Luke 12:11

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) And when they bring you unto the synagogues.—See Note on Matthew 10:18-19. What had been a special promise to the Twelve is now extended to all whom the Lord calls His friends. Note, as characteristic of St. Luke’s phraseology, the combination “magistrates” (better, principalities, or authorities) and “powers,” the same combination of the two words meeting us again in Luke 20:20, and 1Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:15; Titus 3:1. It would seem to be one of the many phrases which had passed from the Evangelist to the Apostle, or conversely.

Benson Commentary

Luke 12:11-12. When they bring you unto the synagogues — Let me add, however others may be affected by this testimony of the Spirit, one happy effect of its operation shall be to furnish you, my apostles, for a proper and honourable discharge of your office in its most difficult parts: and therefore when, in the opposition you shall meet with from your persecutors, they shall bring you into the synagogues, to be tried in the judicial courts assembled there; And unto magistrates and powers — Before greater magistrates and supreme powers, whether Jewish or heathen; — Take ye no thought how ye shall answer — Be not solicitous about the matter or manner of your defence, nor how to express yourselves. Though they may have not only your liberty but your lives in their hands, yet be not anxious what apology you shall make for yourselves, or what you shall advance in defence of the gospel you preach. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you — For in these seasons of the greatest difficulty and extremity, the Spirit of God shall suggest to your minds the answers you ought to give to the most captious inquiries, and most invidious charges of your enemies. Proper thoughts and expressions shall flow in upon you as fast as you can utter them, so that with undaunted courage you shall be able to vindicate the honour of the gospel, and to confound the most artful or most potent of your adversaries. See on Matthew 10:19-20; Mark 13:11.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-12 A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favour. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmity that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 10:17-20.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Son of man … Holy Ghost—(See on [1648]Mt 12:31, 32).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they bring you unto the synagogues,.... Of the Jews, to be examined and scourged by the rulers of them:

and unto magistrates and powers; Heathen ones; the Persic version reads, "princes and kings"; and the Ethiopic version, "princes, kings, and judges"; see Matthew 10:18

Take ye no thought how, or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; be not anxiously concerned, neither about the manner, nor the matter of your answer, apology, and defence: in the first part of this clause, the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, only read, "how"; and the Arabic version only, "what"; See Gill on Matthew 10:19.

Geneva Study Bible

{4} And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

(4) It is a great and difficult conflict to confess the truth, yet God who can do all things and is almighty will provide strength to the weakest who struggle greatly and do battle in God's appointed time.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 12:11-12. But when they bring you—following out this denial of me and blasphemy against the Spirit—to the synagogues, etc.

πῶς ἢ τί] Care not about the kind and manner, or the substance of your defence. See also on Matthew 10:19; Mark 13:11. On ἀπολογ. τί, comp. Xen. Mem. iv. 8. 4; Dem. 227. 13; Plat. Gorg. p. 521 A, Phaed. p. 69 D, Polit. 4, p. 420 B; Acts 24:10.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 12:11. τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας: a general reference to heathen tribunals in place of Mt.’s συνέδρια (Luke 10:17). “Synagogues,” representing Jewish tribunals, retained.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers] The ‘synagogues’ were the small Jewish tribunals of synagogue officials in every town, which had the power of inflicting scourging for minor religious offences. ‘Magistrates’ and ‘powers’ would be the superior authorities Jewish or Gentile.

take ye no thought] Rather, be not anxiously careful.

how or what thing] i.e. about either the manner and line, or the phraseology of your defence.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 12:11. Ἢ τί εἴπητε, or what ye shall say) Even independent of the absolute need there is of a defence [τί ἀπολογήσησθε; independent of the defence in answer to the charge, which you must necessarily make].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer. The Master comes back again to his old calm, and continues his loving instructions to his disciples; and turning again to the little group of his friends, he says. to them." When they bring you before hostile tribunals, special help, you will find, will be given you. Have no fear, then, that you will be wanting in wisdom or courage; the Holy Spirit of God will be your Advocate, and will whisper to you words for your defense." The best example of this supernatural aid to the accused followers of Jesus which we possess is the grave and stately apology of Stephen before the Sanhedrin. Peter's speech before the same tribunal, and Paul's before Felix and Festus, are also fair instances. Luke 12:11

Vincent's Word Studies

Answer (ἀπολογήσησθε)

See on 1 Peter 3:15.