Luke 3
John the Baptist prepares the way
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
In the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, John son of Zechariah begins preaching in the Jordan region, calling people to be baptised as a sign of repentance. He warns the crowds, gives practical instructions to ordinary people, tax collectors and soldiers, and points to a mightier one who will come after him. Herod Antipas later imprisons him for condemning his marriage.
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Scripture connection · Quotation
Luke 3:4–6 quotes Isaiah 40:3–5
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 40:3–5 · KJV Luke extends the quotation to 'all flesh shall see', in keeping with his theme that salvation is for every people.
What does this mean?
"Repentance" means a change of mind and direction. John's baptism was an immersion in water. "Generation" (KJV) or "offspring of vipers" is an insult, picturing snakes fleeing a fire. The "fan" (KJV) or "winnowing fan" was a fork for tossing grain so that the wind blew away the chaff.
Historical context
Tiberius became emperor in 14 CE, so the date is about 28–29 CE, depending on how the years are counted. Pilate governed Judea from 26 to 36 CE. Annas was high priest 6–15 CE and remained powerful while his son-in-law Caiaphas held the office (18–36 CE). The soldiers were probably Jewish troops serving Herod Antipas rather than Roman legionaries. Josephus also reports John's arrest and execution by Antipas.
Why does it matter?
Like ancient historians, Luke dates events by the rulers of the day, placing the story within world history.
Editorial notes, not scripture.
Told in all four Gospels
Matthew 3:1–12
John the Baptist prepares the way
How Matthew tells it
Only Matthew gives John the same opening message Jesus later preaches (4:17). Matthew aims John's 'offspring of vipers' warning at Pharisees and Sadducees; Luke addresses it to the crowds and adds John's practical advice to tax collectors and soldiers. Mark's account is the briefest, and in John's Gospel the Baptist denies being the Messiah or Elijah.
Continue reading in Matthew →Mark 1:1–8
John the Baptist prepares the way
How Mark tells it
Mark has no birth or childhood story and opens directly with John. His John says nothing of judgment by fire, axes or chaff and gives no moral instruction, as he does in Matthew and Luke; his message is wholly about the mightier one to come. Only Mark has John say he is unworthy to 'stoop down' to untie his sandals.
Continue reading in Mark →John 1:19–28
John the Baptist's testimony
How John tells it
John's Gospel gives no description of the Baptist's clothing or diet and no preaching of repentance or judgment. Instead an official delegation from Jerusalem questions him, and he explicitly denies being the Christ, Elijah or "the prophet". Where the other Gospels apply Isaiah's words to him in their own narration, here he applies them to himself.
Continue reading in John →How Luke tells it
Only Luke dates John's ministry by the rulers of the day, records his instructions to crowds, tax collectors and soldiers, and extends the Isaiah quotation to "all flesh." He addresses the whole crowd as "vipers" (Matthew: Pharisees and Sadducees) and reports John's imprisonment here, before Jesus' baptism.