Matthew 10:16-23

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  10:18 And you will be brought before governors and kings ⁷  because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. 10:19 Whenever ⁸  they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, ⁹  for what you should say will be given to you at that time. ¹⁰  10:20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

10:21 “Brother ¹¹  will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against ¹²  parents and have them put to death. 10:22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23 Whenever ¹³  they persecute you in one place, ¹⁴  flee to another. I tell you the truth, ¹⁵  you will not finish going through all the towns ¹⁶  of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

[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.

[10:18]  ⁷ sn These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of courts 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.

[10:19]  ⁸ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:19]  ⁹ tn Grk “how or what you might speak.”

[10:19]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “in that hour.”

[10:21]  ¹¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:21]  ¹² tn Or “will rebel against.”

[10:23]  ¹³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:23]  ¹⁴ tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.”

[10:23]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amhn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.

[10:23]  ¹⁶ tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.” “Town” was chosen here to emphasize the extensive nature of the disciples’ ministry. The same word is translated earlier in the verse as “place.”