Luke 3 · KJV
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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.

  • 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

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.

The baptism of Jesus

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

After all the people have been baptised, Jesus too is baptised. While he is praying, the sky opens, the Holy Spirit comes down on him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares him God's beloved Son.

What does this mean?

The "Holy Ghost" (KJV) is the same as the "Holy Spirit" (WEB). The dove has been read as an image of new creation, recalling the Spirit over the waters (Genesis 1:2), or of peace after the flood; the text does not explain it. "Beloved Son" echoes Psalm 2:7, a royal psalm, and perhaps Isaiah 42:1.

Historical context

Early Christians found the baptism awkward, since John's was a baptism of repentance and Jesus was regarded as sinless. That awkwardness is one reason most historians think the baptism really happened.

Why does it matter?

Luke often shows Jesus praying at decisive moments (6:12; 9:18, 28–29). The Spirit who comes on him here drives and empowers his ministry (4:1, 14, 18).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in all four Gospels

How Luke tells it

Luke reports the baptism in a passing clause and never says who baptised Jesus; John is already in prison (3:20). Only Luke says Jesus was praying and that the Spirit came "in bodily form." As in Mark, the voice speaks to Jesus ("You are"), not about him as in Matthew.

John's Gospel gives the Baptist's testimony about the Spirit descending rather than narrating the baptism itself.

The ancestry of Jesus

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Luke notes that Jesus was about thirty when he began his work and traces his family line backwards, from Joseph through David and Abraham all the way to Adam, "the son of God."

What does this mean?

"As was supposed" signals that Luke does not regard Joseph as Jesus' biological father (1:34–35), though he was his father in law and in the eyes of others.

Historical context

Genealogies established identity, status and inheritance in the ancient world. Luke's list differs substantially from Matthew's (Matthew 1:1–17): it runs backwards, passes through David's son Nathan rather than Solomon, and names Joseph's father as Heli rather than Jacob. Explanations offered over the centuries include that Luke traces Mary's line, that levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5–10) produced different legal and natural fathers, or that the two writers used different traditions; none is certain.

Why does it matter?

By ending with Adam rather than Abraham, Luke connects Jesus with all humanity, not only Israel, a theme of his Gospel. Placed right after the voice calling Jesus "my beloved Son," the list ends on "son of God."

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24

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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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