Matthew 10:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues;
American King James Version (AKJV)
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues;
American Standard Version (ASV)
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
But be on the watch against men: for they will give you up to the Sanhedrins, and in their Synagogues they will give you blows;
Webster's Revision
But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.
World English Bible
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
English Revised Version (ERV)
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you;
Definitions for Matthew 10:17
Clarke's Matthew 10:17 Bible Commentary
But beware of men - Or, be on your guard against men, των ανθρωπων These men; i.e. your countrymen; those from whom you might have reasonably expected comfort and support; and especially those in power, who will abuse that power to oppress you.
Councils - Συνεδρια, sanhedrins and synagogues. See on Matthew 5:22 (note). "By synagogues we may understand here, not the places of public worship, but assemblies where three magistrates, chosen out of the principal members of the synagogue, presided to adjust differences among the people: these had power, in certain cases, to condemn to the scourge, but not to death. See Acts 22:19; 2 Corinthians 11:24, compared with Luke 12:11." See Lightfoot.
Barnes's Matthew 10:17 Bible Commentary
But beware of men - That is, be on your guard against people who are like wolves, Matthew 10:16. Do not run unnecessarily into danger. Use suitable prudence and caution, and do not needlessly endanger your lives.
Councils - The word used here commonly signifies the great council of the nation, the Sanhedrin. See the notes at Matthew 5:22. Here it seems to refer to any judicial tribunal, of which there were some in every village.
They will scourge you in their synagogues - Scourging, or "whipping," is often mentioned in the New Testament as a mode of punishment. The law of Moses directed that the number of stripes should not exceed 40, but might be any number less, at the discretion of the judge, Deuteronomy 25:2-3. The person who was sentenced to scourging was formerly laid upon the ground, and the blows inflicted on his back in the presence of the judge. In later times the criminal was tied to a low post. Scourging is still practiced in the East, but the blows are commonly inflicted on the soles of the feet. It is called the "bastinado."
The instrument formerly used was a "rod." Afterward they employed thongs or lashes attached to the rod. To make the blows severe and more painful, they sometimes fastened sharp points of iron or pieces of lead in the thongs. These were called "scorpions," 1 Kings 12:11. The law was express that the number of stripes should not exceed forty. The Jews, to secure greater accuracy in counting, used a scourge with three lashes, which inflicted three stripes at once. With this the criminal was struck thirteen times, making the number of blows thirty-nine. Paul was five times scourged in this way. See 2 Corinthians 11:24.
The Romans did not feel themselves bound by the law of the Jews in regard to the "number" of stripes, but inflicted them at pleasure. Thus our Saviour was scourged until he was so weak as not to be able to bear his cross. This was often done in the synagogue. See Matthew 23:34; Acts 22:19; Acts 26:11.
Wesley's Matthew 10:17 Bible Commentary
10:17 But think not that all your innocence and all your wisdom will screen you from persecution. They will scourge you in their synagogues - In these the Jews held their courts of judicature, about both civil and ecclesiastical affairs. Matt 24:9.