He told them they would be made to suffer, that they would be put out of the synagogue and chased from town to town. He did not say their response to persecution is returning the insult. Jesus did not say excommunicate those who excommunicate you, and if people hurt you be sure to hurt them in return. Nor did he tell his friends they should refuse to suffer, or even die.
He seems, instead, to say they should allow others, even their persecutors, to be faithful to their belief; to let them response to God as they must, letting them be wrong even if they will be very wrong.
He also tells them to maintain their own conviction, remaining faithful to God as he has revealed himself to them. He is asking that they believe in what is and trust in what will be. That these are the true replies to persecution and denial.
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