⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(A)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(B)to suffer dishonor for ^(C)the name.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (A)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials ^(B)of various kinds,

¹³ But rejoice ^(A)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(B)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (C)If you are insulted ^(D)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(E)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(F)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(G)if anyone suffers as a ^(H)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(I)in that name.

²² “Blessed are you when ^(A)people hate you and when they ^(B)exclude you and revile you and ^(C)spurn your name as evil, ^(D)on account of the Son of Man!

²⁹ For ^(A)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(B)suffer for his sake,

²¹ But ^(A)all these things they will do to you ^(B)on account of my name, ^(C)because they do not know him who sent me.

^10 (A)For the sake of Christ, then, ^(B)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^(C)when I am weak, then I am strong.

^10 (A)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for ^(B)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

^11 (C)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ^(D)on my account. ^12 (E)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for ^(F)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ^(A)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising ^(B)the shame, and ^(C)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.