“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said 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 keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” John 15:18-21

The High Priest and other religious leaders in Jerusalem were filled with indignation against the apostles for preaching Jesus. They imprisoned them once and let them go charging them not to teach or preach anymore in the name of Jesus. The apostles continued to preach Jesus, and they were imprisoned again. After taking the advice of Gamaliel, they beat the apostles and let them go again charging them not to speak in the name of Jesus. The response of the apostles is recorded in Acts 5:40-42, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

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