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Luke 3

World English Bible

WEB

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, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. 5Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6All flesh will see God’s salvation.’” 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?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” 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, being reproved by him for Herodias, his 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, 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.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Luke Chapter 3 begins with a historical context, detailing the political and religious landscape of the time, including the reign of #Tiberius Caesar and the high priesthood of #Annas and #Caiaphas. This sets the stage for the ministry of John the Baptist, who emerges as a prophetic voice calling the people of Israel to repentance. John fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, as he is described as a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. His message emphasizes the need for genuine repentance, urging the people to bear fruits worthy of repentance, and he baptizes them in the Jordan River as a sign of their commitment to change their lives (Luke 3:3, Isaiah 40:3).

As the chapter progresses, John addresses various groups, including the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers, providing practical guidance on how to live righteously. He emphasizes justice, generosity, and integrity, highlighting that true repentance must manifest in one’s actions. The chapter culminates with the revelation of Jesus’ identity, as John proclaims that he baptizes with water, but the one coming after him, Jesus, will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). This foreshadows the transformative power of Jesus’ ministry. The chapter concludes with the baptism of Jesus, where the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in bodily form like a dove, while a voice from heaven declares, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased' (Luke 3:22). This moment marks the divine affirmation of Jesus’ identity and mission as the Messiah.

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Topics in this chapter

  • Matthew 3Baptism of JesusVoice in the WildernessThe Identity of Jesus Christ
  • Mark 1Baptism of JesusThe Identity of Jesus ChristDivine Sonship
  • Isaiah 40HeraldVoice in the WildernessJohn the Baptist
  • John 1Humanity of ChristJohn the BaptistSon of God
  • Acts 2JudeaNew LifeBaptism
  • Acts 1GalileeMinistryJesus Christ
  • Mark 6Herod AntipasJohn the BaptistGalilee
  • Matthew 1GenealogyAdventJesus Christ
  • Matthew 4Follow JesusJohn the BaptistSon of God
  • Acts 26ImprisonmentRoman GovernorMetanoia
  • Luke 23TetrarchHerod AntipasPontius Pilate
  • Luke 9TetrarchDivine SonshipFollow Jesus

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