# persecute, persecuted, persecution, persecutor, chase, pursue

## Definition:

The terms “persecute” and “persecution” refer to continually treating a person or a certain group of people in a harsh way that causes harm to them.

* Persecution can be against one person or many people and usually involves repeated, persistent attacks.
* The Israelites were persecuted by many different people groups Who attacked them, captured them, and stole things from them.
* People often persecute other people who have different religious beliefs or who are weaker.
* The Jewish religious leaders persecuted Jesus because they did not like what he was teaching.
* After Jesus went back to heaven, the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman government persecuted his followers.
* The term “persecute” could also be translated as “keep oppressing” or “treat harshly” or “continually mistreat.”
* Ways to translate “persecution” could include,  “harsh mistreatment” or “oppression” or “persistent hurtful treatment”

(See also: [Christian](../kt/christian.md), [church](../kt/church.md), [oppress](../other/oppress.md), [Rome](../names/rome.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 07:52](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/52)
* [Acts 13:50](rc://en/tn/help/act/13/50)
* [Galatians 01:13-14](rc://en/tn/help/gal/01/13)
* [John 05:16-18](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/05/16)
* [Mark 10:30](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/10/30)
* [Matthew 05:10](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/10)
* [Matthew 05:43-45](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/43)
* [Matthew 10:22](rc://en/tn/help/mat/10/22)
* [Matthew 13:20-21](rc://en/tn/help/mat/13/20)
* [Philippians 03:06](rc://en/tn/help/php/03/06)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[33:07](rc://en/tn/help/obs/33/07)__ “The rocky ground is a person who hears God’s word and accepts it with joy. But when he experiences hardship or __persecution__, he falls away.”
* __[45:06](rc://en/tn/help/obs/45/06)__ That day many people in Jerusalem started __persecuting__ the followers of Jesus, so the believers fled to other places. 
* __[46:02](rc://en/tn/help/obs/46/02)__ Saul heard someone say, “Saul! Saul! Why do you __persecute__ me?” Saul asked, “Who are you, Master?” Jesus replied to him, “I am Jesus. You are __persecuting__ me!”
* __[46:04](rc://en/tn/help/obs/46/04)__ But Ananias said, “Master, I have heard how this man has __persecuted__ the believers.”

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H1814, H7291, H7852, G1375, G1376, G1377, G1559, G2347
