Original Text
Βλέπετε δὲ ὑμεῖς ἑαυτούς. παραδώσουσι γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰς συνέδρια καὶ ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν δαρήσεσθε, καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνων καὶ βασιλέων σταθήσεσθε ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς.
Literal English Translation
But watch yourselves. For they will hand you over to councils, and in their synagogues you will be beaten, and before governors and kings you will stand because of me, as a testimony to them.
Imperative Alertness and Legal Threat
The present active imperative βλέπετε (“watch, be vigilant”) combined with the reflexive pronoun ἑαυτούς (“yourselves”) gives a strong warning: this is personal, not abstract. The explicit subject ὑμεῖς adds emphasis. In Classical Greek, this phrase would signal serious self-awareness in military or political contexts; in this Gospel context, it foreshadows suffering and calls for spiritual readiness.
Legal and Religious Opposition
- παραδώσουσι… εἰς συνέδρια – The future active verb παραδώσουσι (“they will hand over”) suggests betrayal and legal custody. συνέδριον was the formal term for a ruling council, equivalent to judicial bodies in Classical Athens (βουλή or Ἀρεοπαγίτης), but here specifically refers to Jewish leadership.
- ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν δαρήσεσθε – The future passive δαρήσεσθε (“you will be beaten”) adds a layer of physical persecution. The use of ἐν + dative places the violence within their religious institutions. In Classical usage, δέρω also implies public humiliation or punishment.
Before Power for a Higher Cause
καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνων καὶ βασιλέων σταθήσεσθε – The future passive σταθήσεσθε (from ἵστημι) means “you will be made to stand” — likely in a courtroom or tribunal. ἡγεμόνες (“governors”) and βασιλεῖς (“kings”) were the upper echelons of Roman and regional authority. In Classical drama and oratory, to stand before such figures indicated a moment of testing or defense. Here, it implies prophetic boldness.
ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς – This final clause is the purpose of all that precedes. ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ (“because of me”) indicates Christ as the cause of the opposition. εἰς μαρτύριον (“for a testimony”) transforms suffering into witness. μαρτύριον is both a legal term and the root of “martyr”—it bridges judicial procedure and sacred calling.
Breakdown Table
| Greek Phrase | Grammar | Sense | Contextual Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| βλέπετε ἑαυτούς | Imperative + reflexive | Watch yourselves | Urgency, responsibility |
| παραδώσουσιν… εἰς συνέδρια | Future active | Legal handing over | Prediction of official persecution |
| δαρήσεσθε | Future passive | Physical punishment | Religious hostility |
| σταθήσεσθε | Future passive | Standing trial | Divine placement before rulers |
| εἰς μαρτύριον | Purpose phrase | For witness | Ultimate reason behind persecution |
Final Thought
The grammar of this verse builds dramatic momentum: from personal vigilance to institutional betrayal, from synagogue flogging to royal courts—all “because of me.” Every clause points to testimony under pressure. The syntax is future-oriented, but the tone is timeless: disciples must be prepared to stand, speak, and suffer.
