Steven Carr

Jesus had sent out the twelve disciples with the following instructions.

'17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.'


Did they manage to finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man came?

Were they brought before governors and kings, before they came back in time for chapter 12?

When was all this supposed to have happened? Surely not before Jesus saw them all again. So what was the point of those instructions?

judge

Good questions.
As with the entire NT these things only make sense if Jesus was going to "come" in glory in the lifetimes of those who he spoke to.

IOW Jesus "returned" in 70 a.d.
However by the mid 2nd century some begin to suggest that the return of Christ has been delayed (see shepherd of Hermas..I think) and eschatology becomes confused (Justin Martyr for example)

Steven Carr

Surely it only makes sense if it happened between Matthew 10 and Matthew 12

Why send them out with an explanation that they will be persecuted, and brought before kings , knowing that they will be back soon, asking why none of those things happened.