53 Bible Verses about Persecution

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

"I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. read more.
For from now on there will be five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him for his deeds.

About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. read more.
And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." When they heard this, they were enraged and began crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. Now some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of the people did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense to the people. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all with one voice shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. If then Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another. But if you want anything further, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul out to go as far as the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, like men condemned to death; because 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 distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and we are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; read more.
and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see all these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down." Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, read more.
"Tell us, when will this be? And what will be the sign when these things are all to be fulfilled?" And Jesus began to say to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginning of birth pains. But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand what you are to say. But say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. read more.
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these things, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down." Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" read more.
And Jesus answered them: "Take heed that no one deceives 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 are not alarmed; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and will betray one another, and hate one another.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues.

But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. And you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to 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 keep yours also.

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to see them,

And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then, dressing him in a gorgeous robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

And they rose up and cast him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down the cliff.

After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that you are Abraham's descendants, yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

He delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God together and said, "Sovereign Lord, it is you who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David your servant, said, 'Why did the gentiles rage, and the peoples plot futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.' read more.
For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. read more.
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. read more.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is like a branch that is cast away and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be 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 one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you, that you love one another. "If the world hates 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 chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to 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 keep yours also. But all this they will do to you for my name's sake, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." read more.
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

"As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around 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 are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Josnt in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."

When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all,

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.

I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

And they seized them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; read more.
and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they began to inquire, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a cripple, as to how this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands before you healed. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other 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 uneducated, common men, they were astonished; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they conferred with one another, saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a noteworthy miracle has been performed through them is apparent to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any one in this name." Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." read more.
And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, "We found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what would come of this. And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." Then the captain went along with the officers and brought them back without violence, for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned. When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesuswhom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while. And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." So they took his advice, and they called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to persecute them. He had James the brother of John put to death with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. read more.
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." So he went out and followed him; and he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, "It is his angel." But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell this to James and to the brethren." Then he left and went to another place. Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while.

But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. And you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to 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 keep yours also.

who will not receive a hundredfold now in this timehouse and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life.

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Now I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that my imprisonment for Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have been encouraged to speak the word of God without fear.

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men,

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

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

Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it;

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. read more.
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

Remember the word that I said to 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 keep yours also.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

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

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

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

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

"Hear another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vine dressers and went into a far country. When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did the same to them. Last of all, he sent his son to them saying, 'They will respect my son,' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

But if I, brethren, still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.

Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.

And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.

Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." read more.
They stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came on him and seized him, and brought him before the council. They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place, and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us." And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

And the tenants took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did the same to them.

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

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them securely.

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. read more.
But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." And the king was sorry; but, because of his oaths and his guests, he commanded it to be given to her; so he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to persecute them.

And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'These are the words of the First and the Last, who died, and came to life: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and I know the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death,

You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes soon.

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

Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to carry his cross.

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

He had James the brother of John put to death with the sword.

I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

But not a hair of your head will perish.

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial."

Since you can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city. Neither can they prove to you the charges they are now making against me. read more.
But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do worship the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there will certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues.

But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. And you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember the word that I said to 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 keep yours also.

And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then, dressing him in a gorgeous robe, he sent him back to Pilate.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

And they rose up and cast him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down the cliff.

After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that you are Abraham's descendants, yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.