I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Parallel translations
- WEB “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
- KJV And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
- NKJV “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
- NASB “Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
- NLT “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus, calling His disciples 'friends,' tells them not to fear those who can only kill the body. Human persecutors have a strictly limited power.
Overview
In a world where following Christ may invite violence, Jesus liberates His people from the fear of death by exposing its limits: enemies can take physical life but nothing beyond. Addressing the disciples as 'friends' reveals the intimate love that grounds this courage. Because Christ has conquered death, His followers can face even martyrdom without terror.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Matt 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Jer 1:8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Rev 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Phil 1:28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
- Isa 51:7–13Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
- 1 Pet 3:14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- Dan 3:16–17Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- Ezek 2:6But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.
- Jas 2:23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
- Jer 26:14–15As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.
- Jer 1:17Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
- Acts 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Isa 41:8“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
- John 15:14–15You are My friends if you do what I command you.
- Song 5:1I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.
- Song 5:16His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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