Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
There is a phrase in British cop shows that says, “Mind how you go”. When a British cop says this, it is a warning. Jesus told his followers to beware, but not to fear man. Psalm 27 assures us that,
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
He warned them to be aware, not be in fear. He promised them that the Holy Spirit would help them speak in their defense so they would not fear. Note he says when, not if, they deliver you over.
There are two wrong ways to interpret this passage. One is to avoid evangelism to stay out of trouble. The other, and I have heard this, is from preachers who say they will be given the words to say when they get behind the pulpit and so they don’t need to study the text. Careful study of this text will reveal the error of that thinking. This is a specific circumstance in persecution. May all of us preach the word in season and out of season, no matter the danger. May we be assured that we will not stand alone on trial. We have an advocate. The Bible tells me so.
Dear Lord, thank you for the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit. May we fear no man today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church