Luke 21:12-18

21:12 But before all this, ¹  they will seize ²  you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues ³  and prisons. You ⁴  will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 21:13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. ⁵  21:14 Therefore be resolved ⁶  not to rehearse ⁷  ahead of time how to make your defense. 21:15 For I will give you the words ⁸  along with the wisdom ⁹  that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents, ¹⁰  brothers, relatives, ¹¹  and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 21:17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹²  21:18 Yet ¹³  not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁴ 

[21:12]  ¹ sn But before all this. Another note of timing is present, this one especially important in understanding the sequence in the discourse. Before the things noted in vv. 8-11 are the events of vv. 12-19.

[21:12]  ² tn Grk “will lay their hands on you.”

[21:12]  ³ sn Some of the persecution is of Jewish origin (the synagogues). Some fulfillment of this can be seen in Acts. See the note on synagogues in 4:15.

[21:12]  ⁴ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[21:13]  ⁵ tn Grk “This will turn out to you for [a] testimony.”

[21:14]  ⁶ tn Grk “determine in your hearts.”

[21:14]  ⁷ tn This term could refer to rehearsing a speech or a dance. On its syntax, see BDF §392.2.

[21:15]  ⁸ tn Grk “a mouth.” It is a metonymy and refers to the reply the Lord will give to them.

[21:15]  ⁹ tn Grk “and wisdom.”

[21:16]  ¹⁰ sn To confess Christ might well mean rejection by one’s own family, even by parents.

[21:16]  ¹¹ tn Grk “and brothers and relatives,” but καί (kai) has not been translated twice here since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[21:17]  ¹² sn See Luke 6:22, 27; 1 Cor 1:25-31.

[21:18]  ¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[21:18]  ¹⁴ sn Given v. 16, the expression not a hair of your head will perish must be taken figuratively and refer to living ultimately in the presence of God.