A word of encouragement follows the warning of 13:9. The followers of Jesus need not fear what they should say in these circumstances. The early followers of Jesus were generally uneducated and without political influence (see Acts 4:10–17; 1 Corinthians 1:26). So, this assurance would have comforted them. Believers are not prohibited from thinking about what they will say, but they need not worry about it.