Luke 12:11 kjv
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:11 nkjv
"Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
Luke 12:11 niv
"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
Luke 12:11 esv
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
Luke 12:11 nlt
"And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,
Luke 12 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 10:19-20 | "When they deliver you up, do not worry how...for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit..." | Direct parallel promise from Jesus. |
| Mark 13:11 | "When they bring you to trial...do not worry beforehand...it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." | Direct parallel promise from Jesus. |
| Luke 21:14-15 | "Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom..." | Lukan parallel of divine enablement in trial. |
| Acts 4:8-13 | Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit," speaks boldly to the Sanhedrin, astonishing them. | Practical demonstration of the promise. |
| Acts 6:10 | Opponents "could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen was speaking." | Stephen empowered by the Spirit in defense. |
| Acts 7:55 | Stephen, "full of the Holy Spirit," saw visions before his martyrdom. | Holy Spirit's presence in persecution. |
| Acts 24:10-21 | Paul makes his defense before Governor Felix, presenting his case articulately. | Example of a believer defending faith. |
| Acts 25:8-11 | Paul defends himself before Festus, appealing to Caesar. | Another example of a believer's defense. |
| Acts 26:1-29 | Paul defends himself before Agrippa, giving his testimony. | Extensive example of Spirit-enabled defense. |
| 1 Pet 3:15 | "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope..." | Be ready to articulate faith, though not anxious. |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit...He will teach you all things..." | The Holy Spirit's teaching and empowering role. |
| John 15:26 | "But when the Helper comes...He will bear witness about me." | Holy Spirit testifies through believers. |
| John 16:13 | "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." | Spirit's guidance in what to say. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication..." | Broader exhortation against anxiety, encouraging prayer. |
| Isa 50:4 | "The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught...that I may know how to sustain..." | Prophetic foretelling of Spirit-empowered speech. |
| Jer 1:7-9 | God tells Jeremiah, "Do not say, ‘I am only a youth,’ for to all to whom I send you, you shall go...I have put my words in your mouth." | Divine provision of words for prophets. |
| Exod 4:11-12 | God promises Moses, "I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." | God promises to equip those He sends. |
| Rom 8:26 | "The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." | Holy Spirit aids believers even beyond speech. |
| Eph 6:19 | Paul asks for prayer that "words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly..." | Asking for divine empowerment in speech. |
| Col 4:6 | "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt..." | Reminder about the nature of a believer's speech. |
| 2 Tim 4:16-17 | "At my first defense no one came to stand by me...but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed." | Paul's experience of divine support during trial. |
| Luke 12:12 | "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." | The next verse, directly explains how the promise is fulfilled. |
| 1 John 2:27 | "The anointing that you received from him abides in you...it teaches you about everything..." | Holy Spirit's continuous teaching in believers. |
Luke 12 verses
Luke 12 11 Meaning
Luke 12:11 assures disciples that when facing official persecution for their faith, they are not to worry about what to say in their defense. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will provide the words needed in that precise moment, empowering believers to speak with divine wisdom and authority rather than relying on their own human preparation or cleverness. It emphasizes trust in God's enablement amidst severe trials.
Luke 12 11 Context
Luke 12:11 is embedded within Jesus' discourse on discipleship, following warnings against hypocrisy, a call to openly acknowledge Christ, and a discussion of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This specific verse prepares the disciples for inevitable persecution that will arise from their faithful witness. Jesus anticipates trials before formal religious (synagogues) and secular (rulers, authorities) bodies. The broader chapter urges trust in God's providence over worldly anxieties (like material needs), and this specific instruction extends that trust to include verbal defense in hostile situations. It functions as a reassurance, assuring divine empowerment precisely where human ability might fail.
Luke 12 11 Word analysis
- When they bring you (ὅταν ἀγάγωσιν ὑμᾶς, hotan agagōsin hymas): The use of "when" rather than "if" suggests an inevitable future occurrence, indicating that persecution for bearing witness to Christ is a certainty, not a mere possibility. The passive voice implies that believers are the objects of hostile action, being led by others.
- before the synagogues (ἐπὶ τὰς συναγωγάς, epi tas synagōgas): Synagogues were central community institutions for Jews, functioning not only as places of worship and instruction but also as local courts where legal and religious matters were handled, often involving forms of discipline or judgment for community members deemed aberrant.
- and the rulers (καὶ τὰς ἀρχάς, kai tas archas): This term refers to governing officials, implying positions of political power, whether Jewish high-ranking religious leaders or Roman civic administrators. Archas denotes leadership, magistracy, or principalities.
- and the authorities (καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας, kai tas exousias): Closely linked to "rulers," exousias signifies delegated power, jurisdiction, or right to act. It encompasses the official power structures that would judge or condemn. This indicates a wide range of official powers they might face, underscoring the severity of the challenge.
- do not be anxious (μὴ μεριμνήσητε, mē merimnēsēte): This is a strong, emphatic prohibition. The Greek verb merimnaō means to be divided, distracted, troubled with cares, or to worry intensely about future events. It indicates a mind pulled in different directions by apprehension, thus distracting from trust in God.
- about how you should defend yourselves (πῶς ἀπολογήσησθε, pōs apologēsesthe): Apologeomai means to make a reasoned defense, to speak in one's own behalf, to give an account. This is the origin of the English word "apology" in its older sense of a formal justification. Jesus instructs against fretting over the method or strategy of this defense.
- or what you should say (ἢ τί εἴπητε, ē ti eipēte): This broadens the scope from simply a formal defense to any verbal response. The prohibition extends to worrying about the content or specific words that ought to be uttered. This entire phrase underscores complete reliance on divine provision for spoken witness.
Luke 12 11 Bonus section
The historical record in the Book of Acts repeatedly demonstrates the immediate fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Luke 12:11. Figures like Peter, John, and Stephen, unlearned in formal rhetoric, displayed astounding boldness and wisdom when confronted by the highest authorities, baffling their educated accusers (e.g., Acts 4:13). This promise is particularly vital as Luke’s Gospel foreshadows the ongoing conflict between God's kingdom and worldly powers, a theme continued into the book of Acts, which chronicles the spread of the Gospel amidst opposition. The very word for "defend yourselves," apologeomai, is a critical concept, highlighting that Christian witness involves a reasoned defense, not based on human ingenuity, but empowered by divine wisdom and truth for maximum impact.
Luke 12 11 Commentary
Luke 12:11 provides an extraordinary assurance to Christ's disciples regarding the trials they would face for their faith. Jesus understands the fear and anxiety that naturally arise when confronting formidable powers like the synagogues, rulers, and authorities. However, the command "do not be anxious" is not a trivialization of these daunting circumstances but an invitation to profound spiritual reliance. The anxiety forbidden is not mere human concern, but a faithless worry that doubts God's provision and guidance.
The promise lies in the certainty that the Holy Spirit will act as their Advocate and Interlocutor. Believers are not expected to devise their own clever arguments or persuasive rhetoric. Instead, their words in moments of persecution will be divinely inspired, transcending human wisdom. This shifts the focus from a performance of personal intellect to a humble surrender, allowing the very voice of God, through the Spirit, to speak through them. This promise guarantees that in their weakness, Christ's strength is made perfect, and their testimony will carry divine weight and truth, standing as a powerful witness to their accusers.
For instance, believers today can find courage in this verse when faced with informal "trials" such as explaining their faith to a hostile audience, enduring social pressures, or speaking truth in challenging professional environments. It encourages leaning on the Spirit's wisdom rather than striving for human perfection in advocacy.