And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
- BSB On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
- NKJV You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- NASB and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- NLT You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
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
Believers will be dragged before rulers, turning their trials into opportunities to witness. Even opposition serves the spread of the gospel to the nations.
Overview
Jesus foresees His followers testifying before governors and kings, with the persecution itself becoming a platform for the gospel before Jews and Gentiles alike. Paul before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa illustrates this (Acts 24-26). What enemies intend for harm God turns to the advance of His kingdom among all peoples.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 8:4And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- Mark 13:9But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
- Acts 5:25–27Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
- Acts 24:1–26And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
- Ps 2:1–6Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
- Acts 23:33–34Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
- 2 Tim 1:8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
- Rev 1:9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Rev 11:7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- Rev 6:9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
- Acts 12:1–4Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
- 2 Tim 4:16–17At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:18 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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