Thematic Bible: Suffering for righteousness' sake


Thematic Bible



But when Sanballat the Horonite, his servant Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they jeered at us and despised us when they said, "What is this thing that you're doing? You're rebelling against the king, aren't you?"

He addressed his allies and the Samaritan officials, saying "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Are they intending to rebuild it by themselves? Do they intend to offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a single day? Can they make stones from this burned out rubble?"

Though I may be small and despised, I do not neglect your precepts.

As the ark of the LORD was coming into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the LORD's presence, and she despised him in her heart.

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he had contempt for him, because he was only a young man. David had a dark, healthy complexion and was handsome.

And God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something,



LORD, my God, I seek refuge in you. Deliver me from those who persecute me! Rescue me!



Though my persecutors and adversaries are numerous, I do not turn aside from your decrees.

Though nobles persecute me for no reason, my heart stands in awe of your words.

For those who oppose me are pursuing my life, crushing me to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those who died long ago.

You are aware LORD, remember me, pay attention to me, and vindicate me in front of those who pursue me. You are patient don't take me away. Know that I suffer insult because of you!

Our pursuers breathe down our necks; we are weary, but there is no rest for us.





"But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember what I told you: "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.






He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.


At times you were made a public spectacle by means of insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way.

Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured.




Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.




Even Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate.

So the Jewish leaders began persecuting Jesus, because he kept doing such things on the Sabbath.

They got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him off.

After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, because he didn't want to travel in Judea, since the Jewish leaders there were trying to kill him.

"I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because you've not received what I've told you.

Again they tried to seize him, but he slipped away from them.


Then the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near him to strike him on the mouth.

Then they spit on him and took the stick and hit him repeatedly on his head.


Right then, Chenaanah's son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, "How did the Spirit of the LORD move from me to speak to you?"

When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, "Is that any way to answer the high priest?"



While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies.

That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.



They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated.






Right then, Chenaanah's son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, "How did the Spirit of the LORD move from me to speak to you?"

If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one as well, and if someone takes your coat, don't keep back your shirt, either.

People gaped at me with mouths wide open; they slap me in their scorn and gather together against me.


But the people conspired against him, and at the direct orders of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's Temple.










from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation!




So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John's head. The soldier went and beheaded him in prison.


ran him outside of the city, and began to stone him to death. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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