⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(A) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(B)—

¹² Rejoice and be glad,^(A) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(B)

¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(A) at his prophets until the wrath^(B) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^(C)

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous^(A) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,^(B) torn down your altars,^(C) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(D) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(A) and the prophets^(B) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone

¹⁴ You disowned the Holy^(A) and Righteous One^(B) and asked that a murderer be released to you.^{(C) 15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.^(D) We are witnesses^(E) of this.

⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.^{(A) 49} Because of this, God in his wisdom^(B) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’^{(C) 50} Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel^(D) to the blood of Zechariah,^(E) who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.^(F)

³¹ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.^{(A) 32} Go ahead, then, and complete^(B) what your ancestors started!^(C)

³³ “You snakes! You brood of vipers!^(D) How will you escape being condemned to hell?^{(E) 34} Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;^(F) others you will flog in your synagogues^(G) and pursue from town to town.^{(H) 35} And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel^(I) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,^(J) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.^{(K) 36} Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.^(L)

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,^(M) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(N) and you were not willing.