Mark 13:4-13

13:4 “Tell us, when will these things ¹  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 ²  that no one misleads you. 13:6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ ³  and they will mislead many. 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁴  13:8 For nation will rise up in arms ⁵  against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. ⁶  These are but the beginning of birth pains.

Persecution of Disciples

13:9 “You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over ⁷  to councils ⁸  and beaten in the synagogues. ⁹  You will stand before governors and kings ¹⁰  because of me, as a witness to them. 13:10 First the gospel must be preached to all nations. 13:11 When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, ¹¹  for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against ¹²  parents and have them put to death. 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹³  But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ 

¹ 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.

² tn Or “Be on guard.”

³ tn That is, “I am the Messiah.”

⁴ tn Grk “it is not yet the end.”

⁵ tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.

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

⁷ tn Grk “They will hand you over.” “They” is an indefinite plural, referring to people in general. The parallel in Matt 10:17 makes this explicit.

⁸ sn Councils in this context refers to local judicial bodies attached to the Jewish synagogue. This group would be responsible for meting out justice and discipline within the Jewish community.

⁹ sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21.

¹⁰ sn These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of councils and synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to governors and kings suggests. Some fulfillment of Jewish persecution can be seen in Acts.

¹¹ tn Grk “in that hour.”

¹² tn Or “will rebel against.”

¹³ sn See 1 Cor 1:25-31.

¹⁴ sn But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Jesus was not claiming here that salvation is by works, because he had already taught that it is by grace (cf. 10:15). He was simply arguing that genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials.