Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
None. So 'Aleph ('), Vulgate, Syriac; but A B C, Coptic, 'Fear not those things,' etc. 'The Captain of our salvation never keeps back what faithful witnesses for Him may have to bear; never entices recruits by promising they shall find all things easy and pleasant' (Trench).
Devil - `the accuser,' acting through Jewish accusers, against Christ and His people. The conflict is not with mere flesh and blood, but with the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Tried, х peirastheete (G3985)] - with temptation. The same event is often both a temptation from the Devil, and a trial from God-God sifting the man to separate his chaff from his wheat, the devil sifting him in hope that nothing but chaff will be found in him (Trench).
Ten days - not the ten persecutions from Nero to Diocletian. Lyra explains ten years on the year-day principle. The shortness of the persecution is made the ground of consolation. The time of trial shall be short, the joy forever. Compare "ten days" for a short time, Genesis 24:55; Numbers 11:19. Ten is the number of the world-powers hostile to the Church: cf. the beast's ten horns, Revelation 13:1.
Unto death - so as even to die for my sake.
Crown of life - (James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8, "of righteousness;" 1 Peter 5:4, "of glory.") The crown is the garland of a conqueror, or one rejoicing, or at a feast; but diadem is the mark of a KING.