^11:49For this reason also the wisdom¹⁵⁴ of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ ^11:50so that this generation may be held accountable¹⁵⁵ for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning¹⁵⁶ of the world,¹⁵⁷^11:51from the blood of Abel¹⁵⁸ to the blood of Zechariah,¹⁵⁹ who was killed¹⁶⁰ between the altar and the sanctuary.¹⁶¹ Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against¹⁶² this generation.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

154 The expression the wisdom of God is a personification of an attribute of God that refers to his wise will.
155 Or “that this generation may be charged with”; or “the blood of all the prophets … may be required from this generation.” This is a warning of judgment. These people are responsible for the shedding of prophetic blood.
156 Or “foundation.” However, this does not suggest a time to the modern reader.
157 The order of the clauses in this complicated sentence has been rearranged to simplify it for the modern reader.
158 Gen 4:10 indicates that Abel’s blood cried out for justice.
159 It is not clear which Zechariah is meant here. It is probably the person mentioned in 2 Chr 24:20–25.
160 Or “who perished.”
161 Or “and the temple”; Grk “and the house,” but in this context a reference to the house of God as a place of sanctuary.
162 Or “required from.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world—from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.

NLTNew Living Translation

This is what God in his wisdom said about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

“As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation!

KJV 1900King James Version

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Public Domain