“ But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

但你们要谨慎；因为人要把你们交给公会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在诸侯与君王面前，对他们作见证。

但你们自己要谨慎；因为有人要把你们交给议会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在统治者和君王面前，对他们作见证。

但你们自己要谨慎；因为有人要把你们交给议会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在统治者和君王面前，对他们作见证。

“你们要小心，因为你们将被送上法庭，将在会堂里受鞭打，又将为了我的缘故在官长和君王面前做见证。

但你们要小心！因为人要把你们交给公议会，你们要在会堂里被鞭打，又要为我的缘故站在总督和君王面前，向他们作见证。

“你们自己要当心。他们将要把你们送交议会；你们会在会堂里受鞭打。为我的缘故，你们将站在总督和君王面前，好对他们做见证。

但你們要謹慎；因為人要把你們交給公會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在諸侯與君王面前，對他們作見證。

但你們自己要謹慎；因為有人要把你們交給議會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在統治者和君王面前，對他們作見證。

但你們自己要謹慎；因為有人要把你們交給議會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在統治者和君王面前，對他們作見證。

「你們要小心，因為你們將被送上法庭，將在會堂裡受鞭打，又將為了我的緣故在官長和君王面前做見證。

但你們要小心！因為人要把你們交給公議會，你們要在會堂裡被鞭打，又要為我的緣故站在總督和君王面前，向他們作見證。

『但是你們、要自己謹慎；因為人必把你們送交議會，你們必在會堂裏受打；你們必為我的緣故站在統治官和君王面前，對他們作見證。

「你們自己要當心。他們將要把你們送交議會；你們會在會堂裡受鞭打。為我的緣故，你們將站在總督和君王面前，好對他們做見證。

爾宜自慎、人將付爾於公會、撻爾於會堂、且為我故、將立於侯王前而為之證、

故當自謹、蓋為我故、人將解爾至公會、扑爾於會堂、立爾於侯王前以為證、

爾當自慎、蓋人將解爾於公會、撲爾於會堂、且為我故、爾將被解至侯王前、以為之證、

爾當戒慎、爾將因予之故、被人執交公會、撻於會堂、解至王侯之前、以證吾道。

“ You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

“ Watch out! You will be handed over to the local courts. You will be whipped in the synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings because of me. In that way you will be witnesses to them.

“ But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

“ When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

“ But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

“ But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.

“ But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

“ You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues.You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.

Jesus told them,“ Watch out that no one deceives you.

They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.

Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him.Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.“ Therefore,” he said,“ let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.Then Paul made his defense:“ Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul,“ Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”Paul replied,“ I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well.If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied,“ You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying,“ There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges.So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting.Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters.But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”Agrippa said to Festus,“ I would like to hear the man myself.”“ Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in.Then Festus said,“ King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write.

Remember the word I spoke to you:‘ A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said,“ We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight.We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude.But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing.For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.”

Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said,“ These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jewsand are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully.Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless;we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage.

For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priestand requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

I know where you live— where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you.You will be hated by everyone because of my name,but not a hair of your head will be lost.

Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman— I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.They cried out with a loud voice,“ Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.

As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos.Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks.When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,for the mass of people followed, yelling,“ Get rid of him!”As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander,“ Am I allowed to say something to you?” He replied,“ You know how to speak Greek?Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?”Paul said,“ I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic:

If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening.But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalemwith Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them:“ By what power or in what name have you done this?”Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them,“ Rulers of the people and elders:If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed,let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead— by him this man is standing here before you healthy.This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,saying,“ What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.Peter and John answered them,“ Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.

“ But I said,‘ Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten.And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

“ Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another.

Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,“ Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin— the full council of the Israelites— and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported,“ We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.Someone came and reported to them,“ Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked,“ Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”Peter and the apostles replied,“ We must obey God rather than people.The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree.God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.He said to them,“ Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men.Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing.After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said,“ This is what the Holy Spirit says:‘ In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’”

When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him.Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.He said,“ Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him.They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.While they were stoning Stephen, he called out,“ Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,“ Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church,and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword.When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said,“ Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day.”The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,

telling him,“ See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.“ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say,“ We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin.They also presented false witnesses who said,“ This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.