A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 10:17

"But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;" — Matthew 10:17 (ASV)

Beware of men (προσεχετε απο των ανθρωπων). Ablative case with απο. Hold your mind (νουν understood) away from. The article with ανθρωπων points back to λυκων (wolves) in 10:16.

To councils (εις συνεδρια). The local courts of justice in every Jewish town. The word is an old one from Herodotus on for any deliberative body (χονχιλιυμ). The same word is used for the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

In their synagogues (εν τοις συναγωγαις αυτων). Here not merely as the place of assembly for worship, but as an assembly of justice exercising discipline as when the man born blind was cast out of the synagogue (John 9:35). They were now after the exile in every town of any size where Jews were.