Mar 13:9-13 | TNotes | STEP | 13:9 The second watch out! warns of persecution that was to come upon Christians (see 6:11 ; 8:34-38 ; 10:30 ; see 4:17 ). Jewish Christians would be brought before local councils of Jewish leaders, who had authority over Jewish communities. We read of such a council in Matt 10:17 and probably in Matt 5:22 (see also Acts 4:1-22 ). • beaten in the synagogues: Paul’s beatings in 2 Cor 11:24-25 were probably inflicted in the local synagogue. • The followers of Jesus would also be susceptible to trial before governors and kings (see Acts 23:24 ; 24:10-27 ; 25:1–26:32 ). Such trials were due to their being followers of Jesus (Mark 13:9 , 13 ), not on account of real wrongdoing (see 1 Pet 4:14-16 ).

13:9 ^a The second watch out! warns of persecution that was to come upon Christians (see 6:11 ^b; 8:34-38 ^c; 10:30 ^d; see 4:17 ^e). Jewish Christians would be brought before local councils of Jewish leaders, who had authority over Jewish communities. We read of such a council in Matt 10:17 ^f and probably in Matt 5:22 ^g (see also Acts 4:1-22 ^h).

• beaten in the synagogues: Paul’s beatings in 2 Cor 11:24-25 ⁱ were probably inflicted in the local synagogue.

• The followers of Jesus would also be susceptible to trial before governors and kings (see Acts 23:24 ^j; 24:10-27 ^k; 25:1–26:32 ^l). Such trials were due to their being followers of Jesus (Mark 13:9 ^m, 13 ⁿ), not on account of real wrongdoing (see 1 Pet 4:14-16 ^o).
13:10 ^p Such trials (13:9 ^q, 11 ^r) would be a means through which the Good News would be preached to all nations. This would all take place first—i.e., before the destruction of Jerusalem. For Paul’s understanding of how the Good News had already been preached to every nation in his day, see Rom 16:26 ^s; Col 1:6 ^t, 23 ^u (see also Rom 1:5 ^v, 8 ^w; 10:18 ^x; 15:19 ^y, 23 ^z).
13:11 ^aa A word of encouragement follows the warning of 13:9 ^ab. Jesus’ followers need not fear what they should say in these circumstances. The early followers of Jesus were generally uneducated and without political influence (see Acts 4:10-17 ^ac; 1 Cor 1:26 ^ad), so this assurance would have comforted them. Believers are not prohibited from thinking about what they will say, but they need not worry about it.
Summary for Mark 13:12-13: 13:12-13 ^ae There would be no single group, not even their own families, to whom persecuted Christians could automatically flee or turn for help (see Matt 10:35-36 ^af; Luke 12:53 ^ag). They would be universally hated because of their allegiance to Jesus (because you are my followers). Those who remain faithful to death (to the end) will be saved from eternal punishment (see also Mark 8:35 ^ah; Rev 2:7 ^ai, 10 ^aj, 17 ^ak, 26-28 ^al; 3:5 ^am, 12 ^an, 21 ^ao).