But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Jesus is speaking to his twelve disciples — his closest followers — as he sends them out to preach throughout Israel. He warns them they will face hostility and even persecution, and rather than standing firm to the point of death, they should simply move to the next town. The final phrase — 'before the Son of Man comes' — is one of the most debated lines in the Gospels. 'Son of Man' is a title Jesus used for himself, drawn from the ancient prophet Daniel. Some scholars believe Jesus was referring to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD or his own resurrection; others see it as pointing to his eventual return. Either way, the verse carries a sense of urgency: the mission is enormous, time is short, and there's no need to exhaust yourself fighting every battle.
Lord, give me the wisdom to know the difference between courage and stubbornness — between standing firm and holding on too long. Help me trust that when one door closes, you are already in the next city. Remind me the mission is yours, not mine to force open. Amen.
There's something almost counter-intuitive here. We tend to honor those who stand their ground against persecution — the ones who don't flinch, who hold the line no matter what. But Jesus says: run. Not from cowardice, not because the cause isn't worth it, but for the sake of the mission. The gospel has too much ground to cover to spend all its energy beating against a single locked door. Faithfulness, Jesus seems to say, isn't always about staying. What might this mean for you? Maybe it's permission — real, biblical permission — to stop pouring yourself into a relationship, a conversation, or an opportunity that simply will not open. Not every hostility is yours to overcome. Not every room is yours to win. Sometimes wisdom looks like knowing when to walk to the next city. Where in your life might Jesus be quietly saying, 'There are more cities. Keep going'?
What do you think Jesus meant by 'the Son of Man comes' — and why does that sense of urgency shape his advice to flee rather than endure?
Have you ever felt pressure to stay in a difficult situation when moving on might have actually been the wiser, more faithful choice? What made it hard to leave?
Is there a tension between Jesus's command to flee persecution here and his call elsewhere to take up our cross and follow him? How do you hold both of those ideas at once?
How might this verse shape the way you support someone who is being mistreated — would you encourage them to endure or to move on, and what would guide that advice?
Is there a situation in your life right now where you may be confusing stubbornness with faithfulness? What would it look like, practically, to move to 'the next city'?
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Matthew 16:28
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Matthew 2:13
He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
John 4:3
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:18
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:10
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
John 7:1
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:1
"When they persecute you in one city [because of your faith in Me], flee to the next; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
AMP
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
ESV
'But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish [going through] the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
NASB
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
NIV
When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
NKJV
When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
NLT
It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
MSG