Luke 3
John the Baptist prepares the way
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. All flesh will see God’s salvation.’”
He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, added this also to them 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 one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. The LORD’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
Isaiah 40:3–5 · WEB 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.