not have completed the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes. ²⁴ A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a bondman above his lord. ²⁵ It is enough for the pupil that he becomes like his teacher, and the bondman like his lord. If they have called the house-ruler Beelzebub, how much more those of his household.

⁹ Then they will deliver you up for tribulation, and will kill you, and ye will be hated by all the nations because of my name. ¹⁰ And then many will be caused to stumble, and they will betray each other and will hate each other. ¹¹ And many FALSE prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. ¹² And because of the increased lawlessness, the love of the many will become cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end, this man will be saved. ¹⁴ And this good-news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

⁹ But watch ye yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and ye will be beaten in synagogues. And ye will be stood before rulers and kings because of me, for a testimony to them. ¹⁰ And the good-news must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹ But when they lead you, delivering you up, be not anxious before what ye might speak, nor meditate. But whatever may be given you in that hour, speak ye this, for ye are not who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will betray brother to death, and a father a child. And children will rise up against parents, and will condemn them to death. ¹³ And ye will be hated by all men because of my name, but he who endures to the end, this man will be saved.

¹² But before all these things, they will throw their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. ¹³ But it will go out from you for testimony. ¹⁴ Settle therefore in your hearts not to premeditate to make defense. ¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all those who oppose you will not be able to contradict or to resist. ¹⁶ And ye will be betrayed even by parents, and kinsmen, and friends, and brothers. And some of you they will condemn to death. ¹⁷ And ye will be hated by all men because of my name. ¹⁸ And, no, not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ In your perseverance ye gain your souls.

¹ I have spoken these things to you, so that ye may not be caused to stumble. ² They will make you excommunicated from the synagogues. But the hour comes that every man who kills you will presume to be offering service to God. ³ And they will do these things, because they have not known the Father nor me. ⁴ But I have told you these things, so that when the hour comes, ye may remember that I told you of them. But I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.