Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 11:49

"Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and [some] of them they shall kill and persecute;" — Luke 11:49 (ASV)

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.

The destruction of Jerusalem was more terrible than anything that the world has ever witnessed, either before or since. Even Titus seemed to see in his cruel work the hand of an avenging God. Truly, the blood of the martyrs was amply avenged when the whole city became a veritable Aceldama, or field of blood.

It was before that generation had passed away that Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed. There was a sufficient interval for the full proclamation of the gospel by the apostles and evangelists of the early Christian Church, and for gathering out those who recognized the crucified Christ as their true Messiah. Then came the awful ending, which the Saviour foresaw and foretold.