Forms of persecution

The motives for persecution

Envy

Acts 5:17–18 KJV 1900

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

See also Ge 26:14–15; Ge 37:4; Ge 37:8; 1 Sa 18:8–9; Ps 106:16; Da 6:1–5; Mt 27:18; Ac 13:45; Jas 3:16

Fear

Luke 22:2 KJV 1900

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

See also Ex 1:10; 1 Sa 18:15; 1 Sa 18:29; Mt 2:3; Ac 19:23–27

Hatred

1 John 3:12 KJV 1900

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

See also Ge 4:3–8; 1 Ki 22:8; Jn 7:7

The means of persecution

Deception

Psalm 38:12 KJV 1900

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And imagine deceits all the day long.

See also 1 Ki 21:10; Ezr 4:12–13; Ps 35:11; Je 20:10; Am 7:10; Mt 5:11; Jn 7:12; Ac 6:11; Ac 21:21; Ac 21:28; Ac 24:5

Threats

Psalm 10:7 KJV 1900

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

See also Ezr 4:4; Da 3:15; Jn 9:22; Ac 4:17

Ridicule

Nehemiah 4:1–3 KJV 1900

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

See also Ho 9:7; 1 Co 4:13; Heb 13:13; Re 2:9

Ostracism

Matthew 10:22 KJV 1900

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

See also Jn 9:29; Jn 9:34; Jn 12:42; Jn 16:2

Violence

Romans 8:35 KJV 1900

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

See also Je 38:6; Mt 10:17; Jn 21:18–19; Ac 5:40; Ac 16:37; 2 Co 11:25; Ga 6:17; Heb 11:36–39

How God deals with persecutors

1 Timothy 1:13 KJV 1900

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

See also Da 4:34–35; Ac 12:1; Ac 12:21–23; Ga 1:23