Luke 21:23-25

21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress ¹  on the earth and wrath against this people. 21:24 They ²  will fall by the edge ³  of the sword and be led away as captives ⁴  among all nations. Jerusalem ⁵  will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ⁶ 

The Arrival of the Son of Man

21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, ⁷  and on the earth nations will be in distress, ⁸  anxious ⁹  over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

Romans 2:9

2:9 There will be ¹⁰  affliction and distress on everyone ¹¹  who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, ¹² 

[21:23]  ¹ sn Great distress means that this is a period of great judgment.

[21:24]  ² tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ³ tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).

[21:24]  ⁴ sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.

[21:24]  ⁵ tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ⁶ sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.

[21:25]  ⁷ sn Signs in the sun and moon and stars are cosmic signs that turn our attention to the end and the Son of Man’s return for the righteous. OT imagery is present: See Isa 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezek 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15.

[21:25]  ⁸ tn Grk “distress of nations.”

[21:25]  ⁹ tn Or “in consternation” (L&N 32.9).

[2:9]  ¹⁰ tn No verb is expressed in this verse, but the verb “to be” is implied by the Greek construction. Literally “suffering and distress on everyone…”

[2:9]  ¹¹ tn Grk “every soul of man.”

[2:9]  ¹² sn Paul uses the term Greek here and in v. 10 to refer to non-Jews, i.e., Gentiles.