53 Bible Verses about Persecution

They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ];

Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

I have come to send a fire on the earth; and what will I if it is already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it is fully accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, no; but rather division. read more.
For from this time there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two shall be divided against three; a father against a son, and a son against a father; a mother against the daughter, and a daughter against the mother; a mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.

Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ];

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; may the Lord reward him according to his work.

And there was at that time no small tumult about the way [of the Lord]. For a certain Demetrius by name, a silversmith, who made silver temples of Diana, and afforded his artisans no small gain, assembling them together and laborers of like employments, said, Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this employment, read more.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods. And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed. And hearing this they were full of wrath, and cried, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians! And the whole city was full of confusion; and they rushed with one accord to the theatre, taking Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow travellers of Paul. And Paul wishing to go in to the people, the disciples did not permit him; and some of the rulers of Asia also, who were friendly to him, sending to him, besought him not to expose himself in the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what reason they had come together. And they advanced Alexander from the multitude, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander motioning with his hand, wished to defend himself before the people. But knowing that he was a Jew, there was one voice from all, for about two hours, crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the clerk having stilled the multitude, said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana, and of the Jove descended [image]? These things therefore being indisputable, it is best to be quiet, and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here, who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of your goddess. If, therefore, Demetrius and the artisans with him have a charge against any, court days are held, and there are pro-consuls; let them accuse one another. And if you desire any thing of other matters, let it be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called to account for the tumult of to-day, there being no cause by which we can excuse this concourse. And having said these words he dismissed the assembly.

For we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed beyond our power, so that we despaired even of life;

And when the Jews in Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there exciting the multitudes. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away, as if to go by sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. And those conducting Paul brought him to Athens, and receiving a charge to Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

And all who will live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted.

For I think that God has shown us the apostles last, as devoted to death, for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. For we are foolish for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; and you are glorious, but we are infamous. Even to this hour we suffer hunger and thirst and nakedness, and are beaten, and are unsettled, read more.
and labor, working with our hands; being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure, being defamed we entreat; we are made like the offscouring of the world and the vilest of all things, even till now.

AND as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Teacher, see what stones, and what buildings! And Jesus said to him, Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be left a stone upon a stone, which shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of Olives, opposite to 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? And Jesus said to them, See that no man deceives you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [the Christ], and shall deceive many. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not afraid, for these things must be; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in [different] places, and there shall be famines. These are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves; they shall deliver you up to Sanhedrims, and you shall be beaten in synagogues, and shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. And the good news must first be preached to all nations. And when they deliver you to afflictions, be not anxious beforehand what you shall say; but whatever is given you in that hour, this speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother shall deliver brother to death, and father, son; and children shall rise up against their parents and kill them; and you shall 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 harmless as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you to Sanhedrims, and scourge you in their synagogues, and you shall be brought before governors, and kings, for my sake, for a testimony to them and the nations. read more.
But when they have delivered you up be not anxious how you shall speak, or what you shall say, for it shall be given you in that hour what to say; for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you. And a brother shall deliver a brother to death, and a father a son; and children shall rise up against their parents and put them to death; and you shall be hated by all men for my sake. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. And when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For I tell you truly, that you will not finish the cities of Israel till the Son of man shall come. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is sufficient for the disciple to be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they call the members of his family by that name.

AND Jesus went out and departed from the temple; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. And he answered and said to them, Do you not see all these things? I tell you truly, there shall not be left here stone upon stone that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the Mount of Olives the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us when these things shall be; and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the consummation of the world? read more.
And Jesus answered and said to them, See that no man deceives you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not terrified, for all things must be accomplished; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places; but all these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then they shall deliver you to affliction, and kill you, and you shall be hated by all nations on my account; and then many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and hate one another;

Fear not what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast 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 shall deliver you to affliction, and kill you, and you shall be hated by all nations on my account;

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

But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, committing you to synagogues and prisons, to be brought before kings and governors on my account;

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

And finding a certain Jew by the name of Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy, and his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome, he went to them,

And Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, and mocked him, and put on him a splendid garment, and sent him back to Pilate.

and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

and they arose and cast him out of the city, and led him even to the brow of the mountain on which the city was built, to precipitate him down.

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

I know that you are children of Abraham; but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you.

who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver, in whom we hope that he will also still deliver,

persecutions, sufferings, which befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; the great persecutions which I suffered, and the Lord delivered me from all.

And when they heard it they lifted up their voice with one consent to God, and said, Master, thou who hast made heaven, and the earth, the sea, and all things in them, who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the nations rage and the peoples devise vain things? the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord, and against his anointed. read more.
For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were assembled together against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed,

BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of that way, he might bring them bound, men and women, to Jerusalem. And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, read more.
and falling on the earth he 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 persecute.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit he trims, that it may bear more fruit. You are now pure, by means of the word which I have spoken to you; read more.
continue in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it continues in the vine, so you cannot, unless you continue in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that continues in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit; for separated from me, you can do nothing. If any one continues not in me he is cast without as a branch, and is withered; and they collect them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you continue in me, and my words continue in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be [given] you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; continue in my love. If you keep my commandments you shall continue in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and continue in his love. I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be completed. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No man has greater love than this, that one should give his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you; I no longer call you servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends: for all things which 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 to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should continue, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. These things I charge you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you. If you were of this world, the world would be a friend to 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 said to you, a servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours. 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 pretext for their sin. He that hates me, hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But [they do this] that the word written in their law may be fulfilled, They hated me without cause.

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well; and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father works even till now, and I work. read more.
Then, for this reason, the Jews sought 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.

And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute.

And 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 remain there till I tell you; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy it.

And when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For I tell you truly, that you will not finish the cities of Israel till the Son of man shall come.

and the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to destroy him. But Jesus knowing it departed thence, and great multitudes followed him; and he cured them all,

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, of 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 most miserable.

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

and they laid hands on them and put them in prison till the next day; for it was now evening. But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand. And on the next day the rulers, and elders, and scribes read more.
assembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all that were of the family of the chief priesthood, and placing them in the midst, asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we are to-day examined concerning the good work done to the sick man, by what means he has been cured, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him has this man stood before you sound. This is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head of a corner. And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved. And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and supposing that they were illiterate and common men, they wondered, and perceived that they had been with Jesus; and seeing the man standing with them cured, they could not dispute it. And commanding them to withdraw from the Sanhedrim, they conferred one with another, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that a notable miracle has been performed by them is manifest to all that live at Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it; but that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them severely, [and charge them] to speak no more to any man in this name. And calling them, they charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. read more.
And hearing this they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. And the chief priest coming, and those with him, called the Sanhedrim together, and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But the officers going did not find them in the prison; and returning they reported, saying, The prison found we shut with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors, but opening we found no one within. And when they heard these words, both the priest and the commander of the temple and the chief priests doubted concerning them, what this could mean. But some one came and told them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then the commander going away with the officers brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned; and having brought them they placed them before the Sanhedrim. And the chief priest asked them, saying, We charged you strictly not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and wish to bring this man's blood on us. And Peter answering, and the apostles, said, It is necessary to obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you took and hung on a cross; him has God exalted, a Prince and Saviour at his right hand, to give a change of mind to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit which God has given to those that obey him. And when they heard this they were highly offended, and took counsel to kill them. But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrim, by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, in honor with all the people, standing up requested them to put the men out a little while; and he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you are about to do to these men. For before these days Theudas arose, saying that he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who was destroyed, and all who obeyed him passed away and came to nothing. After him arose Judas the Galilean, in the days of the census, and drew away people after him; and he was destroyed, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I tell you, abstain from these men, and let them alone; because if this design, or this work, is from men, it will be destroyed; but if it is from God, you cannot destroy them; lest you be found at some time to be fighting against God. And they were persuaded by him, and calling the apostles and scourging them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ]; and every day in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching the good news of Christ Jesus.

AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also,??nd it was during the days of unleavened bread,??4 and having seized he put him in prison, committing him to four companies of four soldiers each to guard him, wishing after the passover to bring him before the people. read more.
Peter therefore was kept by the guard; but prayer was made incessantly by the church to God for him. And when Herod was about to bring him forward, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards kept watch before the door. And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Put your cloak about you, and follow me. And going out he followed him, and knew not that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first guard, and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself, and going out they went forward one street, and immediately the angel left him. And Peter coming to himself said, Now I know that the Lord has really sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the Jews. And considering within himself he came to the house of Mary the mother of John called Mark, where a great number were assembled together and praying. And knocking at the door of the gate, a female servant, called Rhoda, came to listen, and knowing the voice of Peter she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and told that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, You are mad. But she asserted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking; and having opened they saw him, and were astonished. And making signs to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had conducted him out of the prison, and said, Tell these things to James and the brothers. And going out he departed to another place. And when it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. And Herod seeking and not finding him, examined the guards, and commanded them to be put to death, and going down from Judea to Caesarea remained [there].

But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, committing you to synagogues and prisons, to be brought before kings and governors on my account;

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

who shall not receive a hundred fold now at this present time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the life to come eternal life.

And those scattered abroad by the affliction which commenced with Stephen, went even to Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one but Jews only. But some of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

And Saul consented to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Being scattered abroad, therefore, they went everywhere preaching the good news of the word;

But I wish you to know, brothers, that the things as to me have resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Praetorium and in all other places, and many of the brothers having been made confident by my bonds in the Lord have more abundant courage to speak the word without fear.

as to zeal persecuting the church, as to righteousness by the law being blameless.

who formerly was a blasphemer and persecutor and an injurious man; but I obtained mercy because I did those things ignorantly in unbelief;

and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

who also killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and who please not God and are hostile to all men,

since it is just with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,

Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you from their company, and reproach and cast out your names as evil, on account of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day, and be exceedingly glad; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in this manner did their fathers to the prophets.

And those that dwell on the earth shall be glad, and rejoice over them, and shall send gifts one to another, because these two prophets tormented those that dwell on the earth.

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

but as you partake of the sufferings of Christ rejoice, that you may also rejoice exulting at the revelation of his glory.

that all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Bararchiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar, may come upon you.

not as Cain was of the evil one and killed his brother; and why did he kill him? because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

and falling on the earth he 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 persecute.

But the Jews excited the pious and honorable women, and the first men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out from their limits.

I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazoraean, which I also did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed I gave my vote against them. And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to cities abroad.

And Saul consented to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

For you heard of my conduct formerly in Judaism, that I greatly persecuted the church of God and destroyed it;

BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of that way, he might bring them bound, men and women, to Jerusalem. And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, read more.
and falling on the earth he 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 persecute. But arise and enter into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men travelling with him stood amazed, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they conducted him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither eat nor drank. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [a man] by the name of Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, and has seen a man by the name of Ananias coming and putting a hand on him, that he might receive his sight. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has power from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name.

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you from their company, and reproach and cast out your names as evil, on account of the Son of man.

Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

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

and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

that all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Bararchiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar, may come upon you.

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

and labor, working with our hands; being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure,

Then when it was evening, on that first day of the week, and the doors were shut where the disciples were 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 born entirely in sins, and do you teach us? And they cast him without.

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for already the Jews had agreed that if any one confessed him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue;

being persecuted but not deserted, being cast down but not destroyed,

Hear another parable: There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge around it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad. And when the time of the fruits approached he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them in the same manner. And afterwards he sent them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and take his inheritance. And they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

And all who will live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted.

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

Those who wish to make a fair appearance in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

But as then he that was born of the flesh persecuted him that was born of the Spirit, so also now.

and others had trial of mockings and scourges, and besides of bonds and imprisonment;

but has no root in himself, but is only a temporary [disciple]; and when affliction or persecution arises on account of the word, he is immediately offended.

Then Jesus said to him, Put up your sword in its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword.

But I tell you, Love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you;

Let those therefore who suffer by the will of God, commit their souls to him in well doing as a faithful creator.

but as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, let him glorify God on this account.

But some members of the synagogue called that of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen, and were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. Then they bribed men who said, We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. read more.
And they stirred up both the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming suddenly they seized him and led him to the Sanhedrim, and brought forward false witnesses who said, This man speaks incessantly against this holy place, and the law; for we have heard him say, that Jesus this Nazoraean will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses gave us. And all who sat in the Sanhedrin looking steadily at him saw his face like the face of an angel.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Change your minds; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Bless those that persecute, bless and curse not.

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them in the same manner.

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

But the Jews excited the pious and honorable women, and the first men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out from their limits.

and having inflicted many blows on them cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely;

For Herod having seized John, had bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John had said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And he wished to kill him; but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet. read more.
And Herod's birthday being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, on account of which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask; and she, having been put forward by her mother, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist. And the king was sorry; but on account of the oath, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; and his head was brought on a plate and given to the girl, and she carried it to her mother. And his disciples went and took up the body and buried it, and came and told Jesus.

Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you now have become betrayers and murderers,

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

AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church.

And these things they will do, because they have not known 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 lived, I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich, and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear not what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast 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.

And the chief priests took counsel to kill Lazarus also,

Know that brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women,

And Saul consented to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

and compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who was passing along, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

I know your works and where you live; where Satan's throne is; and you hold my name, and did not deny my faith in the days in which Antipas my faithful martyr was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

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

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

and a hair of your heads shall by no means perish;

They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ];

And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial.

you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. And they did not find me in the temple disputing with any one, or making a disturbance of the multitude, neither in the synagogues nor in the city; neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. read more.
But this I confess to you, that in the way which they call a heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having a hope in God which they also hold, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked.

Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

Fear not what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast 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 shall deliver you to affliction, and kill you, and you shall be hated by all nations on my account;

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

But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, committing you to synagogues and prisons, to be brought before kings and governors on my account;

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

And Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, and mocked him, and put on him a splendid garment, and sent him back to Pilate.

and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

and they arose and cast him out of the city, and led him even to the brow of the mountain on which the city was built, to precipitate him down.

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

I know that you are children of Abraham; but 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 against you, falsely, for my sake.