Luke3
New American Standard
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
3And he came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!
5Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be lowered; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth;
6And all flesh will see the salvation of God!’”
7So he was saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and do not start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham.
9But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what are we to do?”
11And he would answer and say to them, “The one who has two tunics is to share with the one who has none; and the one who has food is to do likewise.”
12Now even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”
14And soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “What are we to do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone, nor harass anyone, and be content with your wages.”
15Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ,
16John responded to them all, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people.
19But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him regarding Herodias, his brother’s wife, and regarding all the evil things which Herod had done,
20Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.
21Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,
22and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.”
23When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years old, being, as was commonly held, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,
24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai,
26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah,
36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: John the Baptist's ministry. (1–14). John the Baptist testifies concerning Christ. (15–20). The baptism of Christ. (21, 22). The genealogy of Christ. (23–38).
vv1-14
The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins, and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and renewal of heart, which attend, or are the effects of true repentance, as well as a profession of it. Here is the fulfilling of the Scriptures, Isa 40:3, in the ministry of John. When way is made for the gospel into the heart, by taking down high thoughts, and bringing them into obedience to Christ, by levelling the soul, and removing all that hinders us in the way of Christ and his grace, then preparation is made to welcome the salvation of God. Here are general warnings and exhortations which John gave. The guilty, corrupted race of mankind is become a generation of vipers; hateful to God, and hating one another. There is no way of fleeing from the wrath to come, but by repentance; and by the change of our way the change of our mind must be shown. If we are not really holy, both in heart and life, our profession of religion and relation to God and his church, will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our destruction be, if we do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John the Baptist gave instructions to several sorts of persons. Those that profess and promise repentance, must show it by reformation, according to their places and conditions. The gospel requires mercy, not sacrifice; and its design is, to engage us to do all the good we can, and to be just to all men. And the same principle which leads men to forego unjust gain, leads to restore that which is gained by wrong. John tells the soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned against the temptations of their employments. These answers declared the present duty of the inquirers, and at once formed a test of their sincerity. As none can or will accept Christ's salvation without true repentance, so the evidence and effects of this repentance are here marked out.
vv15-20
John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He could only exhort them to repent, and assure them of forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work repentance in them, nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become us to speak of Christ, and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than baptize with water, in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can, and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to cleanse and purify the heart, not only as water washes off the dirt on the outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and melts down the metal, that it may be cast into a new mould. John was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher; quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was a popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their capacity. He was an evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ. When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop was put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils, shut up John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God, add still greater guilt to their other sins.
vv21-22
Christ did not confess sin, as others did, for he had none to confess; but he prayed, as others did, and kept up communion with his Father. Observe, all the three voices from heaven, by which the Father bare witness to the Son, were pronounced while he was praying, or soon after, Lu 9:35; Joh 12:28. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there came a voice from heaven, from God the Father, from the excellent glory. Thus was a proof of the Holy Trinity, of the Three Persons in the Godhead, given at the baptism of Christ.
Key Words
πεντεκαιδέκατος (pentekaidékatos): five and tenth
ἔτος (étos): a year
ἡγεμονία (hēgemonía): government, i.e. (in time) official term
Τιβέριος (Tibérios): probably pertaining to the river Tiberis or Tiber; Tiberius, a Roman emperor
Καῖσαρ (Kaîsar): Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor
Πόντιος (Póntios): apparently bridged; Pontius, a Roman
Πιλᾶτος (Pilâtos): close-pressed, i.e. firm; Pilatus, a Roman
ἡγεμονεύω (hēgemoneúō): to act as ruler
Ἰουδαία (Ioudaía): the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa), a region of Palestine
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Luke 3Direct prophecy of John the Baptist's ministry as the voice crying in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Quoted literally to show that all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's parallel account of John's warning to the generation of vipers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel text detailing John's contrast of his water baptism with Christ's baptism of fire.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel describing Christ's sorting fan, purging the floor, and burning the chaff.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Confirms the dual high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas during Jesus' trial.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills Zacharias's prophecy that John would give knowledge of salvation by remission of sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel demand to bring forth fruits meet for repentance instead of relying on Abraham.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism and the opening of the heavens.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The departure of the scepter from Judah under Roman-appointed foreign tetrarchs.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Zacchaeus's repentance illustrates John's command to publicans to stop extortion.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of Herod imprisoning John because of the rebuke over Herodias.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Father's voice repeating approval of His beloved Son at the Transfiguration.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament precedent for entering public priestly service at thirty years of age.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts Adam, the first son of God by creation, with Christ the Second Adam.
Supported by Matthew Henry