Luk 21:16-17 | KingComments | STEP | Before the events of which the Lord speaks in the previous verses take place, the disciples will be the targets of people’s hatred. They will be taken prisoner and to this end being prosecuted. Then they will be delivered to religious leaders in the synagogues and brought before worldly authorities, as happened to the Lord Jesus. It also happens because they are connected to Him, it is for the sake of His Name. We see this happening in the book of Acts ( ). The Lord encourages them by telling them that it will be a testimony to them instead of destroying their testimony. He reassures them that they do not need to prepare beforehand how to account for their actions. They may rely on Him in this. We also find this regularly in the book of Acts ( ). Every speech we have there cannot be prepared because they will suddenly be forced to. He will give them the words in their mouths. They will show wisdom that will silence their opponents ( ). Their opponents will not be able to offer reasonable resistance. So they will fall into unreasonable, cruel reactions. Their opponents will not only be the religious leaders or the secular authorities, but even in relations where security and safety should be expected and which they have always enjoyed until then. Thus, the members of the family they belong to will turn against them and also other family members. Also their friends, people with whom you share everything and who are there for you in times of need, will reveal themselves as opponents. The only reason for this massive, general hatred is the Name of the Lord Jesus. Choosing Him will result in a radical change in all existing relationships. The hearts of all will turn against them. The Lord also has the encouragement for them that nothing will be lost of what they have received, even, so to speak, not a single hair of their head. This does not mean that they cannot be killed ( ), but He says that even if they were to be killed, all will be made right in the resurrection. This is pointed out in . In all distress and suffering it comes down to endurance. By endurance they will gain their lives. This does not mean that it comes down to doing it in own strength. It means that the true faith in the Lord Jesus is shown by endurance and not succumbing under the pressure. In order to endure, they may seek their strength from the Lord.

‏ Luke 21:16-17

Persecution and Endurance

Before the events of which the Lord speaks in the previous verses take place, the disciples will be the targets of people’s hatred. They will be taken prisoner and to this end being prosecuted. Then they will be delivered to religious leaders in the synagogues and brought before worldly authorities, as happened to the Lord Jesus. It also happens because they are connected to Him, it is for the sake of His Name. We see this happening in the book of Acts (Acts 4:3 ; Acts 5:17-18 ; Acts 6:8-12).

The Lord encourages them by telling them that it will be a testimony to them instead of destroying their testimony. He reassures them that they do not need to prepare beforehand how to account for their actions. They may rely on Him in this. We also find this regularly in the book of Acts (Acts 4:8 ; 19 ; Acts 5:29). Every speech we have there cannot be prepared because they will suddenly be forced to.

He will give them the words in their mouths. They will show wisdom that will silence their opponents (Acts 6:10). Their opponents will not be able to offer reasonable resistance. So they will fall into unreasonable, cruel reactions. Their opponents will not only be the religious leaders or the secular authorities, but even in relations where security and safety should be expected and which they have always enjoyed until then.

Thus, the members of the family they belong to will turn against them and also other family members. Also their friends, people with whom you share everything and who are there for you in times of need, will reveal themselves as opponents. The only reason for this massive, general hatred is the Name of the Lord Jesus. Choosing Him will result in a radical change in all existing relationships. The hearts of all will turn against them.

The Lord also has the encouragement for them that nothing will be lost of what they have received, even, so to speak, not a single hair of their head. This does not mean that they cannot be killed (Lk 21:16), but He says that even if they were to be killed, all will be made right in the resurrection. This is pointed out in Lk 21:19.

In all distress and suffering it comes down to endurance. By endurance they will gain their lives. This does not mean that it comes down to doing it in own strength. It means that the true faith in the Lord Jesus is shown by endurance and not succumbing under the pressure. In order to endure, they may seek their strength from the Lord.