1 Maccabees 2:15-17

New Catholic Bible

¹⁵ A Righteous Anger. The officers of the king who had been commissioned to enforce the apostasy came to the town of Modein to ensure that the sacrifices were being offered. ¹⁶ Many Israelites assembled around them, but Mattathias and his sons stood apart. ¹⁷ Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias in these words: “You are a leader in this town, respected and influential, and you have the support of your sons and brothers.