Matthew 10:16-25 - Persecution Of Disciples Predicted

¹⁶ Behold I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves: be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of evil men; for they will deliver you up to their councils, and will scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ And ye shall be brought before governors and kings on my account, for a testimony to them and to the nations: ¹⁹ but when they take you up, be not sollicitous how, or what ye shall say; for ye shall be taught in that very instant what ye shall speak: for it is not you that speak, ²⁰ but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh by you.

²¹ Brother shall betray his brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death: ²² and ye shall be hated by all men for professing my name; but he that perseveres to the end shall certainly be saved. ²³ But when they persecute you in one city, flee into another: for verily I tell you, ye shall not finish your commission through the cities of Israel, before the Son of man shall come. ²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord: ²⁵ it is sufficient sure for the disciple that he be treated as his master, and the servant as his lord. If then they call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more his domestics?

⁹ Then shall they afflict you, and kill you; and ye shall be hated by all nations for my name: ¹⁰ and then will many take offense, and betray one another, and hate one another: and many false prophets will rise up and deceive many: ¹¹ and because iniquity shall abound, ¹² the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he that endures to the end, shall be saved: ¹⁴ and this gospel of the kingdom of heaven shall be preached in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end come.

⁹ But look to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils, and synagogues: and ye shall be scourged, and set before governors and kings on my account, for a testimony against them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be published to all nations. ¹¹ But when they shall lead you to deliver you up, be not anxiously careful beforehand what ye shall speak, neither premeditate: but whatever shall be suggested to you at that very time, this speak: for it is not you that speak, but the holy Spirit. ¹² One brother shall betray another to death, and the father the son: and children shall appear against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ And ye shall be hated by all men for my sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

¹² But before all these things they will lay hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake: ¹³ but it shall be for a testimony to you. ¹⁴ Fix it therefore in your hearts not to premeditate a defence: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, ¹⁵ which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor withstand. ¹⁶ But ye shall be betrayed even by parents, and brethren, and kindred and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death: ¹⁷ and ye will be hated by all men for my sake. ¹⁸ But not an hair of your head shall perish. ¹⁹ In your patience therefore possess your souls.

¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye may not be offended: ² for they will excommunicate you: yea, the time is coming, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he offers an acceptable service to God. ³ And these things will they do unto you; because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴ But I have told you these things, that when the time cometh, ye may remember that I told you of them. Though I did not tell you of them at the beginning, because I was with you.