See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
“So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!
But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.
“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.
I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.
