Matthew 10:16-25 - Persecution Of Disciples Predicted

¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men; for they will deliver you to the councils, and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the heathens. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you, take no thought, how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that very hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰ For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of the Father who speaketh in you.

²¹ But the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and children shall rise up against their parents, and kill them. ²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, shall be saved. ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another; for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. ²⁴ The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his lord. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord.

⁹ Then shall they deliver you to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. ¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³ But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all the world, for a testimony to all nations: and then shall the end come.

⁹ But take heed to yourselves for they will deliver you to councils, and ye shall be beaten in synagogues, and shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be published among all nations. ¹¹ But when they shall hale you and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak; for it is not yet that speak, but the Holy Ghost. ¹² Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son: and children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end, he shall be saved.

¹² But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my names sake. ¹³ And it shall turn to you for a testimony. ¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to premeditate what to answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, ¹⁵ which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist. ¹⁶ But ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷ And ye shall be hated by all men for my names sake. ¹⁸ But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹ In your patience possess ye your souls.

¹ I have told you these things, that ye may not be offended. They will put you out of the synagogues; ² yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think he doth God service. ³ These things will they do, because they have not known the Father nor me. ⁴ But I have told you these things, that when the time shall come, ye may remember I told you them. I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you.