Luke 21:12-15

Before the calamities of the Tribulation, Jesus’ disciples would experience persecution from their enemies spoken of generally here as "they." Jesus proceeded to describe what His disciples could expect from the time He spoke until His return. He warned them about what to expect so they would not yield to persecution.

They would undergo examinations from hostile Jews in synagogues (cf. Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9), and they would experience confinement in prisons. Gentiles also would arrest them and bring them before kings and governors because of their allegiance to Jesus (cf. Matthew 10:18; Mark 13:9). Nevertheless these situations would provide opportunities for witness. The disciples should not fret about their verbal defense ahead of time but should rely on Jesus’ promise to provide them with the words (cf. Exodus 4:11; Exodus 4:15; Ezekiel 29:21) and the wisdom they would need then (cf. Luke 12:11-12; Matthew 10:19-20; Mark 13:11). This would come to them through the Holy Spirit’s ministry to them (Mark 13:11). They would discover that their witness would be very powerful. We have examples of this happening in the early church (e.g., Acts 4:14; Acts 6:10; Acts 8:3; Acts 12:4; Acts 21:11; Acts 22:4; Acts 27:1; Acts 28:17) and throughout church history. It will continue through the Tribulation.