Luke 21:11-14

21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines ¹  and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights ²  and great signs ³  from heaven. 21:12 But before all this, ⁴  they will seize ⁵  you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues ⁶  and prisons. You ⁷  will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 21:13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. ⁸  21:14 Therefore be resolved ⁹  not to rehearse ¹⁰  ahead of time how to make your defense.

¹ sn See Isa 5:13-14; 13:6-16; Hag 2:6-7; Zech 14:4.

² tn This term, φόβητρον (fobhtron), occurs only here in the NT. It could refer to an object, event, or condition that causes fear, but in the context it is linked with great signs from heaven, so the translation “sights” was preferred.

³ sn See Jer 4:13-22; 14:12; 21:6-7.

⁴ 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.

⁵ tn Grk “will lay their hands on you.”

⁶ 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.

⁷ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁷ tn Grk “This will turn out to you for [a] testimony.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “determine in your hearts.”

¹¹ tn This term could refer to rehearsing a speech or a dance. On its syntax, see BDF §392.2.