The Best Bible Reminders for When You Are Attacked for Sharing God’s Word

We live in a day and age filled with division.  So many refuse to forgive or relate to those with whom they disagree.  Instead of dialogue, love, and restoration, our world is defined by accusations, polarization, canceling, and hatred.  The dilemma of real enemies continues to plague us. 

How should we treat those who come against us? What should we do in these touchy situations?

The command of Jesus is far different than the call of the world.

Here are some helpful passages for when you come under attack for sharing God’s Bible truths:

  1. Titus 1:9 "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (ESV)

  2. Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

  3. 1 Peter 4:12-14 “do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice & be glad when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory & of God rests upon you.”

  4. Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

  5. John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

  6. John 15:20 “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.”

  7. Luke 12:35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning”

  8. 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

  9. Acts 20:18–21 “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, [19] serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; [20] how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, [21] testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  10. Acts 20:26–27 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, [27] for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

  11. Matthew 23 - Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

  12. Acts 19:21-41 - Riot at Ephesus defending their idols and goddess Artemis

  13. Acts 19:23 “About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.”

  14. Acts 19:32 “Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.”

  15. Ephesians 6:10–20 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. …[18] praying at all times in the Spirit…that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

  16. 1 Peter 3:14–16 “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, [15] but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, [16] having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

More important reminders from Acts:

  • Peter’s & John’s Faithfulness to Speak - Acts 4:18–20 “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”” (ESV)

  • Believers Prayers for Boldness - Acts 4:29–31 “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

  • Ananias & Sapphira’s Lying to the Holy Spirit & Testing the Spirit of the Lord - Punished Immediately by the Lord - Acts 5:11 “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” (ESV)

  • Faithfulness After Arrest - in the Face of Jealous Religious Leaders - Acts 5:17–21 “But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” [21] And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.”

  • Obedience to God Rather than Men - Acts 5:27–29 “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” [29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.””

  • Rejoicing at Suffering Dishonor for the Name of Christ - Acts 5:40–42 “when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

  • Do Not Doubt God’s Ability to Reach Anyone - Acts 6:7 “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

  • Let God’s Spirit Fill You with Grace, Power, and Wisdom - Acts 6:8–10 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. [9] Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. [10] But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

  • Look for Opportunities to Share the Gospel - Acts 7:1–2 “And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” [2] And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared…”

  • Know that Some Will React with Anger, Threats, and Even Persecution - Acts 7:54-60 “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. … [57] But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. [58] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

  • Be Faithful Unto Death - Acts 7:54–60 “…[55] But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [56] And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” … [59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

  • Keep Preaching, Even After Others Suffer - Acts 8:4 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”

  • God will Use Your Practice of Sharing to Strengthen and Improve Your Courage and Skills - Acts 9:20–22 "And immediately he [Saul] proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” [21] And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” [22] But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

  • Love Your Worst Enemies Enough to Witness to Them - Acts 9:29 “And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.”

  • Expect & Pray for God to Work in Amazing Ways - Peter and Cornelius - Acts 10:1-48 “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” … [44] While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

  • Trust God’s Justice - Acts 12:23 “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.”

  • Go Wherever the Lord Calls, Even to Your Enemies’ Home Turf - Acts 14:19–21 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds [in Lystra], they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch”

  • Some Persuaded, Others Mob - Acts 17:2–5 “And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [3] explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” [4] And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. [5] But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.”

  • Continuous, Weekly Opportunities to Reason with the Lost through the Scriptures - Acts 18:4 “he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.”

  • The Call to and Example of Bold Reasoning and Persuasion - Acts 19:8–10 “And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. [9] But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. [10] This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

    10 Tips for When You Are Attacked for Sharing God’s Word

  1. Pray A Lot - Before, During, and After

  2. Be Prepared to Reason with Others - Study the Scriptures & Find Biblical Helps

  3. Speak Truth - Share Bible Verses & Wisdom

  4. Show Love - In Action and through Your Whole Life

  5. Speak w/Kindness, Gentleness, & Self-Control - Your Tone & Word Choice Matters - USE GOOD QUESTIONS to Clarify, Disarm, Expose Lies, Teach, & Reason

  6. Anticipate Hostility, Persecution, Lies, and a Mob Mentality - Don’t Be Surprised

  7. Realize Not All “Hearers” Want to Hear - Some Will Come to Harass, Embarrass, Entrap & Troll - Be Wise to Prepare for What they May Say or Do

  8. Do Not Forget that Some Are Listening with a Genuine Desire to Learn, Grow, & Be Saved - Pray

  9. Occasionally You May Be Called to a Prophetic-Type Rebuke, but that is not the Normal Way to Respond - Be Slow to Speak when Attacked, Do Not Respond in Ungodly Anger

  10. Follow Up when Possible with Your “Hearers” - Be Consistent and Persistent

More Helpful Scriptures at:

What Scriptures and wisdom would you add to these lists?

Which verses, passages and truths were most helpful to you when you’ve been attacked?

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