Add parallel Print Page Options

Signs and Persecutions

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and, ‘The time is near!’[b] Do not go after them.(A)

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom;(B) 11 there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.(C) 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.(D) 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance,(E) 15 for I will give you words[c] and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.(F) 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.(G) 17 You will be hated by all because of my name.(H) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(I) 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 21.8 Gk I am
  2. 21.8 Or at hand
  3. 21.15 Gk a mouth

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”

He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’[a] and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 10 Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. 13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.[b] 14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! 16 Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. 17 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.[c] 18 But not a hair of your head will perish! 19 By standing firm, you will win your souls.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 21:8 Greek claiming, ‘I am.’
  2. 21:13 Or This will be your testimony against them.
  3. 21:17 Greek on account of my name.