Persecution of Christians in the New Testament against Christians. There are, however, several passages that mention coming difficulties for Jesus' followers and Jerusalem, which scholars believe foreshadow the hardships Christians will face in Acts. For instance, while Matthew (13:53-58) and Mark (6:1-6) have versions of Jesus' rejection in his hometown, Luke (4:14-30) devotes much more time to the episode than the other gospels. S. G. Wilson suggests that this might give a glimpse of later persecution by Jews and rejection of the Jewish mission for a Gentile mission in Acts (13:46). In Luke Jesus speaks of "people [who] hate" and "defame you on account of the Son
New Testament people named Mary at least two occasions. "Mary and Martha" are mentioned by name in John 11:1–12:8 and in Luke 10:38–41. Three other passages, one each in Matthew, Mark and Luke, refer to an unnamed person identified by some but by no means all authorities as this Mary, or as Mary Magdalene, or both. Roman Catholic tradition in particular identifies the person in Luke with both Mary of Bethany and Saint Mary Magdalene. John describes two visits by Jesus to Mary and Martha. In , Jesus raises Mary's brother Lazarus from death. Mary, Martha and Lazarus already appear to be very close friends