[For] when people are saying, “Peace,” and “Safety,” then [is when] destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape it.
For nations will wage war against one another, and kingdoms will attack one another. And earthquakes will happen at various places [in the world], and there will be famines. These things are [only] the beginning of terrible times.
But before all these things happen, the authorities will grab hold of you, and persecute you, and turn you over to the synagogues and prisons [i.e., for punishment and confinement]. They will take you in front of kings and governors for being loyal to me.