Luke 21:10-19

Context

Persecution of Disciples

21:10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms¹ against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines² and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights³ and great signs⁴ from heaven. 21:12 But before all this,⁵ they will seize⁶ you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues⁷ and prisons. You⁸ will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 21:13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.⁹ 21:14 Therefore be resolved¹⁰ not to rehearse¹¹ ahead of time how to make your defense. 21:15 For I will give you the words¹² along with the wisdom¹³ that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents,¹⁴ brothers, relatives,¹⁵ and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 21:17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name.¹⁶ 21:18 Yet¹⁷ not a hair of your head will perish.¹⁸ 21:19 By your endurance¹⁹ you will gain²⁰ your lives.²¹

[21:10] ¹tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.

[21:11] ²sn See Isa 5:13-14; 13:6-16; Hag 2:6-7; Zech 14:4.

[21:11] ³tn 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.

[21:11] ⁴sn See Jer 4:13-22; 14:12; 21:6-7.

[21:12] ⁵sn 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] ⁶tn Grk “will lay their hands on you.”

[21:12] ⁷sn 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] ⁸tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[21:13] ⁹tn Grk “This will turn out to you for [a] testimony.”

[21:14] ¹⁰tn Grk “determine in your hearts.”

[21:14] ¹¹tn This term could refer to rehearsing a speech or a dance. On its syntax, see BDF §392.2.

[21:15] ¹²tn Grk “a mouth.” It is a metonymy and refers to the reply the Lord will give to them.

[21:15] ¹³tn Grk “and wisdom.”

[21:16] ¹⁴sn To confess Christ might well mean rejection by one’s own family, even by parents.

[21:16] ¹⁵tn 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] ¹⁶sn See Luke 6:22, 27; 1 Cor 1:25-31.

[21:18] ¹⁷tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[21:18] ¹⁸sn 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.

[21:19] ¹⁹sn By your endurance is a call to remain faithful, because trusting in Jesus is the means to life.

[21:19] ²⁰tc Some important Greek witnesses plus the majority of mss (א D L W Ψ Ë¹ Ï) read the aorist imperative κτήσασθε (kthsasqe) here, though some mss (A B Θ Ë¹³ 33 pc lat sa) read the future indicative κτήσεσθε (kthsesqe). A decision is difficult because the evidence is so evenly balanced, but the aorist imperative is the harder reading and better explains the rise of the other. J. A. Fitzmyer assesses the translation options this way: “In English one has to use something similar [i.e., a future indicative], even if one follows the [aorist imperative]” (Luke [AB], 2:1341); in the same vein, although this translation follows the aorist imperative, because of English requirements it has been translated as though it were a future indicative.

[21:19] ²¹tn Grk “your souls,” but ψυχή (yuch) is frequently used of one’s physical life. In light of v. 16 that does not seem to be the case here. The entire phrase could be taken as an idiom meaning “you will save yourselves” (L&N 21.20), or (as in v. 18) this could refer to living ultimately in the presence of God.