Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 13:9

"But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them." — Mark 13:9 (ASV)

Again Jesus warned his disciples to be on their guard, because persecutions of various kinds awaited them. The “local councils” (GK 5284) to which they would be handed over are the religious courts, made up of the elders of the synagogues assembled for the purpose of exercising their disciplinary powers. From these courts, Jesus warned, they would be taken into the synagogues and publicly flogged. They would also be brought before secular authorities, most of whom were Gentiles. But persecution, whether by Jews or Gentiles, would be an opportunity for witness. This verse clearly anticipates fulfillment in the near future.