Luke 21 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Looking around, Jesus watched rich people putting their gifts into the collection box.
1 He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
2 He also saw a very poor widow put in two small coins.
2 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the rest together.
3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,
4 All of them gave from their wealth what they had, but she gave from her poverty all she had to live on.”
4 for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
5 Some of those there were talking about the Temple, its fine stonework and the beautiful gifts that had been donated. But Jesus said,
5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,
6 “Regarding these things you're looking at… The time is coming when not one stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed!”
6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher, when will this happen?” they asked him. “What will be the sign that these things are about to happen?”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
8 “Make sure you're not deceived,” Jesus warned them. “Many people will come claiming to be me, saying, ‘Here I am!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ but don't follow them.
8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.
9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, don't be frightened, because these things have to happen first, but the end won't come immediately.
9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
10 Nation will fight nation, and kingdom will fight kingdom,” he told them.
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 “There will be severe earthquakes, famines, and epidemic diseases in many lands, and extraordinary signs in the sky that are terrifying.
11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will drag you before synagogues and throw you into prison, and put you on trial before kings and governors on account of me.
12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
13 But this will provide you an opportunity to speak on my behalf before them.
13 It will turn out as a testimony for you.
14 So make up your mind beforehand not to worry about how to defend yourselves,
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
15 for I will give you words of wisdom that your enemies won't be able to dispute or contradict.
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
16 You will be betrayed even by your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will kill some of you.
16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.
17 Everyone will hate you because of me.
17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.
18 But not a single hair of your head will be lost.
18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By standing firm you will gain your lives.
19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.
20 However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its destruction is near.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.
21 Those who are in Judea should run away to the mountains, and those who are in Jerusalem should leave, and those who are the countryside shouldn't enter the city.
21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.
22 For these are days of punishment, fulfilling all that's written.
22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 How hard it will be for those who are pregnant or nursing babies at that time! For terrible trouble is coming on the land and punishment against this people.
23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath to this people.
24 They will be killed by the sword and taken away as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trodden down by the foreign nations until their time is fulfilled.
24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth the nations will be in distress, confused by the sea's rolling and crashing.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;
26 People will be faint from fear, terrified about what is happening to the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
26 men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 Then they'll see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 But when these things happen, stand up and look up, because you will soon be saved.”
28 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
29 Then he told them this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree, or any other kind of tree.
29 He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees.
30 When you see new leaves appear, you don't need to be told that summer is near.
30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you don't need to be told that God's kingdom is near.
31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.
32 I tell you the truth, this generation won't come to an end before all this happens.
32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
33 Heaven and earth will come to an end, but my word will not.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
34 Watch out that you don't become distracted by partying or getting drunk or by the worries of this life, so that this day catches you by surprise.
34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
35 For this day will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
36 Always keep watch and pray, so that you may be able to escape all that will happen and stand before the Son of man.”
36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Every day Jesus taught in the Temple, and every evening he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.
37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
38 All the people came early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.
38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 12:41–44; John 8:20; 2 Chronicles 36:18; Matthew 27:6; Nehemiah 13:13
- 2 Mark 12:42
- 3 2 Corinthians 8:12; Acts 10:34; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3; Exodus 35:21–29; Mark 12:43–44
- 4 Acts 2:44–45; Luke 15:12; Acts 4:34; Luke 8:43
- 5 Matthew 24:1–51; Mark 13:1–37; John 2:20
- 6 Mark 13:2; Matthew 24:2; Zechariah 14:2; Lamentations 5:18; Acts 6:13–14
- 7 Mark 13:3–4; Mark 13:14; Acts 1:6–7; Luke 21:27–28; Luke 21:20–21
- 8 1 John 4:1; Mark 13:5–6; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Matthew 24:11
- 9 Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:6–8; Mark 13:7–8; Isaiah 51:12–13; Luke 21:18–19
- 10 Acts 2:19–20; Mark 13:8; Hebrews 12:27; Zechariah 14:13; Zechariah 14:2–3
- 11 Matthew 24:29–30; Luke 21:25–27
- 12 1 Peter 4:12–14; Acts 9:4; John 16:2–3; Acts 26:2–11; Acts 25:1–2
- 13 Philippians 1:28; Philippians 1:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4
- 14 Luke 12:11–12; Mark 13:11; Matthew 10:19–20
- 15 Jeremiah 1:9; Ephesians 6:19; Luke 12:12; Acts 6:10; Exodus 4:11–12
- 16 Luke 12:53; Revelation 6:9; Matthew 10:21; Jeremiah 9:4; Micah 7:5–6
- 17 John 15:19; Luke 6:22; 2 Corinthians 12:10; John 15:21; Matthew 24:9
- 18 Matthew 10:30; 1 Samuel 14:45; Acts 27:34; Luke 12:7; 2 Samuel 14:11
- 19 Hebrews 10:36; Matthew 10:22; James 1:3; Romans 5:3; Revelation 3:10
- 20 Luke 19:43; Daniel 9:27; Mark 13:14; Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:7
- 21 Jeremiah 6:1; Mark 13:15; Proverbs 22:3; Exodus 9:20–21; Luke 17:31–33
- 22 Hosea 9:7; Isaiah 65:12–16; 2 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 34:8; Isaiah 63:4
- 23 Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17; Luke 23:29; Lamentations 4:10; Deuteronomy 28:56–57
- 24 Romans 11:25; Revelation 11:2; Isaiah 63:18; Daniel 12:7; Daniel 9:27
- 25 Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:30–31; Revelation 6:12–14; Daniel 12:1; Isaiah 24:23
- 26 Deuteronomy 28:65–67; Matthew 24:29; 2 Peter 3:10–12; Leviticus 26:36; Mark 13:25
- 27 Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Matthew 26:64; Daniel 7:13
- 28 Romans 8:23; Isaiah 60:1–2; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:19; Isaiah 12:1–3
- 29 Mark 13:28–30; Matthew 24:32–35
- 30 Luke 12:57
- 31 James 5:9; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 4:7; Matthew 3:2; Luke 12:51–57
- 32 Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30; Matthew 23:36; Matthew 16:28; Luke 11:50–51
- 33 Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 51:6; Psalm 102:26
- 34 Mark 4:19; Luke 12:45–46; Luke 12:40; 1 Thessalonians 5:2–8; 1 Peter 4:3–7
- 35 Revelation 16:15; Isaiah 24:17–18; Jeremiah 48:43–44; Luke 17:37; Psalm 11:6
- 36 1 John 2:28; Matthew 25:13; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 24:42; 1 Peter 4:7
- 37 Luke 22:39; Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:19; Matthew 26:55; Matthew 21:1
- 38 John 8:1–2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… set aside all their possessions for the Lord's purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely not the less valuable portions of their property, since they have the hope of better things [hereafter]; as that poor widow acted who cast all her living into the treasury of God.
I hear the voice of my God commanding, let not "your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness." "Drunkenness," it is far from me; Thou wilt have mercy, that it approach not near unto me.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And elsewhere indeed He saith, "I will give you a mouth and wisdom;" but here, "It is the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you," advancing them unto the dignity of the prophets.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
These things have already come to pass; and again, And fearful sights from heaven, and mighty storms.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… continually upon every occasion, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day shall come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come upon all dwelling upon the face of the earth." "Let your loins, therefore, be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye like to …