All these pre - Christian prophets were persecuted because they defended the pure worship of Jehovah. Many prophets were persecuted by the Jewish religious leaders.
येशूने शास्त्री व परूशी यांना “संदेष्ट्याचा घात करणाऱ्‍यांचे पुत्र ” म्हटले. — मत्तय २३: ३१.