Luke 21:12
What does Luke 21:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 21:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 21:12 means
Jesus warns His disciples that before these widespread global and natural calamities, they will face intense personal persecution. They will be arrested, delivered to synagogues and prisons, and brought before kings and governors "for my name's sake." This highlights that discipleship will involve suffering and legal challenges directly related to their allegiance to Jesus. This prophecy emphasizes the personal cost of following Christ and the opposition the gospel will face.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But before all this, they will take you and be very cruel to you, giving you up to the Synagogues and to prisons, taking you before kings and rulers, because of my name.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and before all these, they shall lay on you their hands, and persecute, delivering up to synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and governors for my name's sake;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But before all these things they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering [you] up to synagogues and prisons, bringing [you] before kings and governors on account of my name;
Context
This verse marks a significant shift in Jesus' prophecy from global signs to the personal experience of His disciples. "But before all these things" signals a primary and immediate concern for them. This warning about persecution is foundational, coming before the final destruction of Jerusalem and the ultimate return of Christ. It prepares them for the specific challenges they will face in the spread of the Gospel, bridging the gap between general signs and their personal suffering.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 22:30
But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
- John 16:2
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.
- Matthew 23:34
Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
- Acts 24:1
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, andwithan orator, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.
- Acts 5:40
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
- Acts 9:4
and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
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