Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And Jesus said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. For it became Jesus, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For in that Jesus Himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich). For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they that were crucified with Him reviled Him.
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. For I will shew Paul how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [Moses] choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
