16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(B) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(C) and be flogged in the synagogues.(D) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(E) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.(F) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(G) speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents(H) and have them put to death.(I) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me,(J) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(K) 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.(L)

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Persecution Will Come

16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (B)wise as serpents and (C)innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for (D)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you (E)in their synagogues, 18 (F)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, (G)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 (H)When (I)they deliver you over, (J)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for (K)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 (L)For it is not you who speak, but (M)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 (N)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 (O)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (P)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they (Q)persecute you in one town, (R)flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel (S)before the Son of Man comes.

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Persecutions Predicted

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.(A) 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts[a] and flog you in their synagogues.(B) 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.(C) 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.(D) For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit(E) of your Father is speaking through you.(F)

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.(G) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name.(H) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.(I) 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.(J) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:17 Or sanhedrins

A Hard Road before Them

16 (A)Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so [a]be (B)shrewd as serpents and (C)innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the (D)courts and scourge you (E)in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (F)But when they hand you over, (G)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For (H)it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 (I)Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and (J)children will rise up against parents and [b]cause them to be put to death. 22 (K)You will be hated by all because of My name, but (L)it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “But whenever they (M)persecute you in [c]one city, flee to [d]the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel (N)until the Son of Man comes.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:16 Or show yourselves to be
  2. Matthew 10:21 Lit put them to death
  3. Matthew 10:23 Lit this
  4. Matthew 10:23 Lit the other