When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
- KJV But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
- BSB But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- NKJV But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. Forit will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
- NASB But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour.
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
When put on trial, disciples need not worry about what to say. God will supply the right words at the right time.
Overview
Jesus reassures His messengers that in moments of testimony they need not rehearse anxiously, for God will give them what to speak. This is not a license for laziness in study but a promise of grace under pressure. It frees believers from fear so they can witness boldly, resting in God's faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Exod 4:12Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
- Mark 13:11–13When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Tim 4:17But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
- Luke 21:12–17But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
- Luke 12:11When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
- Exod 4:15You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.
- Jer 1:9Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
- Dan 3:16–18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- Matt 6:31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
- Acts 6:10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- Jas 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
- Matt 6:25Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
- Jer 1:7But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
- Phil 4:6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
- Matt 6:34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
- Acts 4:8–14Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
- Acts 5:29–33But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Acts 26:2–11“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews,
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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.'
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Original language
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