In whose hands?
In the hands of what people does the intelligence of mankind lay, that they should get to the point of handing over Jesus' followers to human courts? In the hands of what people does the intelligence of mankind lay, that they should get to the point of handing over Jesus' followers to be scourged? In the hands of what people does the intelligence of mankind lay that a brother will betray his brother, a father his child, and children their parents, because of His name?
In the hands of what people does the intelligence of mankind lay that one day those who live in the name of Jesus will be bitterly hated?
In the hands of what people does the intelligence and the heart of mankind lay if all this should happen? It can only be in the hands of the enemy. They can only be bound by a double chain, the type of chain preferred by the evil one to keep mankind blind and insane. Satan's double chain is made out of ignorance which strengthens prejudice, it is out of prejudice which nourishes and strengthens ignorance. That is why Jesus reveals that even the hard times of persecution must become a powerful extraordinary chance to announce and to give witness to the radiant power of the Word to set mankind free from the evil chains of prejudice and ignorance.
There is no higher or better task on earth: in the name of Jesus, setting mankind's mind free from ignorance and mankind's heart free from prejudice towards Jesus.