Luke 3:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Luke 3:1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, ^aPontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

2 while ^aAnnas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to ^bJohn the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 ^aAnd he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance ^bfor the remission of sins,

4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
^a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;

6 And ^aall flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John Preaches to the People

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ^a“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Therefore bear fruits ^aworthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore ^aevery tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 So the people asked him, saying, ^a“What shall we do then?”

11 He answered and said to them, ^a“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, ^blet him do likewise.”

12 Then ^atax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13 And he said to them, ^a“Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not¹ intimidate anyone ^aor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

16 John answered, saying to all, ^a“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will ^bbaptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and ^agather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

19 ^aBut Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

John Baptizes Jesus

21 When all the people were baptized, ^ait came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am ^awell pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at ^aabout thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) ^bthe son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,

27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of ^aZerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of ^aNathan, ^bthe son of David,

32 ^athe son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, ^athe son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

36 ^athe son of Cainan, the son of ^bArphaxad, ^cthe son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, ^athe son of God.

Verse Comparison: Luke 3:1

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American Standard Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Amplified® Bible
IN THE fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--

Contemporary English Version
For fifteen years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.

Darby English Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Good News Bible
It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene,

International Standard Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

King James Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, 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,

New American Standard Bible
Now 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,

New International Version
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

New King James Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate served as governor of Judea, and Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip served as tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias served as tetrarch of Abilene,

Young's Literal Translation
And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar -- Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene --

New English Translation
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,¹ when Pontius Pilate² was governor of Judea, and Herod³ was tetrarch⁴ of Galilee, and his brother Philip⁵ was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias⁶ was tetrarch of Abilene,

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