John 15:18-16:4

Christian Standard Bible

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(A) you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(B) you out of it, the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^(C) If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word,^(D) they will also keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of my name,^(E) because they don’t know^(F) the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin.^(G) Now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates me also hates my Father.^{(H) 24} If I had not done the works^(I) among them that no one else has done,^(J) they would not be guilty of sin.^(K) Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled:^(L) They hated me for no reason.^[a](M)

The Counselor’s Ministry

²⁶ “When the Counselor^(N) comes, the one I will send to you from the Father^(O) —the Spirit of truth^(P) who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ You also will testify,^(Q) because you have been with me from the beginning.

16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. ² They will ban you from the synagogues.^(R) In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service^(S) to God. ³ They will do these things because they haven’t known^(T) the Father or me. ⁴ But I have told you these things so that when their time^[b] comes you will remember^(U) I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.