Epereazo appears twice in the New Testament (Matthew 5:44; 1 Peter 3:16), both in contexts of suffering unjust opposition with grace. The word describes those who mistreat, threaten, or falsely accuse believers — and the Christian response to them. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus commands praying for those who epereazo (mistreat/persecute) you. In 1 Peter 3:16, maintaining good conduct disarms those who falsely accuse (epereazo) you.
The theology embedded in both uses of epereazo is the ethic of the Beatitudes applied to opposition. Jesus turns the natural human response to mistreatment (retaliation, bitterness) inside out: pray for those who epereazo you. This is not passive resignation but active redemptive engagement — the same posture Jesus Himself modeled on the cross ('Father, forgive them'). 1 Peter 3:16 adds the apologetic dimension: good conduct in the face of false accusation is itself a form of witness. When believers respond to epereazo with grace, they give their accusers 'cause for shame.'