This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.

Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed into Him?

Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed into Him.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. And he came and took the body of Jesus.

Therefore whoever shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in Heaven.

Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone should confess that He was Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.

They answered and said to him, You were born completely in sins, and do you teach us? And they drove him out.

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Jehovah shall be exalted.

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My Law; do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their revilings.

And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied and have not remembered Me, nor laid it to your heart? Have I not been silent, even for a long time, and you did not fear Me?

Hear the Word of Jehovah, you who tremble at His Word: Your brothers who hated you, who cast you out because of My name, said, Let Jehovah be glorified. But He will appear for your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.

And when he had gone out to the porch, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.

And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly.

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man.

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though something unheard of was happening to you;

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. According to them He is blasphemed, but according to you He is glorified.

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this regard.