The Promise of Persecution

¹⁶ “^(A)Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so ^[a]be ^(B)shrewd as serpents and ^(C)innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you over to the ^(D)courts and flog you ^(E)in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ^19 (F)But when they deliver you over, ^(G)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say. ²⁰ For ^(H)it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹ “^(I)And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and ^(J)children will rise up against parents and ^[b]cause them to be put to death. ^22 (K)And you will be hated by all because of My name, but ^(L)it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

²³ “But whenever they ^(M)persecute you in this city, flee to ^[c]the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel ^(N)until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

²⁴ “^(O)A ^[d]disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. ^(P)If they have called the head of the house ^[e](Q)Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!