Matthew 10:19,20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

But when they deliver you up, take no thought— Be not solicitous. This direction was repeated on several occasions afterwards; see particularly Mark 13:11.Luke 12:11. The apostles, being illiterate men, and wholly unacquainted with the laws of the different countries whither they were to go, as well as with the forms of their courts, their Master foresaw that they might be in great perplexity when they appeared as criminals before persons of the first distinction.He foresaw likewise, that this circumstance would occur to themselves, and render them anxious to meditate beforehand by what apology they might best defend so noble a cause. More than once, therefore, he expressly forbad them to be in the least solicitous about the defences they were to make, or so much as to premeditate any part of them; promising to afford them, on all occasions, the aid of their Father's Spirit, who would inspire them to speak in a manner becoming the cause which they were to defend. Nothing surely could have been more suitable than the promise which our Lord here makes them; nor can one conceive any admonitions and declarations farther from the language of imposture and enthusiasm, than those before us in the present cha