Luke 21 12

Luke 21:12 kjv

But 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.

Luke 21:12 nkjv

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.

Luke 21:12 niv

"But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Luke 21:12 esv

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Luke 21:12 nlt

"But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 12 Meaning

Luke 21:12 unequivocally predicts a period of intense and pervasive persecution for Jesus' disciples, specifically stating it would occur before the larger signs of distress and the fall of Jerusalem. This suffering would encompass physical violence, detention, and formal legal proceedings before both Jewish religious tribunals and high-ranking Roman civil authorities, with the singular motivation being their identification with Jesus' "name."

Luke 21 12 Context

Luke 21:12 is part of Jesus' prophetic discourse, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse (Luke 21:5-36), delivered on the Mount of Olives to His disciples. The discourse begins with a warning about false messiahs and initial signs like wars, famines, and earthquakes. Verse 12 serves as a specific, immediate warning for the disciples themselves, stressing that their personal suffering and trials would commence before the greater geopolitical and cosmic upheavals that Jesus had just described, and indeed, before the promised destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 21:6). This section directly addresses the disciples' direct experience of hardship as followers of Christ, establishing it as a primary and early characteristic of the age leading to Christ's return or Jerusalem's destruction.

Luke 21 12 Word analysis

• But before all these: Greek: Pro de toutōn pantōn (πρὸ δὲ τούτων πάντων). This phrase establishes a crucial chronological sequence. It means that the persecution of believers is not an "afterthought" or a side-effect, but an anticipated, preceding event to the major global tribulations (wars, famines, earthquakes) mentioned in the preceding verses (Luke 21:9-11). It highlights the immediate reality for the early Christian community.
• they will lay their hands on you: Greek: epibalosin eph' hymas tas cheiras autōn (ἐπιβαλοῦσιν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν). The verb epibalosin (will lay) signifies a deliberate, forceful, and often violent act of apprehension or seizure, suggesting physical arrest rather than just verbal accusation. This action would initiate the disciples' suffering, marking the beginning of their loss of freedom and the onset of formal proceedings.
• and persecute you: Greek: kai diōxousin (καὶ διώξουσιν). Diōkō means to pursue, run after, harass, or inflict hardship. It implies a sustained campaign of hostility and ill-treatment against believers for their faith, encompassing various forms of oppression, not just the initial arrest. It suggests a relentless pursuit aimed at crushing their faith and witness.
• delivering you up: Greek: paradidontes (παραδιδόντες). This participle means to hand over or surrender to the authority of another. This term is notably used elsewhere for Jesus' betrayal and delivery to His accusers. Here, it denotes a formal handing over of believers by their captors or initial accusers to official judicial or religious systems for judgment.
• to the synagogues: Greek: eis synagogas (εἰς συναγωγάς). These were Jewish places of worship that also served as community courts for disciplinary actions. Jewish religious leaders had the authority to try, condemn, excommunicate, and inflict physical punishment (like scourging, as mentioned in Matthew 10:17) upon those deemed heretical or rebellious against their law, showing the persecution often came from their own religious heritage.
• and prisons: Greek: kai phylakas (καὶ φυλακάς). Literal places of confinement, representing a loss of freedom. Imprisonment could serve as a pre-trial holding, a form of punishment, or a means to deter the spread of their message. It highlights the direct physical and judicial consequences of their persecution.
• and you will be brought before kings: Greek: agomenous epi basileis (ἀγομένους ἐπὶ βασιλεῖς). Basileis refers to monarchs or emperors (e.g., Herod Agrippa II, the Roman Emperor as supreme authority), indicating that the disciples would face the highest levels of civil and political authority.
• and rulers: Greek: kai hēgemonas (καὶ ἡγεμόνας). Hēgemōnes denotes provincial governors (e.g., Pilate, Festus). This combination signifies that the persecution would escalate beyond local religious courts to official Roman governmental bodies, implying high-stakes legal trials involving imperial authority.
• for My name's sake: Greek: heneken tou onomatos mou (ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου). This concluding phrase is paramount. "The Name" encapsulates Jesus' person, authority, divine essence, and saving work. Persecution for His Name's sake means that the suffering is not arbitrary but directly due to identifying with Christ, proclaiming Him, and embodying His teachings. This makes the persecution a direct assault on the Lord Himself, but it also elevates the suffering to a divine purpose – a witness to Christ.

Luke 21 12 Bonus section

• Divine Purpose: This persecution, far from being mere misfortune, is presented as having a divine purpose. Luke 21:13 clarifies that "it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony." Thus, suffering for Christ's name is transformed into a powerful opportunity for public witness to the Gospel before both religious and political authorities.
• Divine Enablement: Implicitly and explicitly, throughout the Olivet Discourse (especially Luke 21:14-15), Jesus promises His disciples divine wisdom and a mouth which none of their adversaries would be able to contradict or resist during these trials. The Holy Spirit would empower them in their darkest hours of testimony.
• Authentication of Discipleship: Facing persecution "for My name's sake" serves as an authenticating mark of true discipleship, distinguishing genuine followers from those who might waver under pressure. It solidifies their identity in Christ.
• Broad Scope of Persecution: The prediction covers religious, judicial, physical, and governmental dimensions, indicating that opposition to Christ's followers would be multifaceted and relentless, impacting every area of their lives and calling upon every aspect of their faith.

Luke 21 12 Commentary

Luke 21:12 stands as a severe but crucial prophecy from Jesus to His disciples, warning them of unavoidable personal suffering as an immediate prelude to future, larger calamities. The verse outlines a progression of persecution: from direct physical apprehension by hostile parties, leading to imprisonment, and culminating in formal legal proceedings before both entrenched religious councils (synagogues) and the ultimate secular powers (kings and rulers). The unwavering core reason for this pervasive opposition is explicitly stated as allegiance to "My name"—meaning identification with Jesus Christ and His gospel. This predicted persecution serves multiple divine purposes: it tests the genuineness of faith, demonstrates the powerful opposition Christ's truth stirs in the world, and most significantly, transforms the disciples' suffering into an unprecedented opportunity for bearing witness to Jesus before powerful and influential non-believers, as emphasized in the following verse (Luke 21:13). The early church, as documented in Acts and the Epistles, vividly fulfilled every aspect of this prophecy, showing its certainty and directness.