St. Paul, while rounding off his famous treatise on faith in his letter to the Hebrew Christians, highlighted the labours of the ancient faithful in the course of righteousness. They remained steadfast under the most trying conditions. Some were thrown into prison, some into the den of lions; they were beaten, mocked, bound, deprived of food, clothing and shelter, and lived as destitutes, even among their own people. They risked their lives; some were even killed in the most horrible manner rather than compromise the faith. “They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, …obtained a good report through faith….” – Hebrews 11:32-40.
The instances in the Holy Bible where people of God suffered these persecutions are related hereunder to encourage the faithful in the race of salvation.