Persecution

5Yahweh examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.

20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.

39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

28Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.”

29Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,

30but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.

31But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

9But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

10The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

11When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

13You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

1“These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.

2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

3They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

4But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

1Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

2He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.