13:1 Now 1 as Jesus 2 was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” 3 13:2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. 4 All will be torn down!” 5
13:3 So 6 while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, 7 and Andrew asked him privately, 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things 8 happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” 13:5 Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out 9 that no one misleads you.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 sn The Jerusalem temple was widely admired around the world. See Josephus, Ant. 15.11 [15.380-425]; J. W. 5.5 [5.184-227] and Tacitus, History 5.8, who called it “immensely opulent.” Josephus compared it to a beautiful snowcapped mountain.
4 sn With the statement not one stone will be left on another Jesus predicted the total destruction of the temple, something that did occur in
5 tn Grk “not one stone will be left here on another which will not be thrown down.”
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
7 tn Grk “and James and John,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
8 sn Both references to these things are plural, so more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.
9 tn Or “Be on guard.”