Verse 16

Persecution of Disciples“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Referenced Verses

  • Luke 10:3 : 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves.
  • Acts 20:29 : 29 I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
  • 1 Cor 14:20 : 20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
  • Phil 2:15 : 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world
  • 2 Cor 11:3 : 3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
  • Col 4:5 : 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.
  • Gen 3:1 : 1 The Temptation and the Fall Now the serpent was more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman,“Is it really true that God said,‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”
  • Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. 19 Your obedience is known to all and thus I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
  • Eph 5:15-17 : 15 Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.
  • 1 Thess 2:10 : 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.
  • 1 Thess 5:22 : 22 Stay away from every form of evil.
  • 2 Cor 11:14 : 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
  • Col 1:9 : 9 Paul’s Prayer for the Growth of the Church For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
  • 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
  • 2 Cor 8:20 : 20 We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.
  • Gen 3:13 : 13 So the LORD God said to the woman,“What is this you have done?” And the woman replied,“The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”
  • Luke 21:15 : 15 For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.