And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Jesus spoke this when sending out the first evangelists to work in his name as he worked, warning them beforehand that as sheep among wolves they would be delivered to councils, scourged, hated, imprisoned and put to death. Being brought before governors and kings is for his sake, because of loyalty and faith to him, and it is both a testimony against those rulers and persecutors and a witness to them and to the Gentiles, bringing the gospel to those who might not otherwise hear it. When delivered up they are to take no thought beforehand what to speak, for in that same hour the Spirit of the Father will speak in them, giving words of wisdom, power and grace distinct from their own thoughts. This has been fulfilled through history in the apostles before councils and kings, in Stephen as the first martyr, in Jerome praying for the Spirit to control his words before his judges, in Luther before the emperor and princes, and in every indignity and cruelty from the Dark Ages to the Inquisition and beyond. It applies still to those appointed to carry the last message of warning, when Sabbath-keepers will be brought before councils and courts to answer for their faith amid apostasy and bitter opposition, so they must now gain a deep, reasoned knowledge of Scripture through diligent study, prayer and faithful endurance to the end.
Sending and Opposition
Jesus spoke these words when sending out the first evangelists on their missionary tour to work in his name as he worked, including healing the sick. They were sent as sheep in the midst of wolves and told to beware of men, for they would be delivered up to councils and scourged in synagogues. Brother would deliver up brother to death and father the child, children would rise against parents and cause them to be put to death, and they would be hated of all men for his name's sake, even to imprisonment and death. He warned them of these persecutions beforehand.
Being brought before governors and kings is for his sake, because of loyalty to him and service and faith in him. They were to expect scorn, persecution and even death rather than the world's approval, remembering that he had endured the same reproach and suffering before them. Their persecutors did not know God, and some were so deceived that destroying their lives was esteemed service to God and religion. He spoke with full knowledge of the future as his ministry of love was closing and the soul-agony of Gethsemane and the cross was before him, knowing he was about to be separated from them and leave them as sheep amid wolves ready to tear and devour them. He did not deceive them with false hope but warned them of opposition so they could count its cost, not considering his own suffering and human and divine agony but telling them to let not their hearts be troubled and to believe.
The sending brings open conflict with opposing religious leaders because truth taught conflicts with the teachings of a worldly church. This can include being condemned by church authorities, publicly slandered and denounced, and imprisoned. Falsehood is gathered and hired halls and flaming notices are used to give a false history and denounce believers in public, while ministers watch meetings and take the names of church members who attend in order to deal with them. The people hearing both sides cannot tell what is piped or what is harped and judge only by who talks well, and where he has sent them for a purpose believers must seek to please the Lord and do their whole duty, deciding whether to take no notice or to remain and meet the conflict rather than shun it. Such early instances of this treatment are a small matter compared with the more bitter persecution still to come.
Testimony Against and To
Being brought before governors and kings, rulers and authorities and the Gentiles happens for his sake, because of loyalty, service and faith to him. That appearance is for a testimony against them, testifying against those rulers and persecutors and the Gentiles. The same standing is also a witness to them, bearing witness to rulers, Gentiles, judges and opposers as the gospel is proclaimed and the truth is defended. This includes the witness of the first evangelists sent in his name, the witness of disciples tried because they were his, and the testing of church members placed where they must bear witness to truth amid fierce opposition and efforts to oppress and malign them. The warning belongs with the charge to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves and to beware of hostile people, as cautions to be observed, calling for faithfulness while recognizing that words and actions may be repeated and used by enemies against the witness. It is given so the cost can be counted, with assurance that help from heaven sustains in the good fight of faith.
These trials become occasions to bring the gospel to people who might not otherwise hear it. Rulers have heard false claims about the faith, so testimony under examination answers those claims and reveals its true character. Grace is given for the hour, and through the Spirit the needed words are supplied in the moment. Meekness under suffering contrasts with the conduct of opposers, and by that contrast Christ is presented to rulers and people.
Suffering accompanies this witness, and disciples are to remember that Jesus endured reproach and suffering before them. As eyewitnesses who had seen his works and heard his teaching they bear evidence about him, testifying to what they had seen and heard when brought before kings and rulers. Their work was not finished when they were beaten and ordered to stop preaching, but they continued proclaiming Jesus and counted suffering for his name cause for praise. Their recorded testimony was to be studied through the ages.
Spirit Speaks in Trial
When they are handed over to councils and brought before governors and kings for his sake, they are to take no anxious thought beforehand how or what to speak, for it is not they that speak but the Spirit of the Father speaking in them, giving them in that same hour what they shall say. The Holy Spirit supplies what to say at the moment of being delivered up, so that testimony before rulers and Gentiles is borne amid persecution for serving him and keeping his commandments. This promise given to the first disciples was fulfilled to Jerome before his judges when he kneeled and prayed that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so he would speak nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master. Though he had been shut a whole year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, in great physical suffering and mental anxiety, his defense was given him in the hour with such clearness and power as if from undisturbed study, to the astonishment and admiration even of his enemies. The same promise strengthened Luther as he faced the emperor and the assembled princes and council to answer for his faith.
The wisdom and words brought to mind in that trial are from God and distinct from their own thoughts, instructing and guiding them and carrying life and power with ability to speak even amid strong opposition. God gives grace and, through His Spirit, the words needed in the moment, so that false claims rulers have heard can be answered and the true character of the faith revealed. Help from heaven sustains them in the good fight of faith as they bear testimony against rulers and Gentiles because they served him. Their miraculous release from prison did not spare them examination and punishment for preaching him and suffering for his sake, but assured them of God's care and presence as they testified of Jesus. The Lord will be with His representatives as long as they will be with Him, which those appointed to carry the last warning message to the lowest and the highest must carefully consider, since profession alone saves no one without continuing firm in confidence unto the end under the sanctification of the Spirit.
Fulfilled Through History
The apostles fulfilled the verse when brought before councils and kings to witness to Jesus from what they had seen and heard, because they preached him and must suffer for his sake. Their miraculous release from prison did not spare them examination and punishment, but assured them of God's care and presence as they testified. Their work was not finished when beaten and ordered to stop preaching, for they continued proclaiming Jesus and counted suffering for his name cause for praise.
Stephen was the first to win the martyr's crown after believers were put out of the synagogue, imprisoned and put to death for believing Jesus is the Anointed One. Jerome's appearance before his judges fulfilled the promise that the Spirit of the Father speaks through followers brought before governors and kings for Christ's sake without taking thought beforehand how or what to speak. He kneeled and prayed that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so he would speak nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master, and his trial served as testimony to those who judged him. Though shut a whole year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, in great physical suffering and mental anxiety, his defense was given in the hour with such clearness and power as if from undisturbed study, exciting astonishment and admiration even in his enemies.
Luther's appearance before the emperor, the assembled princes and the imperial council to answer for his faith illustrates the promise that loyalty to Christ brings followers before rulers for opportunity to bear witness. Christ's words strengthened and encouraged him in that hour of trial, when the Father's Spirit would give what to say. Early believers condemned by church authorities, publicly slandered and imprisoned for teaching truth conflicting with a worldly church are an early instance of this treatment for serving him. That experience is a small matter compared with more bitter persecution still to come.
The foretelling has been fulfilled in every indignity, reproach and cruelty Satan can instigate human hearts to devise against followers of Jesus. The same hatred that rejected Christ and the same satanic spirit worked in Dark Ages imprisonment, exile, burning, the Inquisition, the massacre of Saint Bartholomew and the fires of Smithfield. Even where government allows worship according to conscience, human nature remains opposed to Christ's principles and the world remains in opposition to Jesus. Their persecutors did not know God, and some were so deceived by Satan that destroying the disciples' lives was esteemed service to God and religion. Christ's peace does not prevent such division and danger but is a peace his followers can possess amid scorn, persecution and even death rather than the world's approval, remembering Jesus endured the same reproach and suffering.
Final Crisis Ahead
The verse reaches forward to those appointed to carry the last warning message, the third angel's message, standing as God's sentinels to people of the lowest class and also to the highest. In a coming crisis of fierce opposition and in the final storm of persecution, Sabbath-keepers and commandment-keepers will be brought before councils, courts and magistrates to answer for their faith because they serve Christ. That testimony before rulers and Gentiles will sometimes be given separately and alone, with every member of the church tested and placed where witness must be borne even amid efforts to oppress and malign.
In that trial every position of truth held will be severely criticized, and every believer will certainly be called before councils to face keen and critical minds. Merely agreeing with truth will not be enough, for each person individually must understand Bible truth more thoroughly through close examination as a Bible student in order to know what is truth. Standing in that trial will require intensity of zeal, piety and devotion.
Apostates who professed faith in the third message but were not sanctified through it will abandon their position, unite with the world, and become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. They will serve as Satan's most efficient agents to misrepresent and accuse Sabbath-keepers by false reports and insinuations and to stir up the rulers against them. Neglected opportunities to gain the experience needed to witness will then bring remorse. Preparation must be made now, because personal salvation as well as the destiny of other souls depends on that readiness, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to getting ready for the approaching crisis.
Prepared Faithful Witnesses
Those called to testify before courts, rulers, kings, magistrates and learned people must have more than a superficial knowledge of truth, for their appearance is a witness for God and for the truth requiring them to answer for their faith. Without a clear, deep understanding of Scripture they will be confused and unable to explain it plainly or give definite reasons for their faith and hope. Merely agreeing with truth is not enough, since every believer will certainly be called before councils and criticized by keen and critical minds, so each person individually must understand Bible truth more thoroughly through close examination as a Bible student in order to know what is truth. Readiness for that testimony requires diligent study of the Scriptures now, most critical examination of the positions held, and thorough and persevering searching of all the bearings and positions of truth with prayer and fasting. Faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God and not rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas, with Bible truth received as precious light appropriate for this time showing the perils right upon them.
Young and old must learn beforehand about the events leading up to the close of the world's history, since that knowledge concerns their eternal welfare and they are to explain the reasons for their faith from loyalty to God when brought before magistrates. Standing in that coming trial when every position of truth held will be severely criticized requires intensity of zeal, piety and devotion. Preparation for it must be made now, and personal salvation as well as the destiny of other souls depends on that preparation, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to getting ready for the approaching crisis. The charge belongs with being wise as serpents and harmless as doves, and with beware of hostile people. Believers must be wide-awake and ask the Lord earnestly for correct judgment, and be full of courage yet not presumptuous or bold in their own strength, finding relief by casting all their care upon Jesus.
In the time of the end those under this commission must have their life hid with Christ in God and take lack of wisdom to the Lord in prayer for Him to direct their paths. Believers must remain faithful while facing opposition, enduring hatred for His name to the end to be saved. Profession of faith saves no one unless he continues in the faith, holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end, and remains under the sanctification of the Spirit, since no confidence can be placed in men, even men in positions of trust, without it. They must speak carefully and without retaliation, since careless or impulsive words may be repeated and used by their enemies to their disadvantage. Their words and actions may be used by enemies against their witness, so the reason for the hope in them is to be given with meekness and fear.
Meekness under suffering contrasts with the conduct of opposers and thereby presents Christ to rulers and people. When persecuted in one city they are to flee into another, because God is not pleased to have lives imperiled when there are ways to be saved so the message can continue to be borne in other places. Christ Himself left cities where He was working to go where He would not be recognized. Where He has sent them for a purpose amid open conflict with opposing religious leaders, false public history, hired halls and flaming notices denouncing them, and ministers watching meetings and taking names, while hearers judge only by who talks well, they must seek to please the Lord and do their whole duty and decide whether to take no notice or to remain and meet the conflict rather than shun it. The disciple is not above his master nor servant above his lord, and if the master was called Beelzebub so will his household be, so they are not to fear but to speak in light what they are told in darkness and preach upon the housetops what they hear.
They were to expect scorn, persecution, and even death rather than the world's approval, and to remember that Jesus had endured the same reproach and suffering before them.
Jesus spoke this when sending out the first evangelists to work in his name as he worked, warning them beforehand that as sheep among wolves they would be delivered to councils, scourged, hated, imprisoned and put to death.
Being brought before governors and kings is for his sake, because of loyalty and faith to him, and it is both a testimony against those rulers and persecutors and a witness to them and to the Gentiles, bringing the gospel to those who might not otherwise hear it.
When delivered up they are to take no thought beforehand what to speak, for in that same hour the Spirit of the Father will speak in them, giving words of wisdom, power and grace distinct from their own thoughts.
This has been fulfilled through history in the apostles before councils and kings, in Stephen as the first martyr, in Jerome praying for the Spirit to control his words before his judges, in Luther before the emperor and princes, and in every indignity and cruelty from the Dark Ages to the Inquisition and beyond.
It applies still to those appointed to carry the last message of warning, when Sabbath-keepers will be brought before councils and courts to answer for their faith amid apostasy and bitter opposition, so they must now gain a deep, reasoned knowledge of Scripture through diligent study, prayer and faithful endurance to the end.
Sending and Opposition
Jesus spoke these words when sending out the first evangelists on their missionary tour to work in his name as he worked, including healing the sick. They were sent as sheep in the midst of wolves and told to beware of men, for they would be delivered up to councils and scourged in synagogues. Brother would deliver up brother to death and father the child, children would rise against parents and cause them to be put to death, and they would be hated of all men for his name's sake, even to imprisonment and death. He warned them of these persecutions beforehand.
Being brought before governors and kings is for his sake, because of loyalty to him and service and faith in him. They were to expect scorn, persecution and even death rather than the world's approval, remembering that he had endured the same reproach and suffering before them. Their persecutors did not know God, and some were so deceived that destroying their lives was esteemed service to God and religion. He spoke with full knowledge of the future as his ministry of love was closing and the soul-agony of Gethsemane and the cross was before him, knowing he was about to be separated from them and leave them as sheep amid wolves ready to tear and devour them. He did not deceive them with false hope but warned them of opposition so they could count its cost, not considering his own suffering and human and divine agony but telling them to let not their hearts be troubled and to believe.
The sending brings open conflict with opposing religious leaders because truth taught conflicts with the teachings of a worldly church. This can include being condemned by church authorities, publicly slandered and denounced, and imprisoned. Falsehood is gathered and hired halls and flaming notices are used to give a false history and denounce believers in public, while ministers watch meetings and take the names of church members who attend in order to deal with them. The people hearing both sides cannot tell what is piped or what is harped and judge only by who talks well, and where he has sent them for a purpose believers must seek to please the Lord and do their whole duty, deciding whether to take no notice or to remain and meet the conflict rather than shun it. Such early instances of this treatment are a small matter compared with the more bitter persecution still to come.
Testimony Against and To
Being brought before governors and kings, rulers and authorities and the Gentiles happens for his sake, because of loyalty, service and faith to him. That appearance is for a testimony against them, testifying against those rulers and persecutors and the Gentiles. The same standing is also a witness to them, bearing witness to rulers, Gentiles, judges and opposers as the gospel is proclaimed and the truth is defended. This includes the witness of the first evangelists sent in his name, the witness of disciples tried because they were his, and the testing of church members placed where they must bear witness to truth amid fierce opposition and efforts to oppress and malign them. The warning belongs with the charge to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves and to beware of hostile people, as cautions to be observed, calling for faithfulness while recognizing that words and actions may be repeated and used by enemies against the witness. It is given so the cost can be counted, with assurance that help from heaven sustains in the good fight of faith.
These trials become occasions to bring the gospel to people who might not otherwise hear it. Rulers have heard false claims about the faith, so testimony under examination answers those claims and reveals its true character. Grace is given for the hour, and through the Spirit the needed words are supplied in the moment. Meekness under suffering contrasts with the conduct of opposers, and by that contrast Christ is presented to rulers and people.
Suffering accompanies this witness, and disciples are to remember that Jesus endured reproach and suffering before them. As eyewitnesses who had seen his works and heard his teaching they bear evidence about him, testifying to what they had seen and heard when brought before kings and rulers. Their work was not finished when they were beaten and ordered to stop preaching, but they continued proclaiming Jesus and counted suffering for his name cause for praise. Their recorded testimony was to be studied through the ages.
Spirit Speaks in Trial
When they are handed over to councils and brought before governors and kings for his sake, they are to take no anxious thought beforehand how or what to speak, for it is not they that speak but the Spirit of the Father speaking in them, giving them in that same hour what they shall say. The Holy Spirit supplies what to say at the moment of being delivered up, so that testimony before rulers and Gentiles is borne amid persecution for serving him and keeping his commandments. This promise given to the first disciples was fulfilled to Jerome before his judges when he kneeled and prayed that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so he would speak nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master. Though he had been shut a whole year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, in great physical suffering and mental anxiety, his defense was given him in the hour with such clearness and power as if from undisturbed study, to the astonishment and admiration even of his enemies. The same promise strengthened Luther as he faced the emperor and the assembled princes and council to answer for his faith.
The wisdom and words brought to mind in that trial are from God and distinct from their own thoughts, instructing and guiding them and carrying life and power with ability to speak even amid strong opposition. God gives grace and, through His Spirit, the words needed in the moment, so that false claims rulers have heard can be answered and the true character of the faith revealed. Help from heaven sustains them in the good fight of faith as they bear testimony against rulers and Gentiles because they served him. Their miraculous release from prison did not spare them examination and punishment for preaching him and suffering for his sake, but assured them of God's care and presence as they testified of Jesus. The Lord will be with His representatives as long as they will be with Him, which those appointed to carry the last warning message to the lowest and the highest must carefully consider, since profession alone saves no one without continuing firm in confidence unto the end under the sanctification of the Spirit.
Fulfilled Through History
The apostles fulfilled the verse when brought before councils and kings to witness to Jesus from what they had seen and heard, because they preached him and must suffer for his sake. Their miraculous release from prison did not spare them examination and punishment, but assured them of God's care and presence as they testified. Their work was not finished when beaten and ordered to stop preaching, for they continued proclaiming Jesus and counted suffering for his name cause for praise.
Stephen was the first to win the martyr's crown after believers were put out of the synagogue, imprisoned and put to death for believing Jesus is the Anointed One. Jerome's appearance before his judges fulfilled the promise that the Spirit of the Father speaks through followers brought before governors and kings for Christ's sake without taking thought beforehand how or what to speak. He kneeled and prayed that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so he would speak nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master, and his trial served as testimony to those who judged him. Though shut a whole year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, in great physical suffering and mental anxiety, his defense was given in the hour with such clearness and power as if from undisturbed study, exciting astonishment and admiration even in his enemies.
Luther's appearance before the emperor, the assembled princes and the imperial council to answer for his faith illustrates the promise that loyalty to Christ brings followers before rulers for opportunity to bear witness. Christ's words strengthened and encouraged him in that hour of trial, when the Father's Spirit would give what to say. Early believers condemned by church authorities, publicly slandered and imprisoned for teaching truth conflicting with a worldly church are an early instance of this treatment for serving him. That experience is a small matter compared with more bitter persecution still to come.
The foretelling has been fulfilled in every indignity, reproach and cruelty Satan can instigate human hearts to devise against followers of Jesus. The same hatred that rejected Christ and the same satanic spirit worked in Dark Ages imprisonment, exile, burning, the Inquisition, the massacre of Saint Bartholomew and the fires of Smithfield. Even where government allows worship according to conscience, human nature remains opposed to Christ's principles and the world remains in opposition to Jesus. Their persecutors did not know God, and some were so deceived by Satan that destroying the disciples' lives was esteemed service to God and religion. Christ's peace does not prevent such division and danger but is a peace his followers can possess amid scorn, persecution and even death rather than the world's approval, remembering Jesus endured the same reproach and suffering.
Final Crisis Ahead
The verse reaches forward to those appointed to carry the last warning message, the third angel's message, standing as God's sentinels to people of the lowest class and also to the highest. In a coming crisis of fierce opposition and in the final storm of persecution, Sabbath-keepers and commandment-keepers will be brought before councils, courts and magistrates to answer for their faith because they serve Christ. That testimony before rulers and Gentiles will sometimes be given separately and alone, with every member of the church tested and placed where witness must be borne even amid efforts to oppress and malign.
In that trial every position of truth held will be severely criticized, and every believer will certainly be called before councils to face keen and critical minds. Merely agreeing with truth will not be enough, for each person individually must understand Bible truth more thoroughly through close examination as a Bible student in order to know what is truth. Standing in that trial will require intensity of zeal, piety and devotion.
Apostates who professed faith in the third message but were not sanctified through it will abandon their position, unite with the world, and become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. They will serve as Satan's most efficient agents to misrepresent and accuse Sabbath-keepers by false reports and insinuations and to stir up the rulers against them. Neglected opportunities to gain the experience needed to witness will then bring remorse. Preparation must be made now, because personal salvation as well as the destiny of other souls depends on that readiness, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to getting ready for the approaching crisis.
Prepared Faithful Witnesses
Those called to testify before courts, rulers, kings, magistrates and learned people must have more than a superficial knowledge of truth, for their appearance is a witness for God and for the truth requiring them to answer for their faith. Without a clear, deep understanding of Scripture they will be confused and unable to explain it plainly or give definite reasons for their faith and hope. Merely agreeing with truth is not enough, since every believer will certainly be called before councils and criticized by keen and critical minds, so each person individually must understand Bible truth more thoroughly through close examination as a Bible student in order to know what is truth. Readiness for that testimony requires diligent study of the Scriptures now, most critical examination of the positions held, and thorough and persevering searching of all the bearings and positions of truth with prayer and fasting. Faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God and not rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas, with Bible truth received as precious light appropriate for this time showing the perils right upon them.
Young and old must learn beforehand about the events leading up to the close of the world's history, since that knowledge concerns their eternal welfare and they are to explain the reasons for their faith from loyalty to God when brought before magistrates. Standing in that coming trial when every position of truth held will be severely criticized requires intensity of zeal, piety and devotion. Preparation for it must be made now, and personal salvation as well as the destiny of other souls depends on that preparation, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to getting ready for the approaching crisis. The charge belongs with being wise as serpents and harmless as doves, and with beware of hostile people. Believers must be wide-awake and ask the Lord earnestly for correct judgment, and be full of courage yet not presumptuous or bold in their own strength, finding relief by casting all their care upon Jesus.
In the time of the end those under this commission must have their life hid with Christ in God and take lack of wisdom to the Lord in prayer for Him to direct their paths. Believers must remain faithful while facing opposition, enduring hatred for His name to the end to be saved. Profession of faith saves no one unless he continues in the faith, holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end, and remains under the sanctification of the Spirit, since no confidence can be placed in men, even men in positions of trust, without it. They must speak carefully and without retaliation, since careless or impulsive words may be repeated and used by their enemies to their disadvantage. Their words and actions may be used by enemies against their witness, so the reason for the hope in them is to be given with meekness and fear.
Meekness under suffering contrasts with the conduct of opposers and thereby presents Christ to rulers and people. When persecuted in one city they are to flee into another, because God is not pleased to have lives imperiled when there are ways to be saved so the message can continue to be borne in other places. Christ Himself left cities where He was working to go where He would not be recognized. Where He has sent them for a purpose amid open conflict with opposing religious leaders, false public history, hired halls and flaming notices denouncing them, and ministers watching meetings and taking names, while hearers judge only by who talks well, they must seek to please the Lord and do their whole duty and decide whether to take no notice or to remain and meet the conflict rather than shun it. The disciple is not above his master nor servant above his lord, and if the master was called Beelzebub so will his household be, so they are not to fear but to speak in light what they are told in darkness and preach upon the housetops what they hear.
They were to expect scorn, persecution, and even death rather than the world's approval, and to remember that Jesus had endured the same reproach and suffering before them.