Luke 11:49

Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to the scribes and Pharisees during a confrontation about their hypocrisy, directly following His statement that they build tombs for the prophets their ancestors killed. He delivers this declaration at a moment of judicial warning regarding their complicity in the ongoing rejection of divine messengers.

The words — The Greek διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto) literally means "because of this," functioning as a causal bridge to the preceding indictment. The text explicitly names Wisdom of God as the speaker, asserting the divine initiative to send prophets and apostles who will face killing and persecution.

The thread — The verse directly links to the historical pattern of prophetic bloodshed in Luke 11:48–50 and anticipates the New Testament distribution of apostles and prophets (Ephesians 4:11). It also aligns with passages identifying Christ as the embodiment of divine wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3).

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that rejecting Christ's messengers places them in direct continuity with the lineage that murdered the prophets. It demands a clear-eyed evaluation of one's actual response to divine revelation rather than reliance on outward religious gestures.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Matthew 23:34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
Acts 22:20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Proverbs 1:2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,