Persecution

Acts 7 95%

Stephen's Speech and Martyrdom

Stephen delivers a sweeping speech tracing Israel's history of rejecting God's messengers. He accuses his hearers of resisting the Holy Spirit like th...

8 min read

2 Thessalonians 1 95%

Encouragement in Persecution

Paul opens his second letter to Thessalonica by thanking God for their growing faith and love, offering comfort amid persecution, and affirming that G...

5 min read

Matthew 10 92%

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Jesus commissions His twelve apostles with authority and instructions for their mission. He warns of persecution, calls for fearless witness, and teac...

8 min read

Daniel 3 90%

The Fiery Furnace

Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden image and commands all to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse. Thrown into a furnace heated seven times ...

6 min read

Daniel 6 90%

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Jealous officials trick Darius into making a law that bans prayer to anyone except the king. Daniel continues praying openly to God. He is thrown into...

6 min read

Acts 5 90%

Ananias and Sapphira and Growing Opposition

Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit about their gift and face sudden judgment. The apostles perform many signs and wonders. They are arrested ...

7 min read

2 Corinthians 11 90%

Paul's Foolish Boasting

Paul reluctantly boasts to match his critics. He catalogs his sufferings for Christ—beatings, imprisonments, dangers. His constant concern for the c...

6 min read

Acts 14 88%

Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe

Paul and Barnabas continue their journey through opposition and misunderstanding. At Lystra, healing leads to false worship, then stoning. Yet they st...

5 min read

Psalms 69 85%

Save Me, O God, for the Waters Have Come Up to My Neck

One of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament, this extended lament describes overwhelming suffering while maintaining hope in God's salvation. I...

7 min read

Psalms 129 85%

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

Psalm 129 recounts Israel's history of oppression and declares confidence that God will cut off those who hate Zion.

4 min read

Acts 21 85%

Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem

Despite warnings, Paul presses on to Jerusalem. He is welcomed by the church but seized by a mob in the temple. His journey toward Rome begins through...

5 min read

Acts 24 85%

Paul Before Felix

Paul defends himself before Governor Felix, reasoning about righteousness, self-control, and judgment. Felix keeps Paul imprisoned for two years, hopi...

5 min read

1 Thessalonians 3 85%

Timothy's Encouraging Report

Paul expresses his deep concern for the Thessalonians' faith and his joy upon receiving Timothy's positive report about their steadfastness amid perse...

5 min read

2 Timothy 3 85%

Godlessness in the Last Days

Paul warns of terrible times characterized by self-love and false religion, points to his own example of persecution endured, and reminds Timothy that...

5 min read

1 Peter 3 85%

Suffering for Doing Good

Peter addresses marriage relationships, emphasizing wives' gentle and quiet spirits and husbands' considerate treatment of wives. He then encourages a...

7 min read

1 Peter 4 85%

Living for God's Will

Since Christ suffered in the flesh, believers should arm themselves with the same attitude, living for God's will rather than human desires. Peter add...

6 min read

John 15 82%

The True Vine

Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His Father as the vinedresser. Branches must abide in Him to bear fruit; apart from Him we can do nothing...

7 min read

Psalms 59 80%

Deliver Me from My Enemies

Written when Saul sent men to watch David's house to kill him, this psalm cries out for rescue from those who lie in wait. David's distress becomes a ...

6 min read

John 16 80%

The Work of the Spirit and Sorrow Turned to Joy

Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution and promises that the Spirit will convict the world and guide them into all truth. Though sorrow will com...

7 min read

Acts 12 80%

Peter's Miraculous Escape

Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, but the church prays earnestly. An angel frees Peter in a miraculous escape, while Herod's pride leads to his d...

5 min read

1 Corinthians 4 80%

Servants and Fools for Christ

Paul describes apostles as servants and stewards who will be judged by the Lord alone. He contrasts the Corinthians' self-satisfaction with the apostl...

5 min read

Revelation 2 80%

Letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira

Jesus addresses four churches: Ephesus has lost first love despite good works; Smyrna faces tribulation but is spiritually rich; Pergamum holds fast d...

7 min read

Mark 13 78%

The Olivet Discourse: Signs of the End

Jesus predicts the temple's destruction and describes signs preceding His return—wars, earthquakes, persecution, the abomination of desolation, and ...

7 min read

Luke 21 78%

The Widow's Offering and Signs of the End

Jesus commends a poor widow who gives all she has. He prophesies the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, warning of wars, earthquakes, persecutio...

7 min read

Acts 4 78%

Peter and John Before the Council

Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin for healing in Jesus' name. Peter, filled with the Spirit, proclaims that salvation is fo...

7 min read

Acts 23 78%

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

Paul divides the Sanhedrin by raising the resurrection, escapes a murder plot through his nephew, and receives divine assurance that he will testify i...

5 min read

Acts 26 78%

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

Paul delivers his most eloquent defense, recounting his conversion and mission. Agrippa is almost persuaded, but Paul remains in chains—bound for Ro...

5 min read

Revelation 12 78%

The Woman, the Dragon, and the Child

A pregnant woman clothed with the sun faces a great red dragon waiting to devour her child. The child is caught up to God's throne; the woman flees to...

6 min read

Mark 6 75%

Rejection, Mission, and Miracles

Jesus is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, sends out the Twelve with authority, learns of John the Baptist's death, feeds five thousand with five ...

8 min read

Philippians 1 75%

Joy in Every Circumstance

Paul writes from prison with joy, confident that his chains advance the gospel. He longs to depart and be with Christ but knows remaining is better fo...

5 min read

Revelation 11 75%

The Two Witnesses

John measures the temple while two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days. When they finish, the beast kills them; after three and a half days, they rise a...

6 min read

Revelation 13 75%

The Two Beasts

A beast rises from the sea with ten horns and seven heads, speaking blasphemies, receiving worship. Another beast rises from the earth, making all wor...

6 min read

Psalms 123 72%

Eyes Upon the Master

Psalm 123 is a brief but powerful prayer for mercy, expressing complete dependence on God like servants watching their master.

4 min read

Acts 25 72%

Paul Appeals to Caesar

Festus inherits Paul's case and proposes returning him to Jerusalem. Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar, setting the stag...

5 min read

2 Timothy 1 72%

Guarding the Gospel

Paul writes from prison to encourage Timothy, calling him to fan into flame his spiritual gift, not be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul, and guard the...

5 min read

Hebrews 13 72%

Living Out Faith

The final chapter provides practical instructions for Christian community: show hospitality, honor marriage, be content, submit to leaders, and offer ...

7 min read

Isaiah 36 68%

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

Assyria besieges Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh mocks Hezekiah and the LORD, urging surrender. He challenges: Has any god delivered from Assyria? This histo...

5 min read

Matthew 14 68%

The Death of John the Baptist and Feeding of Five Thousand

Herod beheads John the Baptist after a rash oath. Jesus withdraws but is followed by crowds. He feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fish, wal...

7 min read

John 9 68%

Healing the Man Born Blind

Jesus heals a man blind from birth, sparking controversy because it happened on the Sabbath. The Pharisees interrogate the man and his parents, eventu...

7 min read

Psalms 35 65%

Contend, O LORD, with Those Who Contend

David calls on God to fight his battles, describing ruthless enemies who repay good with evil, and asking for vindication and the silencing of false a...

8 min read

Psalms 44 65%

Awake! Why Do You Sleep, O Lord?

The sons of Korah lament national defeat despite faithfulness, recalling past victories while crying out for God to awaken and redeem His suffering pe...

7 min read

Psalms 83 65%

Do Not Keep Silent, O God

Asaph prays against a coalition of nations conspiring to destroy Israel. The psalm calls for God to act as He did in ancient victories, bringing judgm...

6 min read

Matthew 24 65%

The Olivet Discourse: Signs of the End

Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple and describes signs preceding His return—wars, famines, persecution, false prophets, and the abominatio...

8 min read

2 Corinthians 4 65%

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Paul doesn't lose heart despite affliction. The gospel light shines from weak human vessels so that power is clearly God's. Momentary troubles achieve...

5 min read

1 Thessalonians 2 65%

Paul's Ministry Among Them

Paul recalls his ministry in Thessalonica—bold despite opposition, gentle like a nursing mother, encouraging like a father. He thanks God that they ...

5 min read

2 Timothy 4 65%

Paul's Final Charge

In his farewell, Paul charges Timothy to preach the word faithfully, reveals that his own departure is near, expresses both loneliness and confidence,...

6 min read

Psalms 17 63%

A Prayer of the Vindicated

David calls on God to hear his righteous cause, protect him from deadly enemies, and demonstrate that his hope in God is not misplaced.

6 min read

Psalms 64 63%

Hide Me from the Conspiracy of the Wicked

David prays for protection from those who plot in secret, sharpening their tongues like swords. God's unexpected intervention causes the arrogant to s...

5 min read

Acts 6 63%

The Seven Chosen and Stephen's Ministry

A dispute arises about food distribution to widows, leading to the appointment of seven Spirit-filled men to serve tables. This frees the apostles for...

7 min read

Psalms 7 62%

Appeal to the Righteous Judge

David calls upon God as righteous judge to vindicate him against his enemies, declaring his innocence and trusting that God will judge justly and brin...

6 min read