King James Bible
"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:"
Jesus poses a rhetorical question that challenges common messianic expectations of his day, when many Jews anticipated a political deliverer who would bring immediate earthly harmony. The question format engages his listeners to reconsider their assumptions about his mission. Christ directly contradicts the expectation of immediate peace, revealing that his message will initially create separation between those who accept and reject him. This division occurs even within families and communities, as commitment to Jesus takes precedence over social harmony—a reality that would soon manifest in the early church's experience.