'Persecuted' in the Bible

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it.

they simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.”

But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.

Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.