Bible Commentaries
Luke 3

Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

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 .

Verse 3

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 .

Verse 4

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.

Verse 6

flesh . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for people. see. Greek. opsomai. App-133 .

God. App-98 .

Verse 7

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.

Verse 8

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 .

Verse 9

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 .

Verse 11

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.

Verse 12

also publicans = the tax-farmers also.

baptized. App-115 .

Master = Teacher. App-98 . Luke 3:1 .

Verse 13

no = nothing. Greek. laden.

than = beside. Greek.

para . App-104 .

Verse 14

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 .

Verse 15

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 .

Verse 16

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.

Verse 17

fan = winnowing = fan.

floor = threshing = floor.

burn = burn up. Greek katakaio = to consume entirely. Compare Matthew 3:12 .Hebrews 13:11 .

Verse 18

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

Verse 19

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 .

Verse 20

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).

Verse 21

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 .

Verse 22

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.

Verse 23

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 .

Verse 31

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 .

Verse 32

Booz = O.T. Boaz.

Naasson = O.T. Nahshon.

Verse 33

Aminadab = O.T. Amminadab.

Aram = O.T. Ram.

Esrom = O.T. Hezron.

Pharos = O.T. Pharez.

Juda = O.T. Judah.

Verse 34

Thara = O.T. Torah.

Nachor = O.T. Nahor.

Verse 35

Saruch = O.T. Serug.

Ragau = O.T. Reu.

Phalec = O.T. Peleg.

Heber = O.T. Eber.

Bala = O.T. Salah.

Verse 36

Cainan . See App-99 , note.

Sem = O.T. Shem.

Noe = O.T. Noah.

Verse 37

Mathusala = O.T. Methuselah. d

Maleleel = O.T. Mahalaleel. d

Verse 38

the son of God . Because created by God; the angels are so called, for the same reason. See App-28 .