Matthew 10:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They will be brought before governors and kings for Christ's sake, as a testimony to them and to the nations.
What Does Matthew 10:18 Mean?
The warning widens from local councils to the highest powers. Jesus tells the disciples they will stand before governors and kings, and he names the reason: for my sake. Their suffering will not be random misfortune but the cost of bearing his name, and it will become a testimony before rulers and nations.
What looks like defeat is turned to witness. Dragged before the powerful, the disciples will find the very courtroom becoming a pulpit. God so orders persecution that it carries the gospel into places it might never otherwise reach. The believer's trial, endured for Christ, is never wasted; it speaks to those who judge and to a watching world.
Matthew 10:18 in the Original Language
marturion (μαρτύριον), 'testimony' -- evidence given, a witness borne before others to the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 10:18
What does Matthew 10:18 mean?
They will be brought before governors and kings for Christ's sake, as a testimony to them and to the nations.