Mark 13:11

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) It is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.—In the parallel passage of Matthew 10:20 we have, “the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” In Luke 21:15, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom.” St. Mark’s use of the more definite term reminds us of Mark 12:36 (where see Note), and may, probably, be connected with St. Peter’s habitual language. (Comp. Acts 2:33-38; Acts 8:15; Acts 10:47; 2Peter 1:21.)

Benson Commentary

Mark 13:11. Take no thought what ye shall speak — Be not solicitous beforehand what ye shall say in your defence, to vindicate yourselves and your religion from the unrighteous charges and aspersions of your enemies. But whatsoever shall be given you — And strongly suggested to your minds; in that hour, that speak ye — Boldly and resolutely; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost — Who shall assuredly direct, and even dictate to you what you shall say at such times. For, as it is really my cause in which you are engaged, therefore, though you are ignorant and unlearned men, and so may be apprehensive you shall be confounded in the presence of persons who are, in rank and education, so much your superiors; yet depend upon it, I will give you such wisdom and eloquence, that your persecutors shall be even astonished at the freedom and propriety with which you shall express yourselves, according to the various occasions which arise. See notes on Matthew 10:19; Luke 21:14-18.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:5-13 Our Lord Jesus, in reply to the disciples' question, does not so much satisfy their curiosity as direct their consciences. When many are deceived, we should thereby be awakened to look to ourselves. And the disciples of Christ, if it be not their own fault, may enjoy holy security and peace of mind, when all around is in disorder. But they must take heed that they are not drawn away from Christ and their duty to him, by the sufferings they will meet with for his sake. They shall be hated of all men: trouble enough! Yet the work they were called to should be carried on and prosper. Though they may be crushed and borne down, the gospel cannot be. The salvation promised is more than deliverance from evil, it is everlasting blessedness.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Neither do ye premeditate - Do not think beforehand, or "prepare" an answer. You know not what the accusations will be, and God will furnish you with a reply that shall be adapted to the occasion.

Not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit - This is a full promise that they should be inspired, and consequently their defenses recorded in the Acts of the Apostles are the words of the Holy Spirit. There could be no more explicit promise that they should be under an infallible guidance, and we are not left to doubt that they were taught of God. At the same time, this was a most desirable and gracious aid. They were illiterate, unknown, without power. They were unfit of themselves to make the important statements of religion which were requisite, but God gave them power, and they spake with a wisdom, fearlessness, pungency, and ability which no other men have ever manifested - full proof that these illiterate fishermen were under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand—"Be not anxious beforehand."

what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate—"Be not filled with apprehension, in the prospect of such public appearances for Me, lest ye should bring discredit upon My name, nor think it necessary to prepare beforehand what ye are to say."

but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost—(See on [1491]Mt 10:19, 20.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Matthew 10:19". See Poole on "Matthew 10:20". By

take no thought, he means, take no anxious thoughts to disquiet yourselves.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up,.... Lead to councils and courts of judicature, and deliver up to kings and rulers, to the civil magistrate, to be punished by the secular arm:

take no thought before hand; be not previously anxious, and carefully solicitous, in a distressing way:

what ye shall speak: to kings and rulers, by way of apology for yourselves, and your own innocence, and in defence of the Gospel:

neither do ye premeditate; or "meditate", as the generality of copies read: Beza says in one copy it is read, "premeditate": and so in one of Stephens's, as we render it: this clause is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions:

but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour; whatever shall be immediately suggested to your thoughts, be put into your minds, and laid upon your hearts:

that speak ye; freely and boldly without the fear of men:

for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost: not but that they did speak, but they were not the principal authors, either of the matter they spoke, or of the words and language in which they spoke; they were only the instruments of the Holy Ghost; they spoke as they were moved by him: hence their wisdom and eloquence in their self-defence, were amazing, and their arguments strong and unanswerable; See Gill on Matthew 10:19, Matthew 10:20,

Geneva Study Bible

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, {b} take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither {c} do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

(b) We are not forbidden to think beforehand, but we are willed to beware of that pensive carefulness by which men discourage themselves, which proceeds from distrust and lack of confidence and sure hope of God's assistance. See Geneva Mt 6:27

(c) By any kind of made-up and cunning type of story to tell.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 13:11 gives counsel for Apostles placed at the bar of kings and rulers. They are not to be anxious beforehand (προμεριμνᾶτε, here only in N.T.) even as to what they shall say, not to speak of what shall happen to them as the result of the trial. Their apologia will be given to them. They will not be the real speakers (οὐ γάρ ἐστε ὑμεῖς οἱ λαλοῦντες), but the Holy Spirit. Lk. has “I” here: Christ = the Holy Ghost. This comforting word is wanting in Mt., and whether it was really spoken at this time must remain uncertain. Mt. describes with more detail the internal troubles of the Christian community—mutual treachery, false prophets (within, not without, like the false Messiahs of Mark 13:5), lawlessness, chilling of early enthusiasm—all implying the lapse of a considerable time, and all to happen before the end of Jerusalem. (Mark 13:10-12.) For all this Mk. gives only the brief statement in Mark 13:12.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. take no thought beforehand] Rather, be not anxious beforehand, or distracted beforehand with anxiety. “Nyle þe penke what ye schulen speke,” Wyclif. “Thought,” when our translation was made, signified undue care or anxiety. Thus Bishop Ridley in the Account of the Disputation at Oxford, 1544, says, “No person of any honesty, without thinking, could abide to hear the like spoken by a most vile varlet;” and Shakespeare, Jul, Cæs. ii. 1. 186, says,

“If he love Cæsar, all that he can do

Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar,”

and Hamlet iii. 1. 84,

“And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,”

and Ant. and Cleop. iii. 13. 1,

“Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno. Think, and die.”

See the Bible Word-Book, sub loc.; and Davies, Bible English, pp. 99, 100.

but whatsoever shall be given you] Comp. Matthew 10:19-20, where the words occur as a portion of our Lord’s charge to His Twelve Apostles. “These were very weighty words for the Roman Christians, at a time when the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul, in Rome, was about to take place.” Lange.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 13:11. Μηδὲ μελετᾶτε, neither do ye meditate) Not merely you have need of no anxiety, but not even of premeditation.—τοῦτο, this very thing) the whole of it, and without fear. [For it is with that aim it is supplied to you.—V. g.]

Mark 13:11

Vincent's Word Studies

They lead (ἄγωσιν)

Present subjunctive; better perhaps, may be leading. While you are going along in custody to the judgment-seat, do not be worrying about your defences.

Take no thought beforehand (μὴ προμεριμνᾶτε)

See on Matthew 6:25.