Matthew 10:16-18

Expanded Bible

Jesus Warns His Apostles^(A)

¹⁶ “·Listen [^LLook; ^TBehold], I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as ·clever [wise; shrewd; cunning] as ·snakes [serpents] and as ·innocent [harmless] as doves. ¹⁷ ·Be careful of [Beware of; Watch out for] people, because they will ·arrest you and take you to court [hand you over to the courts/councils; ^Clocal councils associated with Jewish synagogues] and ·whip [flog; scourge] you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ ·Because of me [On my account; For my sake] you will be taken to stand before governors and kings, ·and you will tell them and the Gentiles about me [^Las a witness/testimony to them and to the Gentiles].