³ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,^{(A) 4} “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” ⁵ Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.^{(B) 6} Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’^[a] and they will lead many astray.^{(C) 7} When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Persecution Foretold

⁹ “As for yourselves, beware, for they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.^(D)