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,
in. Greek. en. App-104 . fifteenth . . . Tiberius. See App-179 , note 2. Augustus died in A.D. 14, Tiberius was associated with him for two or three years. This would make Tiberius's fifteenth year A.D. 26 reign government. Greek hegemonia (not basileia = kingdom).
Pontius Pilate . First mention. sixth Procurator of Judaea, A.D. 25. After his deposition, he went to Rome, and (according toEusebius) committed suicide in A.D. 36. goverinor. Cognate word with "reign "above.
Herod . . Philip . See App-109 . Herod Antipas, half-brother of Philip I, who abducted Philip's wife, Herodias, and married her. This was the Herod to whom the Lord was sent for trial.
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Annas. See App-94 .
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests. Caiaphas was the High Priest as successor of Aaron; while Annas was the Nasi, or head of the Sanhedrin (as successor of Moses), and thus associated with Caiaphas in government. This explains John 18:13 , John 18:24 , and Acts 4:6 .
the word of God came, &c. See App-82 . Compare Jeremiah 1:2 .Ezekiel 6:1 , &c. John was the last and greatest of the prophets.
unto = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 9:12 , Luke 9:13 , Luke 9:14 .
John the son of Zacharias . In Matthew, John the Baptist.
the wilderness : i.e. in the cities and towns of the opencountry. See Luke 3:4 ; Joshua 15:61 , Joshua 15:62 ; and 1Sa 23:14 , 1 Samuel 23:24 .
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
came = went.
into. Greek. eis. App-104 .
preaching = proclaiming. See App-121 .
baptism . See App-115 .
repentance. See App-111 .
for = with a view to. Greek. eis. App-104 .
the remission = remission. A medical word (see Colossians 4:14 ). Used by Luke ten times. Rest of N.T. only seven times. See Luke 4:18 .
sins. App-128 .
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.
the words , &c. See notes on Isaiah 40:3 , and Malachi 3:1 . See App-107 .
Esaias = Isaiah. See App-79 .
the LORD = Jehovah. App-4 and App-98 .
paths = beaten tracks.
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.
flesh . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for people. see. Greek. opsomai. App-133 .
God. App-98 .
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?
Then said he = He said therefore.
multitude = crowds.
baptized . App-115 .
of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 . Not the sameword as in verses: Luke 3:8 , Luke 3:15 .
generation = offspring, or brood.
warned = forewarned; implying secrecy.
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 3:22 .
to come = about to come. Quite true; for, had the nation repented, all that the prophets had foretold, both as to the sufferings and following wrath and glory, would have been fulfilled.
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.
repentance = the repentance which has been demanded, and which you profess.
not . Greek. me. App-105 . Not the same word as in Luke 3:16 .
within = among. Greek. en. App-104 .
father . Emphatic, by the Figure of speech Hyperbaton ( App-6 ), being put in the Greek as the first word of the sentence. See John 8:33 , John 8:53 .
of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 3:7 .
these stones . Compare Luke 19:40 ; Matthew 3:9 . children. App-108 .
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.
now also the axe is laid = already even the axe lies; or, and even the axe lies. Referring to national privileges.
unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .
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.
answereth and saith. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .
coats = tunics. compare Matthew 5:40 ). One kind of garment, put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species) for a garment of any kind,
none = not, as in Luke 3:8 .
meat = food, or victuals.
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
also publicans = the tax-farmers also.
baptized. App-115 .
Master = Teacher. App-98 . Luke 3:1 .
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
no = nothing. Greek. laden.
than = beside. Greek.
para . App-104 .
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.
the soldiers = some soldiers (no Art.) going on service. Not the Noun, but the Participle = men under arms. Josephus (Antiquities xviii 5 § 1,2) tells us that Herod Antipas (Luke 3:1 ) was engagedin a war with Aretas his father-in-law, a petty king in Arabia Petrea, at this very time, and his soldiers were passing from Galilee through the very country where John was proclaiming.
Do violence = terrify with a view to extortion. Occurs only here in the N.T.
accuse any falsely. See note on Luke 19:3 .
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
in expectation. See notes on Luke 2:25 , Luke 2:38 ; Luke 24:21 .Mark 15:43 .
mused = reasoned.
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
the Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .
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:
baptize. App-115 .
One = the One: i.e. He that is mightier.
latohet = thong, or lace.
shoes = sandals. A well-known proverb. Figure of speech Paroem ia. App-6 .
not. Greek ou. App-105 .
worthy = fit.
with the Holy Ghost = with holy spirit. Greek pneuma hagion : i.e. power from on high, or with spiritual gifts. See App-101 .
with fire. Because this was foretold as being among the things which were about to be fulfilled, had the nation repented. "This (Acts 2:16 ) is that (Joel 2:30 ). "It symbolizes the judgments included in that day.
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.
fan = winnowing = fan.
floor = threshing = floor.
burn = burn up. Greek katakaio = to consume entirely. Compare Matthew 3:12 .Hebrews 13:11 .
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
other = different. See App-124 .
things = things therefore.
preached = announced the glad tidings. Greek. euangelizo. See App-121 . Not the same word as in Luke 3:3
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
Herod. See Matthew 14:3 . App-109 .
by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 3:3 , Luke 3:3 .
evils. Greek. ponera (plural) App-128 .
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
Added. Greek. prostithemi. A medical word in the sense of apply or administer, used by Luke thirteen times; in the rest of the N.T. five times.
yet this = this also.
above = to. Greek. epi. App-104 .
prison. The fortress of Machaerus, on the borders of Arabia north of the Dead Sea (Josephus, Antiquities bk. xviii. ch. v 2).
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
it came to pass . As in Luke 3:1 . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "and it came to pass".
praying . Note the occasions of the Lord's praying: here; Luke 6:16 ; Luke 6:12 ; Luke 9:18 , Luke 9:28 ; Luke 11:1 ; Luke 22:41-44 .
the heaven. Singular. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
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.
the Holy Ghost = the Spirit the Holy [Spirit]. See App-101 .
in a bodily shape. Peculiar to Luke.
upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
from = out of: Greek. ek. App-104 .
My beloved Son = My Son, the beloved [Son].
I am well pleased = I have found delight.
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,
began = when He began [His ministry? ] He was about thirty years of age.
as was supposed = as reckoned by law. Greek. nomizo = to lay down a thing as law; to hold by custom, or usage; to reckon correctly, take for granted. See Matthew 20:10 . Mat 2:44 .Acts 7:25 ; Acts 14:19 ; Acts 16:13 , Acts 16:27 .
Joseph was begotten by Jacob , and was his natural son (Matthew 1:16 ). He could be the legal son of Heli, therefore, only by marriage with Hell's daughter (Mary), and be reckoned so according to law (Greek. nomizo). It does not say "begat" in the case of Hell.
which = who. So throughout verses: Luke 3:24-38 .
the son of Heli. The genealogy of the ideal man begins from his father, and goes backward as far as may be. That of a king begins at the source of his dynasty and ends with himself. Compare that of Matthew with Luke, and see App-99 .
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,
Nathan. This is the natural line through Nathan. In Matthew 1:6 , the regal line is shown through Solomon. Thus both lines became united in Joseph; and thus the Lord being raised from the dead is the one and only heir to the throne of David. For the two lines see App-99 .
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,
Booz = O.T. Boaz.
Naasson = O.T. Nahshon.
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,
Aminadab = O.T. Amminadab.
Aram = O.T. Ram.
Esrom = O.T. Hezron.
Pharos = O.T. Pharez.
Juda = O.T. Judah.
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,
Thara = O.T. Torah.
Nachor = O.T. Nahor.
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,
Saruch = O.T. Serug.
Ragau = O.T. Reu.
Phalec = O.T. Peleg.
Heber = O.T. Eber.
Bala = O.T. Salah.
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,
Cainan . See App-99 , note.
Sem = O.T. Shem.
Noe = O.T. Noah.
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,
Mathusala = O.T. Methuselah. d
Maleleel = O.T. Mahalaleel. d
Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
the son of God . Because created by God; the angels are so called, for the same reason. See App-28 .
