John 16:2

Jesus announced that these disciples would experience excommunication from their Jewish synagogues (cf. John 9:22; John 9:34; Acts 18). The first strong opposition that the early Christians faced came from the Jews because most of them had been Jews (Acts 2:11; Acts 2:14; Acts 2:22). Unfortunately Christians have persecuted the Jews too. Jesus also hinted that some of them would die as martyrs (cf. Acts 7:59; Acts 9:1-4; Acts 12:2). Church history indicates that all the Eleven did, though there is some division of opinion about the death of John. Moreover those who would kill the disciples would not do so believing themselves to be criminals for taking their lives but thinking that they were glorifying God by doing so (cf. John 12:10; Acts 9:1-2; Acts 22:5; Acts 22:19; Acts 26:9-11).

Jesus credited the Jews with good motives even though their actions were wrong (cf. Romans 10:2). However, opposition that arises from religious conviction is often the most severe and brutal type. Ironically the Jews were opposing God by persecuting Jesus’ disciples rather than serving Him (cf. Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:1-2; Acts 22:4-5; Acts 26:9-11).