For this reason also the wisdom ¹  of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’

so that this generation may be held accountable ¹  for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning ²  of the world, ³ 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth ¹  when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, ²  and all the prophets in the kingdom of God ³  but you yourselves thrown out. ⁴ 

He ¹  replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to ²  Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” ³ 

Then ¹  beginning with Moses and all the prophets, ²  he interpreted to them the things written about ³  himself in all the scriptures.

It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ ¹  Everyone who hears and learns from the Father ²  comes to me.

You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? ¹  And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?”

But the things God foretold ¹  long ago through ²  all the prophets – that his Christ ³  would suffer – he has fulfilled in this way.

This one ¹  heaven must ²  receive until the time all things are restored, ³  which God declared ⁴  from times long ago ⁵  through his holy prophets.

But now ¹  apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) ²  has been disclosed –

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!” ¹ 

And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they?

Now this secret ¹  was not disclosed to people ²  in former ³  generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by ⁴  the Spirit,

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets ¹  and persecuted us severely. ²  They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,

A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹ 

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, ¹  take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.

Above all, you do well if you recognize ¹  this: ²  No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, ³ 

yet was rebuked ¹  for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, ²  speaking with a human voice, ³  restrained the prophet’s madness). ⁴