Jesus warns the 12, as he sends them out in Matthew 10, that if they speak to others of him they will be opposed. The warning is given in the context of their mission during Jesus' earthly ministry, but many of the details in there make fuller sense in the period after his ascension. Jesus taught them with the deliberate intention of preparing them for more than just that one mission, and Matthew recorded those words with the Great Commission at the end of his gospel in mind.
It seems to me that Jesus is saying 3 things to them, and therefore 3 things to anyone who finds themselves opposed for the way they tell others about Jesus.
1. Don't be anxious (verses 16-25). That's to say: God is with you by his Spirit, and will give you the words to say when you are called upon to defend yourself. It's natural, faced with a work that will lead to opposition, to worry about whether we would remain faithful if that happened. Yes, it is very possible to compromise; Jesus is not saying failure is impossible (otherwise there would be no need for his warnings in this chapter). But he wants to reassure us not to be anxious about this; if it's our intention to remain faithful, God the Holy Spirit will give us the words to do just that.
2. Don't be frightened (verses 26-33). That's to say: It's natural to fear them because we think of all the things the opponents might do to us. There is no need, because God is in control not them - not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from by his will. Instead, we should fear God. He has power over death as well as over life (verse 28), and is the one before whom all will have to give an account (verses 32-33).
3. Don't be surprised (verses 34-39). When opposition comes from speaking to others about Jesus, it's natural to wonder if we've done something wrong. We may have - it's possible to be opposed for good reason. But even if we do everything right we will be opposed. Jesus demands our highest loyalty, which always brings those who follow him into conflict with those who do not. Those who speak for him will therefore meet opposition; those who would listen to these messengers will face difficult decisions for which sometimes the messengers will get the blame.
Instead, verses 40-42, Jesus and his Father will stand up for his own. Those who speak for him faithfully will be rewarded by him for the things they do. Those who provide for such messengers and stand with them (even in very small ways) will share in that same reward. So keep going, and be faithful.
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