Persecution:
What Saith the Scripture?
"They hate him who reproves in the gate,
And they abhor him who speaks with integrity."
Amos 5:10
When we think about the promises of God, we don't usually include persecution. But Jesus did promise that those who love him will be persecuted. The following has not been developed into a bible study outline. It is simply a list of scriptures related to this topic. The Word of God itself can comfort and encourage us. Above all, if you feel you're being persecuted, rejoice. And after reading Hebrews chapter 11, and all the saints of old endured, ask yourself if your situation is really that bad at all. And if you do need prayer or encouragement, consider posting a request at The Prayer Place. May God's Word encourage your heart.
Genesis 49:23 The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him;
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
Job 2:4-5 And Satan answered the Lord and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. "However, put forth Thy hand, now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse Thee to Thy face."
Job 12:4-5 "I am a joke to my friends. The one who called on God, and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke. "He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip.
Psalm 11:2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
Psalm 37:32 The wicked spies upon the righteous, And seeks to kill him.
Psalm 38:20 And those who repay evil for good, They oppose me, because I follow what is good.
Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Psalm 42:10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Psalm 44:15-18 All day long my dishonor is before me,
And my humiliation has overwhelmed me, Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten Thee, And we have not dealt falsely with Thy covenant. Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way,
Psalm 44:22 But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
Psalm 56:5 All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.
Psalm 69:10-12 When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate talk about me, And I am the song of the drunkards.
Psalm 74:7-8 They have burned Thy sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Thy name. They said in their heart, "Let us completely subdue them." They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
Psalm 94:5 They crush Thy people, O Lord, And afflict Thy heritage.
Psalm 119:51 The arrogant utterly deride me, Yet I do not turn aside from Thy law.
Psalm 119:61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Thy law.
Psalm 119:69 The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will observe Thy precepts.
Psalm 119:78 May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Thy precepts.
Psalm 119:85-87 The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Thy law. All Thy commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help me! They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Thy precepts.
Psalm 119:95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Thy testimonies.
Psalm 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Thy precepts.
Psalm 119:157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn aside from Thy testimonies.
Psalm 119:161 Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Thy words.
Proverbs 29:10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life.
Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while, Until indignation runs its course.
Isaiah 29:20-21 For the ruthless will come to an end, and the scorner will be finished, Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off; Who cause a person to be indicted by a word, And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate, And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments.
Isaiah 51:12-13 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, And of the son of man who is made like grass; That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens, And laid the foundations of the earth; That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 59:15 Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.Now the Lord saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
Jeremiah 2:30 "In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
Jeremiah 11:19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, And let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name be remembered no more."
Jeremiah 15:10 Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me As a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have neither lent, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.
Jeremiah 18:18 Then they said, "Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words."
Jeremiah 20:7-8 O Lord, Thou hast deceived me and I was deceived; Thou hast overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me. For each time I speak, I cry aloud;
I proclaim violence and destruction, Because for me the word of the Lord has resulted In reproach and derision all day long.
Jeremiah 26:11-14 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, "A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing." 12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, "The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13"Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. 14"But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight.
Jeremiah 50:7 "All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, 'We are not guilty, Inasmuch as they have sinned against the Lord who is the habitation of righteousness, Even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.'
Amos 5:10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks with integrity.
Habakkuk 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor. Why dost Thou look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why art Thou silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?
Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12"Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 10:16-18 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 17"But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:21-23 "And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22"And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23"But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 20:22-23 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
Matthew 23:34-35 "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Matthew 24:8-10 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. 10"And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.
Mark 8:35 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.
Mark 9:42 "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
Mark 13:9 "But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
Mark 13:11-13 "And when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12"And brother will deliver brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13"And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.
Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23"Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
Luke 6:26-27 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. 27"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 17:33 "Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it.
Luke 21:12-19 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. 13"It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14"So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16"But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17and you will be hated by all on account of My name. 18"Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19"By your endurance you will gain your lives.
John 12:42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 16:1-2 "These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling. 2"They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.
John 17:14 "I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Acts 4:16-20 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17"But in order that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name." 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:40-42 And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 7:52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
Acts 8:4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 28:22 "But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."
Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36Just as it is written,
"For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
1 Cor. 4:9-13 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
1 Cor. 13:3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
2 Cor. 4:8-12 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death works in us, but life in you.
2 Cor. 6:4-5 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
2 Cor. 6:8-10 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
2 Cor. 11:23-27 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
2 Cor. 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Galatians 4:29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
Galatians 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
Philip. 1:12-14 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
Philip. 1:28-29 in no way alarmed by your opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Col. 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
1 Thes. 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
1 Thes. 2:2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
1 Thes. 2:14-15 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
2 Thes. 1:4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
2 Tim. 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
2 Tim. 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
2 Tim. 2:9-10 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 10For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
2 Tim. 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
2 Tim. 3:2-3 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
2 Tim. 3:12 And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Tim. 4:16-17 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth.
Hebrews 10:32-34 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.
Hebrews 11:25-27 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Hebrews 11:33-38 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Hebrews 12:3-4 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
Hebrews 13:13 Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
James 5:6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
James 5:10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
1 Peter 3:16-17 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
1 Peter 4:3-4 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;
1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.
1 Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you.
Rev. 2:3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.
Rev. 2:10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev. 2:13 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Rev. 6:9-11 And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
Rev. 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" 14And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15"For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. 16"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."
Rev. 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
Rev. 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered greatly.
Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The above scriptures were taken from the New American Standard Bible, (c) The Lockman Foundation.