His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.

他父母说这话，是怕犹太人；因为犹太人已经商议定了，若有认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。

他父母说这些话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商定，若有宣认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。

他父母说这些话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商定，若有宣认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。

他父母因为害怕那些犹太人，所以才这样说，因为那些犹太人早就商量好了，谁承认耶稣是基督，就把他赶出会堂。

他的父母这样说，是因为怕犹太人，原来犹太人已经定好了，不论谁承认耶稣是基督，就要把那人赶出会堂。

他的父母说这些话，是因为怕那些犹太人。原来那些犹太人已经说好，如果有人承认耶稣是基督，就要把他赶出会堂。

他父母說這話，是怕猶太人；因為猶太人已經商議定了，若有認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。

他父母說這些話，是怕猶太人，因為猶太人已經商定，若有宣認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。

他父母說這些話，是怕猶太人，因為猶太人已經商定，若有宣認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。

他父母因為害怕那些猶太人，所以才這樣說，因為那些猶太人早就商量好了，誰承認耶穌是基督，就把他趕出會堂。

他的父母這樣說，是因為怕猶太人，原來猶太人已經定好了，不論誰承認耶穌是基督，就要把那人趕出會堂。

他父母說這些話，是因為怕猶太人；因為猶太人已經約定了、若有人承認耶穌為基督，就該從會堂裏被革除。

他的父母說這些話，是因為怕那些猶太人。原來那些猶太人已經說好，如果有人承認耶穌是基督，就要把他趕出會堂。

父母言此、懼猶太人也、因猶太人約定、有認耶穌為基督者、必逐之於會堂、

父母言此、蓋懼猶太人、猶太人約、凡稱耶穌為基督者、必逐之出會堂、

其父母言此、懼猶太人故也、蓋猶太人已定議、若有人認耶穌為基督、必逐之出會、

父母之作此語、以懾於猶太人耳。蓋猶太人時已有成議、有敢認耶穌為基督者、必開除其教籍；

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The leaders had already made this decision about Jesus. Anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.

( His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)

His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already reached the decision that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be excommunicated from the synagogue.

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.

These[ words] spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

( His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.

But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.

“ You were born a total sinner!” they answered.“ Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus( because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.

“ Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my words? Is it because of my long silence that you no longer fear me?

A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said,“ This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”But Peter denied it.“ Woman,” he said,“ I don’t even know him!”After a while someone else looked at him and said,“ You must be one of them!”“ No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.About an hour later someone else insisted,“ This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”But Peter said,“ Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind:“ Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded,“ Why didn’t you bring him in?”“ We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.“ Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked.“ Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up.“ Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.They replied,“ Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself— no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”[ The most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include John 7:53–8:11.]

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!“ Peace be with you,” he said.

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

“ Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.“ What is the price of five sparrows— two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.“ I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

“ Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

“ I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?

“ But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars— their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”