But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to appear before Sanhedrins, and will flog you in their synagogues;

"For this reason I am sending to you Prophets and wise men and Scribes. Some of them you will put to death--nay, crucify; some of them you will flog in your synagogues and chase from town to town;

Wherever the dead body is, there will the vultures flock together.

Then said Jesus, "This night all of you will stumble and fail in your fidelity to me; for it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered in all directions.'

Soon on His feet once more, He enters the district of Judaea and crosses the Jordan: again the people flock to Him, and ere long, as was usual with Him, He was teaching them once more.

"Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom.

"Where, Master?" they inquired. "Where the dead body is," He replied, "there also will the vultures flock together."

I have also other sheep--which do not belong to this fold. Those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock under one Shepherd.

"Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood.

I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock;

But, when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul said to the Captain who stood by, "Does the Law permit you to flog a Roman citizen--and one too who is uncondemned?"

Be shepherds of God's flock which is among you. Exercise the oversight not reluctantly but eagerly, in accordance with the will of God; not for base gain but with cheerful minds;

not lording it over your Churches but proving yourselves patterns for the flock to imitate.