53 Bible Verses about Persecution

Most Relevant Verses

Matthew 10:23

But when they persecute you in one town, make your escape to another, for I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man arrives.

1 Corinthians 15:9

For I am the least important of the apostles, and am not fit to be called an apostle, because I once persecuted God's church.

John 15:20

Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

Matthew 13:21

but it takes no real root in him, and lasts only a little while, and when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, he gives it up at once.

Hebrews 10:33

sometimes being actually exposed as a public spectacle to insults and violence, and sometimes showing yourselves ready to share the lot of those in that condition.

Galatians 1:13

You have heard of my former conduct when I was attached to the Jewish religion??ow furiously I used to persecute the church of God and ravage it,

Mark 4:17

but it takes no real root in them and they last only a little while; then when trouble or persecution comes because of the message they give it up at once.

2 Corinthians 12:10

That is why I am pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties, when they are endured for Christ's sake, for it is when I am weak that I am strong.

2 Timothy 3:11

my persecutions, my sufferings??he things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured; yet the Lord brought me safely out of them all.

Acts 8:3

But Saul harassed the church. He went into one house after another, and dragging out men and women, put them in prison.

Acts 9:5

"Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice.

Luke 21:12

But before all this, men will arrest you and persecute you, and hand you over to synagogues and prisons and have you brought before kings and governors on my account.

Luke 11:49

This is why the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send prophets and apostles to them, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute'??50 so that this age may be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the creation of the world,

Philippians 3:6

as to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church; and by the Law's standard of uprightness, no fault could be found with me.

Galatians 5:11

And I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? If that is the case, the cross has ceased to be an obstacle, I suppose!

Galatians 6:12

These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised want to present a good appearance externally, to save themselves from having to stand persecution for the cross of Jesus the Christ.

Revelation 12:13

When the dragon saw that he had been hurled down to the earth, he went in pursuit of the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Acts 9:4

and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?"

Galatians 4:29

But just as then the child born in the ordinary course of nature persecuted the one born through the influence of the Spirit, so it is today.

Acts 26:15

'Who are you, sir?' said I. The Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 11:19

The fugitives from the persecution that had broken out over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they told the message to none but Jews.

From Thematic Bible


Afflictions » Rejoicing in tribulation, examples of » Persecution

Christ » Sake, for his » Persecution

Fire » Illustrative of » Persecution

Luke 12:49-53

I have come to bring fire down to the earth, and how I wish it were kindled already! I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am till it is over! Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? Not peace, I tell you, but discord! read more.
For from now on if there are five people in a house they will be divided three against two and two against three. Father will be against son, and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

For Christ's sake » Persecution

for Jesus' sake » Persecution

Joy » In sorrow in tribulation, examples of » Persecution

Paul » spread of the gospel » Persecution

Acts 19:23-41

Just at that time a great commotion arose about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius was making large profits for his workmen by the manufacture of silver shrines of Artemis. He got the workmen in that and similar trades together, and said to them, "Men, you know that this business is the source of our prosperity, read more.
and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and drawn away numbers of people, telling them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. There is danger, therefore, not only that this business of ours will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be neglected and the magnificence of her whom all Asia and the world worship will be a thing of the past!" When they heard this, they became very angry, and cried, "Great Artemis of Ephesus!" So the commotion spread all over the city, and by a common impulse the people rushed to the theater, dragging with them two Macedonians, Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions. Paul wanted to go before the people himself, but the disciples would not allow it. Some of the religious authorities also, who were friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. Meanwhile the people were shouting, some one thing and some another, for the meeting was in confusion, and most of them had no idea why they had come together. Some of the crowd called upon Alexander, as the Jews had pushed him to the front, and he made a gesture with his hand and was going to speak in defense of them to the people. But when they saw that he was a Jew, a great shout went up from them all, and they cried for two hours, "Great Artemis of Ephesus!" At last the recorder quieted the mob and said, "Men of Ephesus, who in the world does not know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell down from the sky? So as these facts are undeniable, you must be calm, and not do anything reckless. For you have brought these men here, though they have not been guilty of disloyalty nor uttered any blasphemy against our goddess. If Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen have a charge to bring against anyone, there are the courts and the governors; let them take legal action. But if you require anything beyond that, it must be settled before the regular assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting in connection with today's events, though there is really nothing about this commotion that we will not be able to explain." With these words he dismissed the assembly.

2 Corinthians 1:8

For I do not want you, brothers, to misunderstand the distress that I experienced in Asia, for I was so utterly and unendurably crushed, that I actually despaired of life itself.

Paul » Persecution

Acts 17:13-15

But when the Jews at Thessalonica found out that God's message had been delivered at Berea by Paul, they came there too, to excite and stir up the populace. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off to the coast, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind. The men who went with Paul took him all the way to Athens, and came back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to rejoin him as soon as possible.

Persecution » Who shall face persecution

1 Corinthians 4:9-13

For it seems to me, God has exhibited us apostles at the very end of the procession, like the men condemned to die in the arena. For we have become a spectacle to the whole universe, angels as well as men. We are made fools of, for the sake of Christ, while you are men of sense, through being united with him. We are weak, you are strong. You are distinguished, we are despised. To this day we have gone hungry, thirsty, and ill-clad; we have had rough usage, we have had no home, read more.
we have worked with our hands for a living. When people abuse us, we bless them, when they persecute us, we put up with it, when they slander us, we try to conciliate them. We have come to be like the scum of the earth, the dregs of the world, and we are so now.

Mark 13:1-13

As he was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Master! What wonderful stones and buildings!" Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be torn down." As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him, apart from the others, read more.
"Tell us when this is to happen, and what the sign will be when it is all just going to be carried out." And Jesus said to them, "Take care that no one misleads you about this. Many will come under my name and say 'I am he,' and many will be misled by them. But when you hear of wars and rumors of war, you must not be alarmed. They have to come, but it is not yet the end. For nation will rise in arms against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes here and there, there will be famines. This is only the beginning of the sufferings. But you must be on your guard; they will hand you over to courts and you will be taken into synagogues and beaten, and you will be brought before governors and kings on my account, to testify to them. For before the end the good news must be preached to all the heathen. When they are taking you off to trial do not worry beforehand about what you ought to say, but say whatever is given you when the time comes, for it is not you that will speak, but the holy Spirit. Brother will give up brother to be put to death, and the father his child, and children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone, because you bear my name. But he who holds out to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:16-25

"Here I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So you must be wise like serpents, and guileless like doves. But be on your guard against men, for they will give you up to their courts, and have you flogged in their synagogues, and you will be brought before governors and kings on my account, to bear your testimony before them and the heathen. read more.
But when they give you up, you must have no anxiety about how to speak or what to say, for you will be told at the very moment what you ought to say, for it is not you who will speak, it is the Spirit of your Father that will speak through you. One brother will give up another to death, and a father his child, and children will turn against their parents, and have them put to death. You will be hated by everybody on my account, but the man who holds out to the very end will be saved. But when they persecute you in one town, make your escape to another, for I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man arrives. A pupil is not better than his teacher, nor a slave better than his master. A pupil should be satisfied to come to be like his teacher, or a slave, to come to be like his master. If men have called the head of the house Beelzebub, how much worse names will they give to the members of his household!

Matthew 24:1-10

And Jesus left the Temple and was going away, when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to the Temple buildings. But he answered, "Do you see all this? I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another but shall be torn down." As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him by themselves, and said to him, "Tell us when this is to happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the close of the age." read more.
Jesus answered, "Take care that no one misleads you about this. For many will come under my name, and say, 'I am the Christ,' and many will be misled by them. You will hear of wars and rumors of war; do not let yourselves be alarmed. They have to come, but that is not the end. For nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the sufferings. Then they will hand you over to persecution and they will put you to death, and you will be hated by all the heathen because you bear my name. Then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

Persecution » General references to

Persecution » Predicted concerning the church

Luke 21:12

But before all this, men will arrest you and persecute you, and hand you over to synagogues and prisons and have you brought before kings and governors on my account.

John 15:20

Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

More verses: John 16:2 2 Timothy 3:12

Persecution » Of the jews

Acts 18:2

There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,

More verses: Daniel 3:8 Acts 16:20

Persecution » Instances of » Of jeremiah

Persecution » Of Christ

Luke 23:11

And Herod and his guards made light of him and ridiculed him, and they put a gorgeous robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

John 5:16

This was why the Jews used to persecute Jesus, because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

Luke 4:29

and they got up and drove him out of the town and took him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, intending to throw him down from it.

John 7:1

After this Jesus went from place to place in Galilee, for he would not do so in Judea, because the Jews were making efforts to kill him.

John 8:37

I know that you are descended from Abraham, yet you want to kill me, because there is no room in your hearts for my teaching.

More verses: John 10:39

Persecution » God delivers out of

2 Corinthians 1:10

So deadly was the peril from which he saved me, as he will save me again! It is on him that I have set my hope that he will save me again.

2 Timothy 3:11

my persecutions, my sufferings??he things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured; yet the Lord brought me safely out of them all.

Persecution » The world persecuting jesus Christ

Acts 4:24-27

When they heard it, with one impulse they all raised their voices to God and said, "Master, it was you who made heaven, earth, and sea, and everything that is in them, and who said through the holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather David, your slave, " 'Why did the heathen rage, And the peoples form vain designs? The kings of the earth stood by, And the rulers assembled Against the Lord and against his Christ.' read more.
For they have assembled here in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you had consecrated??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and the peoples of Israel,

Acts 9:1-5

Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest, and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there who belonged to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. But on his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a sudden light flashed around him from heaven, read more.
and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice.

John 15:1-25

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. Any branch of mine that does not bear fruit he trims away, and he prunes every branch that bears fruit, to make it bear more. You are pruned already because of the teaching that I have given you. read more.
You must remain united to me and I will remain united to you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains united to the vine, you cannot unless you remain united to me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Anyone who remains united to me, with me united to him, will be very fruitful, for you cannot do anything apart from me. Anyone who does not remain united to me is thrown away like a branch and withers up, and they gather them and throw them into the fire and burn them. If you remain united to me and my words remain in your hearts, ask for whatever you please and you shall have it. When you are very fruitful and show yourselves to be disciples of mine, my Father is honored. I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. You must retain my love. If you keep my commands you will retain my love, just as I have observed the Father's commands and retain his love. I have told you all this so that you may have the happiness that I have had, and your happiness may be complete. The command that I give you is to love one another just as I have loved you. No one can show greater love than by giving up his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you to do. I do not call you slaves any longer, for a slave does not know what his master is doing, but now I call you friends, for I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. It was not you who chose me, it is I that have chosen you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit??ruit that shall be lasting, so that the Father may grant you whatever you ask him for as my followers. "What I command you to do is to love one another. If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love what was its own. But it is because you do not belong to the world, but I have selected you from the world, that the world hates you. Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too. But they will do all this to you on my account, because they do not understand him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but as it is, they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done things before them that no one else ever did they would not be guilty of sin. But as it is, they have seen both me and my Father, and they have hated us both. But the saying of their Law, 'They hated me without cause,' must be fulfilled.

John 5:15-18

The man went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. This was why the Jews used to persecute Jesus, because he did things like this on the Sabbath. But he answered them, "My Father is still at work, and I work too." read more.
On account of this the Jews were all the more eager to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but actually called God his Father, thus putting himself on an equality with God.

Acts 22:6-8

But on my way, as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly about noon, a blaze of light flashed around me from heaven, and I fell upon the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' I answered, 'Who are you, sir?' 'I am Jesus of Nazareth,' he said, 'whom you are persecuting.'

Persecution » Lawful means may be used to escape

Matthew 2:13

When they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, "Wake up! Take the child and his mother and make your escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave. For Herod is going to look for the child in order to make away with him."

Matthew 10:23

But when they persecute you in one town, make your escape to another, for I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man arrives.

Matthew 12:14-15

But the Pharisees left the synagogue and consulted about him, with a view to putting him to death. But Jesus knew of this, and he left that place. And numbers of people followed him about, and he cured them all,

Persecution » Instances of » Of job

Persecution » The hope of future blessedness supports under

1 Corinthians 15:32

From the human point of view, what good is it to me that I have fought wild animals here in Ephesus? If the dead do not rise at all, "Let us eat and drink, for we will be dead tomorrow!"

Persecution » Instances of » Of the apostles

Revelation 1:9

I, John, your brother and companion in the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance that Jesus brings, found myself on the island called Patmos, for uttering God's message and testifying to Jesus.

Acts 4:3-18

They arrested them, and as it was already evening, they shut them up until next morning. But many of those who had heard what they said believed it, and their number grew to be about five thousand. On the next day the leading members of the council, the elders, and the scribes met in Jerusalem, read more.
with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who belonged to the high priest's family. They had the apostles brought before them and demanded of them, "By what power or authority have men like you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders of the people and members of the council, if it is for a benefit conferred upon a helpless man, and as to how he was cured, that we are called to account here today, you and the people of Israel must all know that it is through the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that he stands here before you well. He is the stone that you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, for there is no one else in the world who has been named to men as their only means of being saved." They were amazed to see how outspoken Peter and John were, and to find that they were uneducated men with no advantages. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, and seeing the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say. But they ordered them out of the presence of the council and conferred together. They said, "What are we to do with these men? For it is plain to everyone in Jerusalem that an extraordinary wonder has been done by them. We cannot deny that. But to keep it from spreading farther among the people, let us warn them to say nothing to anyone else at all about this person." So they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all about the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:18-42

and they had the apostles arrested and put in the common jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors in the night and let them out, and said to them, "Go, take your stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life." read more.
And they obeyed, and about daybreak went into the Temple and began to teach. The high priest and his party came over and called together the council and indeed the whole senate of the Israelites, and sent to the prison to have the apostles brought in. But the attendants who went for them could not find them in the jail, and they came back and reported, "We found the prison securely locked up, with the sentries on duty at the doors, but on opening the doors we found no one inside." When the commander of the Temple and the high priests heard this report, they were very much at a loss as to what would come of it. Someone came over and reported to them, "The men that you put in jail are standing right here in the Temple, teaching the people!" Then the commander and his men went and brought them back, but without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. So they brought them before the council. The high priest called on them for an explanation. "We strictly forbade you," he said, "to teach on this authority, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and propose to hold us responsible for this man's death!" Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our forefathers raised Jesus to life when you had hung him on a cross and killed him. God took him up to his right hand as our leader and savior, in order to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We and the holy Spirit which God has given to those who obey him are witnesses to these things." When they heard this, they were furious, and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly regarded by all the people, got up in the council and ordered the men to be removed for a while, and then said, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be a person of importance, and a group of men numbering some four hundred joined him. But he was killed and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared. After him, at the time of the census, Judas of Galilee appeared, and raised a great following, but he too perished, and all his followers were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this idea or movement is of human origin, it will come to naught, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may actually find yourselves fighting God!" They were convinced by him, and they called the apostles in and had them flogged, and warned them not to speak about the name of Jesus, and then let them go. So they went out from before the council, glad that they had been thought worthy to bear disgrace for the sake of Jesus, and they did not for a single day stop teaching and preaching in the Temple and in private houses the good news of Jesus, the Christ.

Acts 12:1-19

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had John's brother, James, beheaded, and when he saw that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, at the time of the festival of Unleavened Bread. read more.
He had him seized and put in jail, with four squads of soldiers to guard him, meaning after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the jail, but the church was praying earnestly to God for him. The night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter was asleep between two soldiers, and fastened with two chains, and watchmen were at the door, guarding the jail, when an angel of the Lord stood at his side, and a light shone in the room, and striking Peter on the side, he woke him, and said to him, "Get up quickly!" The chains dropped from his hands, and the angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals!" And he did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your coat and follow me!" So he followed him out without knowing that what the angel was doing was real, for he thought he was having a vision. They passed the first guard and then the second, and came to the iron gate that led into the city. It opened to them of itself, and they passed out and went along one street, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself, and he said, "Now I am certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and all that the Jewish people were expecting." When he realized his situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where a number of people were gathered, praying. When he knocked at the outer door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it, and when she recognized Peter's voice, in her joy she did not stop to open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing outside. But they said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. Then they said, "Then it is his guardian angel!" But Peter kept on knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him they were amazed. He motioned to them to be quiet, and then related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell all this to James and the brothers," he said. Then he left them and went somewhere else. But when morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. Herod had inquiries made for him, and when he could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he left Judea for Caesarea, and stayed there.

Persecution » Saints may expect

Luke 21:12

But before all this, men will arrest you and persecute you, and hand you over to synagogues and prisons and have you brought before kings and governors on my account.

John 15:20

Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

Persecution » Of the righteous » Diffuses the gospel

Acts 11:19-21

The fugitives from the persecution that had broken out over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they told the message to none but Jews. There were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene among them, however, who when they reached Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, and told them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and there were a great many who believed and turned to the Lord.

Acts 8:1

And Saul entirely approved of his being put to death. A great persecution of the church in Jerusalem broke out that day, and they were all scattered over Judea and Samaria except the apostles.

Philippians 1:12-14

Now I want to assure you, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in furthering the preaching of the good news. Thus it is generally known throughout the Imperial Guard and elsewhere that it is for the sake of Christ that I am in prison, and so most of the Christian brothers have been exceedingly encouraged by my example to declare God's message without any fear of the consequences.

Persecution » Spirit of--exemplified

Philippians 3:6

as to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church; and by the Law's standard of uprightness, no fault could be found with me.

John 5:16

This was why the Jews used to persecute Jesus, because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

1 Thessalonians 2:15

who killed the Lord Jesus and persecuted the prophets and us; who displease God, and in their hostility to all mankind

Persecution » Punishment for

Persecution » The wicked » Active in

Persecution » Those that are persecuted for the sake of Christ

Matthew 5:10-12

"Blessed are those who have endured persecution for their uprightness, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them! "Blessed are you when people abuse you, and persecute you, and falsely say everything bad of you, on my account. Be glad and exult over it, for you will be richly rewarded in heaven, for that is the way they persecuted the prophets who went before you!

Luke 6:22-23

"Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and denounce you and spurn the name you bear as evil, on account of the Son of Man. Be glad when that happens, and leap for joy, for you will be richly rewarded in heaven, for that is the way their forefathers treated the prophets.

Persecution » Instances of » Of elijah

Persecution » The wicked » Rejoice in its success

Revelation 11:10

The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and celebrate by sending presents to one another, for these two prophets were a torment to the inhabitants of the earth.

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Rejoice

Persecution » Instances of » Of abel

Matthew 23:35

it is that on your heads may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of Abel the upright to the blood of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar!

Persecution » Of saints, is a persecution of Christ

Acts 9:4-5

and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice.

Persecution » Originates in » Mistaken zeal

Acts 13:50

But the Jews stirred up the well-to-do religious women and the leading men of the town, and they started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

Acts 26:9-11

I once thought it my duty vigorously to oppose the cause of Jesus of Nazareth. That was what I did at Jerusalem when on the authority of the high priests I put many of God's people in prison. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them, and many a time in all the synagogues I had them punished, and tried to force them to say impious things. In my extreme rage against them I even pursued them to distant towns.

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Pray for deliverance

Persecution » Instances of » Of the ekklesia (body of Christ)

Acts 8:1

And Saul entirely approved of his being put to death. A great persecution of the church in Jerusalem broke out that day, and they were all scattered over Judea and Samaria except the apostles.

Galatians 1:13

You have heard of my former conduct when I was attached to the Jewish religion??ow furiously I used to persecute the church of God and ravage it,

Acts 9:1-14

Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest, and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there who belonged to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. But on his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a sudden light flashed around him from heaven, read more.
and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice. "But get up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do." Saul's fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. When he got up from the ground and opened his eyes he could see nothing. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and neither ate nor drank. There was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord!" The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called the Straight Street, and ask at the house of Judas for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is there praying. He has had a vision and seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, to restore his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell of this man, and the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. He is here with authority to arrest everyone who calls upon your name."

Persecution » The wicked » Addicted to

Persecution » Blessedness of enduring, for Christ's sake

Luke 6:22

"Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and denounce you and spurn the name you bear as evil, on account of the Son of Man.

Persecution » Originates in » Hated to God and Christ

John 15:24

If I had not done things before them that no one else ever did they would not be guilty of sin. But as it is, they have seen both me and my Father, and they have hated us both.

John 15:20

Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

Persecution » Christ suffered

John 5:16

This was why the Jews used to persecute Jesus, because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

Persecution » Instances of » Of micaiah

Persecution » Instances of » Of zachariah

Matthew 23:35

it is that on your heads may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of Abel the upright to the blood of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar!

Persecution » Pray for those suffering

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Exhibit patience

Persecution » Instances of » Of the disciples

John 20:19

When it was evening on that first day after the Sabbath, and the doors of the house where the disciples met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came in and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you!"

John 9:34

They answered, "You were born in utter sin, and are you trying to teach us?" So they excluded him from the synagogue.

John 9:22

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already made an agreement that if anyone acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, he should be excluded from the synagogues.

Persecution » Those that persecute israel

Persecution » God forsakes not his saints under

Persecution » Instances of » Of david

Persecution » Illustrated

Matthew 21:33-39

"Listen to another figure. There was a land owner who planted a vineyard and fenced it in, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a watch-tower, and leased it to tenants, and left the neighborhood. When the time for the vintage approached he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share. But the tenants took his slaves and beat one and killed another and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves and more of them than he had sent at first, and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw his son, they said to one another. 'This is his heir! Come on, let us kill him, and get his inheritance!' So they took him and drove him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Persecution » Spirit of--exemplified » Zedekiah

Persecution » Of the righteous » Deliverance from

Persecution » Spirit of--exemplified » saul

Persecution » All that live Godly in Christ, shall suffer

Persecution » Preachers of the gospel subject to

Galatians 5:11

And I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? If that is the case, the cross has ceased to be an obstacle, I suppose!

Persecution » Saints suffer, for the sake of God

Persecution » False teachers shrink from

Galatians 6:12

These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised want to present a good appearance externally, to save themselves from having to stand persecution for the cross of Jesus the Christ.

Persecution » Men by nature addicted to

Galatians 4:29

But just as then the child born in the ordinary course of nature persecuted the one born through the influence of the Spirit, so it is today.

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Saints of old

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Jeremiah

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Daniel

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » David

Persecution » Originates in » Hatred to the gospel

Matthew 13:21

but it takes no real root in him, and lasts only a little while, and when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, he gives it up at once.

Persecution » Instances of » of moses

Persecution » Inconsistent with » The gospel

Matthew 26:52

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs! For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Pray for those who inflict

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Commit themselves to God

Persecution » Saints suffering, should » Glorify God

1 Peter 4:16

but if a man suffers for being a Christian, he must not be ashamed of it, but must do honor to God through that name.

Persecution » Instances of » Of stephen

Acts 6:9-15

But members of the synagogue known as that of the Libyans, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia undertook to debate with Stephen, but they could not meet his wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke. So they instigated people to say, "We have heard him use abusive language about Moses and about God." read more.
They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they set upon him and seized him, and brought him before the council. Then they brought forward false witnesses, who said, "This man is constantly saying things against this holy place and against the Law, for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down and change the customs that have been handed down to us by Moses." Everyone who sat in the council fixed his eyes on him, and they saw that his face was like that of an angel.

Persecution » Hypocrites cannot endure

Persecution » Return blessing for

Persecution » Instances of » Of the jews

Persecution » Instances of » Of prophets

Matthew 21:35-36

But the tenants took his slaves and beat one and killed another and stoned a third. Again he sent other slaves and more of them than he had sent at first, and they treated them in the same way.

Persecution » The wicked » Encourage each other in

Persecution » Who persecutes the poor

Persecution » Christ voluntarily submitted to

Persecution » Cannot separate from Christ

Persecution » Christ was patient under

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Paul and barnabas

Acts 13:50

But the Jews stirred up the well-to-do religious women and the leading men of the town, and they started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Paul and silas

Acts 16:23

After beating them severely, they put them in jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch of them.

Persecution » Originates in » Pride

Persecution » Instances of » Of john the baptist

Matthew 14:3-12

For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John said to him, "It is not right for you to be living with her." And while he wanted him killed, he was afraid of the people; for they considered him a prophet. read more.
But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the company. And Herod was delighted with her, and swore that he would give her anything she asked for. But she, at her mother's instigation, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter!" And the king was sorry, but because he had sworn to do it, and because of the guests who were present, he ordered it to be given to her. And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought back on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body away, and buried him, and then they went and reported it to Jesus.

Persecution » Instances of » Of gideon

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » The prophets

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? They killed the men who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and killed??53 you who had the Law given to you by angels, and did not obey it!"

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Apostles

Persecution » Spirit of--exemplified » Herod

Acts 12:1

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.

Persecution » Originates in » Ignorance of God and Christ

Persecution » Instances of » Of the three hebrew young men (shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego) of the captivity

Persecution » Instances of » Of the congregation at smyrna

Revelation 2:8-10

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: " 'The first and the last, who died and came to life again, speaks thus: I know of your distress and poverty??hough you are rich!?? know how you are slandered by those who claim to be Jews when they are not so, but only a synagogue of Satan! Do not be afraid of what you are going to suffer. See! The devil is going to put some of you into prison to be tested there, and for ten days to endure persecution. Prove faithful even unto death and I will give you the crown of life.

Persecution » Instances of » Of lazarus

Persecution » Instances of » Of hanani

Persecution » Instances of » Of urijah

Persecution » Instances of » Of timothy

Hebrews 13:23

You must know that our brother Timothy has been released from prison. If he comes here soon, we will see you together.

Persecution » Is sometimes unto death

Persecution » Suffering of--exemplified » Primitive church

Acts 8:1

And Saul entirely approved of his being put to death. A great persecution of the church in Jerusalem broke out that day, and they were all scattered over Judea and Samaria except the apostles.

Persecution » Instances of » Of prophets martyred by jezebel

Persecution » Instances of » Of simon

Mark 15:21

And they forced a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross??ne Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus.

Persecution » Instances of » of Elisha

Persecution » Instances of » Of antipas

Revelation 2:13

I know where you live; where Satan has his throne! Yet you cling to my name and did not renounce your faith in me even in the days when my faithful Antipas, my witness, was put to death among you??here Satan lives.

Persecution » Instances of » Of james

Persecution » Instances of » Of lot

Persecution » Of the righteous » A mode of divine chastisement

Persecution » Instances of » Of john

Revelation 1:9

I, John, your brother and companion in the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance that Jesus brings, found myself on the island called Patmos, for uttering God's message and testifying to Jesus.

Persecution » Instances of » Of daniel

Protection » Is vouchsafed to saints in » Persecution

Rejoicing » In tribulation, examples of » Persecution

The Resurrection » The preaching of, caused » Persecution

Acts 23:6

Knowing that part of them were Sadducees and part of them Pharisees, Paul called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees! It is for my hope for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

Acts 24:11-15

for it is not more than twelve days ago, as you can easily satisfy yourself, that I went up to worship at Jerusalem, and they have never found me debating with anyone in the Temple, or creating a disturbance among the people in the synagogues or about the city, and they cannot sustain the charges they have just made against me. read more.
I admit that in worshiping the God of my forefathers I follow the way of life that they call a sect, but I believe everything that is taught in the Law or written in the prophets, and I have the same hope in God that they themselves hold, that there is to be a resurrection of the upright and the wicked.

Suffering for Christ's sake » Some trials believers may be called upon to endure » Persecution

Suffering for righteousness' sake » Persecution » General references to

Suffering for righteousness' sake » Persecution » Predicted concerning the church

Luke 21:12

But before all this, men will arrest you and persecute you, and hand you over to synagogues and prisons and have you brought before kings and governors on my account.

John 15:20

Remember what I said to you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

More verses: John 16:2 2 Timothy 3:12

Suffering for righteousness' sake » Persecution » Of Christ

Luke 23:11

And Herod and his guards made light of him and ridiculed him, and they put a gorgeous robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

John 5:16

This was why the Jews used to persecute Jesus, because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

Luke 4:29

and they got up and drove him out of the town and took him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, intending to throw him down from it.

John 7:1

After this Jesus went from place to place in Galilee, for he would not do so in Judea, because the Jews were making efforts to kill him.

John 8:37

I know that you are descended from Abraham, yet you want to kill me, because there is no room in your hearts for my teaching.

More verses: John 10:39

Suffering for righteousness' sake » For Christ's sake some trials believers may be called upon to endure » Persecution

Topics on Persecution

Fear, Of Persecution

John 12:42-43

Yet for all that, even among the leading men, many came to believe in him, but on account of the Pharisees they would not acknowledge it, for fear of being excluded from the synagogues,

Jewish Persecution

Matthew 27:23-25

He said, "Why, what has he done that is wrong?" But they shouted all the louder, "Have him crucified!"

Persecution Of Christ

Luke 4:29

and they got up and drove him out of the town and took him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, intending to throw him down from it.

Persecution, Forms Of

Acts 5:17-18

This aroused the high priest and all his supporters, the party of the Sadducees, and filled them with jealousy,

Persecution, Nature Of

Revelation 6:8

And there I saw a horse the color of ashes, and its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. They were given power over one quarter of the earth, to kill the people with sword, famine, death, and the wild animals of the earth.

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Theasaurus: Persecution