A. Bad examples of compromising to avoid persecution:

2KI 5:15. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

2KI 5:17. And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

2KI 5:18. In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

LUK 6:26. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

JOH 12:42. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

GAL 6:12. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

B. Fleeing from persecution (discretion not cowardice):

MAT 10:23. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

1KI 19:2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

1KI 19:3. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

JER 26:20. And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

JER 26:21. And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

JER 36:19. Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

JER 36:26. But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

MAT 2:13. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

MAT 2:14. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

MAT 12:14. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

MAT 12:15. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

JOH 7:1. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

JOH 10:39. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

JOH 10:40. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

JOH 11:53. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

JOH 11:54. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

ACT 9:23. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

ACT 9:24. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

ACT 9:25. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

ACT 14:5. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

ACT 14:6. They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

ACT 17:5. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

ACT 17:10. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

ACT 17:13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

ACT 17:14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

ACT 23:12. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

ACT 23:13. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

ACT 23:14. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

ACT 23:15. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

ACT 23:16. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

ACT 23:17. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

ACT 23:18. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

ACT 23:19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

ACT 23:20. And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

ACT 23:21. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

ACT 23:22. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

ACT 23:23. And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

ACT 23:24. And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

ACT 23:25. And he wrote a letter after this manner:

ACT 23:26. Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

ACT 23:27. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

ACT 23:28. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

ACT 23:29. Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

ACT 23:30. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

ACT 23:31. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

ACT 23:32. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

ACT 23:33. Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

ACT 23:34. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

ACT 23:35. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

C. Pray to avoid persecution if possible:

2TH 3:1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

2TH 3:2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

1TIM 2:1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1TIM 2:2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

D. Use wisdom to avoid stirring up unnecessary persecution:

MAT 5:25. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

PRO 15:1. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

PRO 16:7. When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

ROM 12:18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

ROM 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

ROM 12:20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.