Luke Chapter 3 — John the Baptist and Jesus' Genealogy
John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptizes Jesus, followed by a detailed record of Jesus' earthly genealogy tracing back to Adam.
1Now 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,
2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
3He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.
4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
5Every valley will be filled.
6All flesh will see God’s salvation.’ ”✡Isaiah 40:3-5
7He 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?
8Therefore 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!
9Even 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.”
10The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
11He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
13He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
14Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”
15As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
16John 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.
17His 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.”
18Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people,
19but Herod the tetrarch,*a tetrarch is one of four governors of a province being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s†TR reads “brother Philip’s” instead of “brother’s” wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
21Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. The sky was opened,
22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”
23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram,‡NU reads “Admin, the son of Arni” instead of “Aram” the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Luke 3:4-6
“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, Every valley will be filled. All flesh will see God’s salvation.”
These verses establish John's ministry as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy regarding the preparation for God's work.
Luke 3:16
“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.'”
John defines the distinction between his preparatory ministry and the greater ministry of the coming Christ.
Luke 3:22
“and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying 'You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.'”
This verse records the audible and visible confirmation of Jesus’ divine identity and mission from God.
Chapter Summary
Luke Chapter 3 begins by placing the ministry of John the Baptist within a specific historical and political context, naming rulers such as Tiberius Caesar and Pontius Pilate. John travels throughout the region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. He warns the crowds not to rely on their heritage as children of Abraham but to produce practical fruit worthy of repentance, such as sharing clothing and food. He specifically instructs tax collectors to be honest and soldiers to avoid extortion. When asked if he is the Christ, John points to one mightier than himself who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. After John is imprisoned by Herod, the narrative shifts to the baptism of Jesus. During this event, the Holy Spirit descends in bodily form like a dove and a heavenly voice identifies Jesus as God's beloved Son. The chapter concludes with a detailed genealogy tracing Jesus’ ancestry through Joseph and David back to Adam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Luke provides a detailed historical setting, noting that Tiberius Caesar was emperor, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee. This helps place the biblical narrative within a specific timeframe of world history.
John told the tax collectors to collect no more than what was legally appointed to them. To the soldiers, he advised against using violence or false accusations for gain, and told them to be content with their wages.
Unlike other genealogies that focus on Jewish heritage, Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam, the first human, whom the text identifies as the 'son of God.' This highlights Jesus' connection to the entire human race.
Study Note
Luke provides a unique historical timeline by naming six contemporary political and religious rulers, emphasizing the historical reality of John's ministry.
Related Chapters
Matthew Chapter 3
Matthew provides a parallel account of John the Baptist’s ministry and the baptism of Jesus.
Isaiah Chapter 40
This Old Testament chapter contains the prophecy that John the Baptist fulfills in Luke 3.
Genesis Chapter 5
Genesis provides the early genealogical framework that Luke uses to trace Jesus' lineage back to Adam.
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