Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Note: Throughout these new and specific prophesies about what will happen to the Apostles, Jesus reiterates what He told his followers in the Old Testament.
Similar Old Testament Verses
Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name’s sake have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is they who shall be put to shame.
Isaiah 66:5
Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
Psalm 44:22
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Proverbs 22:3
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8
…
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
Exodus 4:12
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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