Matthew 10:16-22

New Century Version

Jesus Warns His Apostles

¹⁶ “Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be careful of people, because they will arrest you and take you to court and whip you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ Because of me you will be taken to stand before governors and kings, and you will tell them and the non-Jewish people about me. ¹⁹ When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given the things to say. ²⁰ It will not really be you speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ “Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and have them put to death. ²² All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved.