Act 8:1-3, 9:1-2, Phili 1:29-30, Col 2:1, 2Ti 2:3-13, 4:7-8, Heb 12:4 | ESV | STEP | And Saul approved of his execution . And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem , and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except the apostles .

1 And ^aSaul ^bapproved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and ^cthey were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But ^dSaul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he ^edragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 9:1-2

The Conversion of Saul

1 But Saul, ^fstill ^gbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^hthe high priest 2 and asked him for letters ⁱto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^jthe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Philippians 1:29-30

29 For ^kit has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^lsuffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same ^mconflict that ⁿyou saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Colossians 2:1

1 For I want you to know ^ohow great a ^pstruggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

2 Timothy 2:3-13

3 ^qShare in suffering as ^ra good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier ^sgets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 ^tAn athlete is not ^ucrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is ^vthe hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, ^wrisen from the dead, the ^xoffspring of David, ^yas preached in my gospel, 9 ^zfor which I am suffering, ^aabound with chains as a criminal. But ^abthe word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore ^acI endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^adthe salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^aeeternal glory. 11 The saying is ^aftrustworthy, for:

^agIf we have died with him, we will also ^ahlive with him;
12 ^aiif we endure, we will also reign with him;
^ajif we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 ^akif we are faithless, ^alhe remains faithful—
for ^amhe cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

7 ^anI have fought the good fight, ^aoI have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is ^aplaid up for me ^aqthe crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^arthe righteous judge, will award to me on ^asthat day, and not only to me but also to all ^atwho have loved his appearing.

Hebrews 12:4

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.