Luke 3

Luke 3 follows chapters 1–2, which cover the birth and childhood of Jesus, and opens the period of preparation for his public ministry. Moving forward several years from the account of the twelve-year-old Jesus at the end of chapter 2, it narrates in turn the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus, and Jesus' genealogy.

Outline

• Verses 1–2 In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, when Pilate, Herod, Philip, and Lysanias were ruling and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God comes to John in the wilderness.
• Verses 3–6 John preaches a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins in the region around the Jordan. This is presented as the fulfillment of Isaiah's "voice of one crying in the wilderness."
• Verses 7–9 Rebuking the crowds as an "O generation of vipers," he calls them to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
• Verses 10–14 When the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers ask, "What shall we do?", he answers each in turn: share with others, collect no more than the appointed tax, and do no violence and accuse no one falsely.
• Verses 15–17 When the people wonder whether John might be the Christ, he answers that one mightier than he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
• Verses 18–20 John rebukes Herod the tetrarch concerning Herodias, his brother's wife, and Herod shuts John up in prison.
• Verses 21–22 As Jesus is baptized and praying, heaven is opened, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice says, "Thou art my beloved Son."
• Verses 23–38 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began to teach. There follows a genealogy that runs through Joseph, Heli, Nathan, David, Abraham, and Noah back to Adam and to God.

Key Verses

• Luke 3:16 "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." This verse contrasts John's water baptism with the baptism of the one who is to come, and it is frequently cited in discussions of Spirit baptism.
• Luke 3:22 "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." At the outset of Jesus' public ministry, his identity is declared from heaven.
• Luke 3:11 "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none." This verse connects repentance with sharing in everyday life.

People and Places

• John the Baptist: The son of Zechariah and a prophet who proclaimed the baptism of repentance. His parents are covered in the article Zechariah and Elizabeth.
• Tiberius Caesar: The Roman emperor Tiberius.
• Pontius Pilate: The governor of Judea.
• Herod: Here, Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. A tetrarch was a ruler who governed a portion of a kingdom.
• Philip and Lysanias: Tetrarchs of Ituraea and Trachonitis and of Abilene, respectively.
• Annas and Caiaphas: High priests. John 18:13 identifies Annas as the father-in-law of Caiaphas.
• Herodias: John rebuked Herod for taking her, his brother's wife.
• Jordan River: The place where John baptized.
• Principal figures in the genealogy: Joseph of Nazareth, Zerubbabel, Nathan, David, Boaz, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Seth, Adam.

Points for Reflection

• Differences between the genealogies: The genealogy in Matthew 1 descends from Abraham, follows the line of Solomon, and names Jacob as Joseph's father. Luke, by contrast, ascends from Joseph back to Adam and to God, follows the line of Nathan, and names Heli as Joseph's father. Various explanations have been offered for this difference, including the view that Luke's genealogy traces Mary's line and the view that distinguishes a legal line of descent from a biological one. The text itself gives no reason.
• The Holy Spirit and fire: Some interpret the "fire" of verse 16 as purification, while others connect it with the "fire unquenchable" of verse 17 and read it as judgment. Understandings of baptism in the Holy Spirit also differ. Pentecostal denominations read this passage as one of the texts supporting the view that Spirit baptism is an experience received separately after conversion. The Reformed tradition, including Presbyterians, generally understands it as occurring at conversion and regeneration.
• Distinctive features of Luke: The specific exhortations of verses 10–14 appear only in Luke. The note that the Spirit descended while Jesus "was praying" is also regarded as characteristic of Luke's emphasis on prayer.
• Relationship to the other Gospels: The same events also appear in Matthew 3 and Mark 1. Because the voice of the Father, the baptism of the Son, and the descent of the Spirit appear together in a single scene, the passage is often cited in explanations of the Trinity.

In the Korean Church

In churches that follow the church year, the Revised Common Lectionary (a table assigning readings for each Sunday according to the church calendar) appoints verses 1–6 and 7–18 for the second and third Sundays of Advent in Year C. On the Baptism of the Lord, the first Sunday after Epiphany, verses 15–17 and 21–22 are read. Verses 10–14 are also frequently used as a preaching text on repentance and sharing.