And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's not just about what you say, but also the anxiety you don't carry. Jesus isn't just telling them not to plan their defense; he's freeing them from the heavy burden of worry itself. This promise extends beyond mere words, offering profound peace in the face of overwhelming authority.
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching his disciples, having just warned them about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the importance of not fearing earthly persecution because God sees and cares for them. He's assuring them that even in the face of severe opposition, including trials before religious leaders and governing authorities, they will be divinely equipped for their defense. This instruction flows directly from the encouragement to trust God's providence and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance when facing difficult situations.
When facing accusations, your first instinct might be to defend yourself. But Jesus offers a different path.
Jesus tells His followers not to be anxious about their defense or what to say. This isn't a call to be unprepared or silent, but a profound instruction to rely on divine intervention. The Greek word for 'think' here carries a sense of anxious preoccupation. Jesus is saying, 'Don't worry yourselves sick over how you'll answer or what words you'll use.' He promises a specific kind of help for these moments.
Jesus lists specific places where His followers will be brought. Do these settings still hold weight today?
The mention of 'synagogues, rulers, and authorities' points to a specific context for the original listeners – facing religious and civil opposition within Jewish society and beyond. 'Synagogues' could refer to local Jewish councils that had limited judicial power. 'Rulers' and 'authorities' point to governmental figures, both Jewish and Gentile. This verse assures believers that even when confronting these powerful entities, divine assistance is available. The principle extends to any situation where believers face judgment or opposition from established powers.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
synagōgas · Greek Noun
A Jewish place of worship and community gathering, central to religious, social, and judicial life in the first century. They often served as the local centers where trials regarding religious offenses took place.
merimnēsēte · Greek Verb
The state of being troubled, worried, or uneasy in mind. In a biblical context, it often refers to a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty and provision when facing external pressures or persecution.
Jesus' words here were a direct reassurance to his followers who would face judgment from both Jewish religious councils and Roman authorities, a reality that quickly unfolded in the early church.
c. 70 BC - AD 30
Jewish Sanhedrin in Operation
The Great Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court, held judicial and legislative power over Jewish affairs. Local synagogues also had smaller tribunals capable of administering punishment.
Early 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
The Roman Empire exerted authority over Judea, with Roman governors and officials holding significant power, often interacting with or superseding local Jewish courts.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus preached and gathered disciples, foreseeing the persecution they would face from both Jewish religious authorities and Gentile governing powers.
c. AD 30-33
Arrest and Trial of Jesus
Jesus himself was brought before the Sanhedrin and later Roman authorities, experiencing firsthand the trials he predicted for his followers.
c. AD 33
The Stoning of Stephen
Stephen, a disciple, was brought before the Sanhedrin and powerfully defended his faith, with the Holy Spirit giving him the words to speak, before being martyred.
c. AD 40s-60s
Apostolic Preaching and Persecution
The apostles, including Peter and Paul, faced numerous trials in synagogues and before Roman authorities, often relying on divine guidance for their defenses.
This passage is a direct parallel, as Jesus gives his disciples the same instruction about not worrying about their defense when brought before authorities.
Mark 13:11This verse echoes the same promise that the Holy Spirit will provide the words needed when facing persecution, reinforcing the divine enablement promised in Luke.
1 Peter 3:15Peter calls believers to 'always be prepared to give an answer' but this passage in Luke assures them that the content of that answer will be divinely provided, not anxiously planned.
Acts 4:8This demonstrates the promise in action, as Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, directly addresses the very authorities mentioned in Luke's warning and speaks boldly.
Acts 6:10Stephen is described as speaking with wisdom and spirit that his opponents could not withstand, showing how God equips those brought before councils and authorities.
barnesLuke 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:"
See the notes at Matthew 10:17-20 .
vincentLuke 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:"
Answer (ἀπολογήσησθε)See on 1 Peter 3:15.
It's not just about what you say, but also the anxiety you don't carry. Jesus isn't just telling them not to plan their defense; he's freeing them from the heavy burden of worry itself. This promise extends beyond mere words, offering profound peace in the face of overwhelming authority.
Jesus is teaching his disciples, having just warned them about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the importance of not fearing earthly persecution because God sees and cares for them. He's assuring them that even in the face of severe opposition, including trials before religious leaders and governing authorities, they will be divinely equipped for their defense. This instruction flows directly from the encouragement to trust God's providence and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance when facing difficult situations.
Jesus is teaching his disciples, having just warned them about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the importance of not fearing earthly persecution because God sees and cares for them. He's assuring them that even in the face of severe opposition, including trials before religious leaders and governing authorities, they will be divinely equipped for their defense. This instruction flows directly from the encouragement to trust God's providence and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance when facing difficult situations.
"And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say," — It's not just about what you say, but also the anxiety you don't carry. Jesus isn't just telling them not to plan their defense; he's freeing them from the heavy burden of worry itself. This prom…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026