Matthew 10:16-17

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ¹  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ²  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17 Beware ³  of people, because they will hand you over to councils ⁴  and flog ⁵  you in their synagogues. ⁶ 

[10:16]  ¹ tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:16]  ² sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.

[10:17]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:17]  ⁴ 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.

[10:17]  ⁵ tn BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited w. notes by SKrauss ’33) w. acc. of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”

[10:17]  ⁶ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.