Bible Verses About Persecution
Scripture for the cost of following Christ — blessing in reproach, and reward in heaven.
Jesus promised his followers would face opposition, and called them blessed when they did. Scripture steadies the persecuted with the company of the prophets, the nearness of Christ, and a great reward. These verses are for the faithful under pressure.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
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.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution... separate us? No.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
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.
I take pleasure... in persecutions... for when I am weak, then am I strong.
To suffer for Christ is to stand where the prophets stood and to be near to him in a special way. The reproach is real, but so is the reward — and nothing in it can separate you from his love.
