Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 24:2

"But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." — Matthew 24:2 (ASV)

There shall not be left here one stone upon another. Josephus relates that Titus ordered the whole city and the Temple to be dug up, leaving only two or three of the chief towers, so that visitors could hardly believe it had ever been inhabited (Wars, vii. 1). The remains that recent explorations have uncovered all belong to the substructures of the Temple—its drains, foundations, and underground passages.

These words fell on the ears of the disciples and awed them into silence. It was not until they had crossed the Mount of Olives that even the foremost and most favored among them ventured to speak.