21:12 before all these. At this point, Christ reverts back to the course of the age between His ascension and the already mentioned signs of His imminent return.

21:12 being brought before kings. Mark here adds the further note that they shall also be delivered up to councils and that, in the synagogues they shall be beaten (Mark 13:9). Mention of being brought before councils for Christ’s sake evidently goes well beyond the apostolic period, looking ahead to the persecution of Christian believers during the entire church age.