^21:12But before all this,³⁰ they will seize³¹ you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues³² and prisons. You³³ will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. ^21:13This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.³⁴^21:14Therefore be resolved³⁵ not to rehearse³⁶ ahead of time how to make your defense. ^21:15For I will give you the words³⁷ along with the wisdom³⁸ that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ^21:16You will be betrayed even by parents,³⁹ brothers, relatives,⁴⁰ and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. ^21:17You will be hated by everyone because of my name.⁴¹^21:18Yet⁴² not a hair of your head will perish.⁴³^21:19By your endurance⁴⁴ you will gain⁴⁵ your lives.⁴⁶

The Desolation of Jerusalem

^21:20“But when you see Jerusalem⁴⁷ surrounded⁴⁸ by armies, then know that its⁴⁹ desolation⁵⁰ has come near. ^21:21Then those who are in Judea must flee⁵¹ to the mountains. Those⁵² who are inside the city must depart. Those⁵³ who are out in the country must not enter it, ^21:22because these are days of vengeance,⁵⁴ to fulfill⁵⁵ all that is written. ^21:23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress⁵⁶ on the earth and wrath against this people. ^21:24They⁵⁷ will fall by the edge⁵⁸ of the sword and be led away as captives⁵⁹ among all nations. Jerusalem⁶⁰ will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.⁶¹

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Footnotes

30 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.
31 Grk “will lay their hands on you.”
32 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 .
33 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
34 Grk “This will turn out to you for [a] testimony.”
35 Grk “determine in your hearts.”
36 This term could refer to rehearsing a speech or a dance. On its syntax, see §392.2.
37 Grk “a mouth.” It is a metonymy and refers to the reply the Lord will give to them.
38 Grk “and wisdom.”
39 To confess Christ might well mean rejection by one’s own family, even by parents.
40 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.
42 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
43 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.
44 By your endurance is a call to remain faithful, because trusting in Jesus is the means to life.
45 Some important Greek witnesses plus the majority of (א D L W Ψ f1 𝔐) read the aorist imperative κτήσασθε (ktēsasthe) here, though some (A B Θ f13 33 lat sa) read the future indicative κτήσεσθε (ktēsesthe). 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 [], 2:); 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.
46 Grk “your souls,” but ψυχή (psuchē) 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.
47 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
48 See Luke 19:41–44. This passage refers to the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem, when the city is surrounded by armies.
49 Grk “her,” referring to the city of Jerusalem (the name “Jerusalem” in Greek is a feminine noun).
50 The phrase its desolation is a reference to the fall of the city, which is the only antecedent present in Luke’s account. The parallels to this in Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14 refer to the temple’s desolation, though Matthew’s allusion is clearer. They focus on the parallel events of the end, not on the short term realization in a.d. 70. The entire passage has a prophetic “two events in one” typology, where the near term destruction (a.d. 70) is like the end. So the evangelists could choose to focus on the near time realization (Luke) or on its long term fulfillment, which mirrors it (Matthew, Mark).
51 Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.
52 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
53 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
54 Or “of punishment.” This is a time of judgment.
55 The passive construction with the infinitive πλησθῆναι (plēsthēnai) has been translated as an active construction for simplicity, in keeping with contemporary English style.
56 Great distress means that this is a period of great judgment.
57 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
58 Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).
59 Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.
60 Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
61 Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.

Cross references

41 See Luke 6:22, 27; 1 Cor 1:25–31.