53 Bible Verses about Persecution

Then, they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake.

Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.

I have come to send fire on the earth; and how greatly do I wish that it were already kindled! I have an immersion with which to be immersed, and how distressed I am till it be accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I toll you, No; but rather dissension. read more.
For from this time forth there shall be five in one house at variance, three with two, and two with three. The father shall be at variance with the son, and the son with the father; the mother with the daughter, and the daughter with the mother; the mother-in-law with her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law.

Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.

Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.

Then, they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake.

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord repay him according to his works.

And at that time there was no little excitement about that way. For a certain man, named Demetrius, a silversmith, by making silver shrines for Diana, furnished no little trade to the artists. These he called together, with the workmen em ployed about such things, and said: Men, you know that our wealth arises from this trade: read more.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia, this Paul, by his persuasions, has drawn away a great multitude, saying, that they which are made with hands are not gods. Now there is danger, not only that this our calling will come into disgrace, but that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and that the majesty of her whom all Asia and the world worships, will be destroyed. When they heard this, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians! And the whole city was filled with confusion. And they seized Gains and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travelers, and, with one consent, rushed into the theater. And when Paul wished to go in among the people, the disciples did not permit him. Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friendly to him, sent to him, and besought him not to trust himself into the theater. Some, therefore, were crying one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what they had come together. And some of the multitude put Alexander forward, the Jews urging him on. And Alexander waved his hand, and wished to make a defense to the people. But perceiving that he was a Jew, they all cried out, with one voice, for about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. But the town-clerk quieted the multitude, and said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? As these things, then, can not be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples, nor revilers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius, and the artists who are with him, have a charge against any one, the courts are in session, and the proconsuls are there; let them accuse each other. But if you have any inquiries to make about other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called to answer for this day's tumult, since there is no cause by which we shall be able to account for this concourse. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which came upon us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came thither, and excited the multitude. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul away, to go as if to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens: and having received a commandment for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.

For I think that God has appointed us the apostles, to the lowest place, as under sentence of death; for we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honored, but we are despised. Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are maltreated, and wander about without a home, read more.
and labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when defamed, we entreat; we have become like the outcasts of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.

And as he was going out from the temple, one of his disciples said to him: Teacher, see what stones and what buildings! And Jesus answering, said to him: Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately: read more.
Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished? Jesus answering them, began to say: Take heed, lest any one deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled; for these things must be: but not yet is the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines, and tumults. These are the beginning of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be scourged in the synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be preached among all the nations. But when they lead you to deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand, nor premeditate what you shall speak; but what ever shall be given you in that hour, that do you speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the child; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death; and you will be hated by all on my account. But he that endures to the end shall be saved.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be, therefore, wise as serpents, and guileless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. read more.
But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what you shall speak; for that which you shall speak shall be given you in that hour: for it is not you that speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the child; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men on my account: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for verily I say to you, You will not have made the circuit of the cities of Israel before the Son of man shall come. The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his teacher; and for the servant, that he be as his master. If they call the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household?

And Jesus went out, and was departing from the temple, and his disciples came to him to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But Jesus said to them: Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down, And as he was sitting upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, and said: Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age? read more.
And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled, for all things must be fulfilled; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places. But all these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to affliction, and kill you; and you will be hated by all nations on my account. And then will many be ensnared, and they will deliver one another up, and hate one another;

Fear none of the things which you are about to suffer; behold, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tried: and you shall have affliction ten days. Be faithful till death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Then they will deliver you up to affliction, and kill you; and you will be hated by all nations on my account.

But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and scourge you in their synagogues;

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, and into prisons, after being brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

and finding a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had lately come from Italy, with Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome, he went to them;

But Herod and his guards treated him with contempt; and having mocked him, and put on him a gaudy robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

And for this reason did the Jews persecute Jesus, and seek to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

and arose, and drove him out of the city, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.

And after this Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that you are the posterity of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

who delivered us from so great a death, and does still deliver us: in whom we have confidence, that he will continue to deliver us,

my persecutions, my sufferings which came upon me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; you well know what persecutions I endured: and yet out of them all, the Lord delivered me.

And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice with one consent to God, and said: Lord, thou art God, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things that are in them; who, by the mouth of David thy servant, didst say, Why did the heathen rage, and the people devise vain things? The kings of the land stood up, and the rulers met together against the Lord and against his anointed. read more.
For, in truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did meet together,

And Saul, still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, for the synagogues, that, if he should find any who were of this persuasion, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven. read more.
And when he had fallen to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He answered: "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Now are you pure, through the word which I have spoken to you. read more.
Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If any one abide not in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and such are gathered, and thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and in this you will be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment: That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. I no longer call you servants, because the servant knows not what his master does. But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you, that you may go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit may remain; that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give you. These things I command you, that you may love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you on my account, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hates me, hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father. But this is so, that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus that had restored him to health. And for this reason did the Jews persecute Jesus, and seek to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them: My Father works till now, and I also work. read more.
For this reason, therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the sabbath, but also said that God was his own father, making himself equal with God.

But it came to pass, that, as I was on my journey, and was drawing near to Damascus, about midday, there suddenly shone from heaven a great light round about me; and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And I answered, Who art thou Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.

When they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there till I bring you word; for Herod is about to seek for the young child, to destroy him.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for verily I say to you, You will not have made the circuit of the cities of Israel before the Son of man shall come.

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, that they might destroy him. But Jesus perceived it, and withdrew from that place. And many multitudes followed him, and he cured them all.

If, to speak as a man, I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.

I John, your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison till the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word, believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes, read more.
and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest, met together in Jerusalem. And when they had made them stand in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined with respect unto the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he has been saved, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him does this man stand before you in health. This is the stone that was rejected with contempt by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no other; nor, indeed, is there another name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and plain men, they were astonished; and they also recognized them, that they had been with Jesus; and, seeing the man who had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But, having commanded them to go aside out of the Sanhedrin, they consulted with one another, saying: What shall we do with these men? For that an evident sign has been done by them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we can not deny it. But that it may spread no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, so that they speak no more to any man in this name. And they called them in, and commanded them to speak no more at all, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus.

and they laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison by night, and brought them out, and said: Go, stand in the temple, and speak to the people all the words of this life. read more.
And having heard this, they entered the temple, early in the morning, and taught. But the chief priest, and those who were with him, came and called together the Sanhedrin, and all the eldership of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the attendants came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and reported, saying: "We found the prison closed with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors; but when we had opened, we found no one within. When the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt about them, what this could mean. And some one came and reported to them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the attendants, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they made them stand before the Sanhedrin; and the chief priest asked them, saying: Did we not strictly charge you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said: "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree. Him has God exalted to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, in order to give to Israel repentance and remission of sins: and we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit also, whom God has given to them that obey him. And when they heard this, they were enraged; and they determined to put them to death. Then arose a certain man in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people; and he commanded them to put the apostles out for a little while, and said to them: Men of Israel, consider well with yourselves what you are about to do to these men. For before these days Theudas arose, declaring himself to be some great one; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; and he was slain; and all, as many as believed him, were scattered and brought to naught. After this man, Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrollment, and drew over many people after him; and he was destroyed, and all, as many as believed him, were scattered. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to an end; but if it is of God, you can not bring it to an end: and take heed, lest you be found fighting also against God. And they were persuaded by him; and when they had called the apostles in and scourged them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then, they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake. And daily in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus the Christ.

At that time Herod the king undertook to afflict some of the church. And he slew with the sword James the brother of John. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he apprehended Peter also. Those were the days of unleavened bread. read more.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four tetrads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the passover. Therefore, Peter was kept in prison; but fervent prayer to God was made for him by the church. When Herod was about to bring him out, on that night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the doors were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison. And he gently struck Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying: Arise quickly; and his chains fell from his hands. And the angel said to him: Gird your self, and bind on your sandals; and he did so. And he said to him: Throw your mantle around you, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and he knew not that what was done by the angel was real, but thought that he saw a vision. And when they had passed through the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out, and passed on through one street; and the angel immediately departed from him. And when Peter came to himself, he said: Now I know, in truth, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all that was expected by the Jewish people. And being aware of his condition, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where many had met together, and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the entrance, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to listen. And recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the entrance for joy, but ran in and told that Peter was standing before the entrance. And they said to her: You are mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. Then said hey: It is his angel. But Peter continued to knock; and when they had opened the door, they saw him, and were astonished. But, having made a sign to them with his hand, that they should keep silence, he made known to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, and he said: Tell this to James, and to the brethren. And he went out, and departed to another place. And when it was day, there was no little confusion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. But Herod, when he had sought for him, and found him not, examined the keepers, and commanded them to be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarean, and there he remained.

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, and into prisons, after being brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

who shall not receive a hundred-fold, now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

Now those who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose after the death of Stephen, traveled as far as Phenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none but Jews. But some of them were men of Cyprus and Gyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Then they that were dispersed went everywhere preaching the word.

But I wish you to know, brethren, that the things which have befallen me have turned out rather to the advancement of the gospel; so that my bonds which are for Christ have become known to be such in all the palace, and in all other places; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence in my bonds, are more bold to speak the word without fear.

as it respects zeal, persecuting the church; as it respects righteousness which is by law, blameless.

me, I say, who before was a reviler and a persecutor and an overbearing man. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief:

And for this reason did the Jews persecute Jesus, and seek to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and do not please God, and are opposed to all men,

since, indeed, it is a righteous thing with God, to repay affliction to those who afflict you,

Blessed are they that are persecuted on account of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account. Rejoice, and leap for joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and shall withdraw themselves from you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for so did their fathers to the prophets.

And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwelt on the earth.

Rejoice, and leap for joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.

But, inasmuch as you are partakers of the sufferings of the Christ,, rejoice, that, at the revelation of his glory, you may also be exceedingly joyful.

that upon you may come all the righteous blood which has been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just to the blood of Zachariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.

Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother: and for what reason did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother s, righteous.

And when he had fallen to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He answered: "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

But the Jews in cited the devout and influential women, and the first men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene. And this I did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to speak impiously; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For you have heard of my former mode of life in Judaism, that I greatly persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste;

And Saul, still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, for the synagogues, that, if he should find any who were of this persuasion, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven. read more.
And when he had fallen to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He answered: "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you persecute. But rise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. The men who journeyed with him stood amazed; for they heard a voice, but saw no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. He answered: Behold me, Lord. And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Straight, and in quire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for behold, he is praying; and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and laying his hand on him, that he may receive his sight. But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and shall withdraw themselves from you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man.

Blessed are they that are persecuted on account of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

And for this reason did the Jews persecute Jesus, and seek to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

that upon you may come all the righteous blood which has been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just to the blood of Zachariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.

and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for all have not the disposition for faith.

and labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

Then, on that day, the first day of the week, when it was evening, and the doors of the house in which the disciples were assembled had been closed for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.

They answered and said to him: You were wholly born in sins, and do you teach us? And they cast him out.

His parents said this, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had already agreed, that if any one should confess him to be the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Hear another parable: There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and rigged in it a wine-press, and built a tower, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went into another country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive the fruits of it. And the vine-dressers took his servants, and scourged one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them in like manner. But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and seize upon the inheritance. And they took him, and carried him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.

But, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? Then, the offense of the cross has ceased.

As many as wish to make a fair show in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of the Christ.

But as then, he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born ac cording to the Spirit, so even now.

others had trial of mockings and scourgings, bonds also, and imprisonments.

Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while; and when affliction or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately takes offense.

Then Jesus said to him: Put back your sword into its place; for all that take the sword, shall perish by the sword.

But I say to you, Love your enemies: bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you:

Wherefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God, by doing good, commit their souls to him as to a faithful Creator.

But if any one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this account.

Then there arose some who be longed to the synagogue called the synagogue of the Freedmen, and some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia, and they disputed with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated men to say: We have heard him speak impious words against Moses, and against God. read more.
And they excited the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and took him by violence, and brought him into the Sanhedrin. And they brought forward false witnesses, who said: This man ceases not to speak words against this holy place, and the law. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us. And all that sat in the Sanhedrin, looking earnestly upon him, saw his face that it was like the face of an angel.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not;

And the vine-dressers took his servants, and scourged one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them in like manner.

Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ? Shall affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?

But the Jews in cited the devout and influential women, and the first men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.

And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, and charged the jailer to keep them securely.

For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John said to him: It is not lawful for you to have her. And he intended to put him to death, but feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet. read more.
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. Wherefore he promised, with an oath, to give her whatever she would ask. And being previously instigated by her mother, she said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Immerser? And the king was grieved: but on account of his oath, and those who reclined at table with him, he commanded it to be given. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a dish, and given to the maiden: and she carried it to her mother. And his disciples came and took away the body, and buried it; and went and told Jesus.

Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They slew also those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers;

and they laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.

At that time Herod the king undertook to afflict some of the church.

And these things they will do, because they know neither the Father nor me.

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write: These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: I know your works, and your affliction, and your poverty, (but you are rich,) and the impious words of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of the things which you are about to suffer; behold, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tried: and you shall have affliction ten days. Be faithful till death, and I will give you the crown of life.

But the chief priests consulted that they might kill Lazarus also,

Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women,

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, (the father of Alexander and Eufus,) who was passing by, coming in from the country, to bear his cross.

I know your works, and where you dwell, even where the throne of Satan is: and yet you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days in which Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

And he slew with the sword James the brother of John.

I John, your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Yet a hair of your head shall not perish.

Then, they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake.

But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrin: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I judged.

for you can understand that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they found me neither disputing with any one in the temple, nor exciting the multitude in the synagogue, or in the city: nor are they able to prove the things of which they now accuse me. read more.
But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers; believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets; having hope in God, which they themselves also admit, that I there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.

Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.

Fear none of the things which you are about to suffer; behold, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tried: and you shall have affliction ten days. Be faithful till death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Then they will deliver you up to affliction, and kill you; and you will be hated by all nations on my account.

But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and scourge you in their synagogues;

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, and into prisons, after being brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

But Herod and his guards treated him with contempt; and having mocked him, and put on him a gaudy robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

And for this reason did the Jews persecute Jesus, and seek to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

and arose, and drove him out of the city, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.

And after this Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that you are the posterity of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.