John the Baptist's Ministry
Study note
Luke establishes the historical setting with remarkable precision, naming Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and the high priests Annas and Caiaphas. In this context, the word of God comes not to the powerful but to John in the wilderness. John preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.
1 It was the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius Caesar's rule. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled over Ituraea and the area of Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituræa and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas served as high priests. During this time, God's message came to John, Zacharias's son, while he was out in the wilderness. Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 John traveled throughout the whole area around the Jordan River. He told people to turn away from their sins and be baptized so their sins could be forgiven. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 This is what the prophet Esaias had written about: "Someone is shouting out in the wilderness: Get the road ready for the Lord! Straighten out the paths for him!" 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.
5 "Every low valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be brought down flat. Crooked roads will become straight, and bumpy paths will become smooth." 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;
6 "And every person alive will see God's saving power." And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
John's Preaching on Repentance
Study note
John confronts the crowds with blunt warnings against relying on Abrahamic descent for salvation, demanding instead fruits of genuine repentance. When specific groups ask what they should do, John gives practical ethical instructions: share clothing and food, collect only fair taxes, and do not abuse power. This emphasis on concrete, everyday righteousness shows that true repentance transforms daily conduct.
7 When big crowds came out to be baptized by John, he said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who tipped you off to run from the punishment that is headed your way?" 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?
8 "Show by the way you live that you have truly changed. And do not try telling yourselves, 'It is fine because Abraham is our ancestor.' Let me tell you, God could turn these rocks into descendants of Abraham if he wanted to." 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.
9 "The axe is already right at the base of the trees. Any tree that does not grow good fruit gets chopped down and tossed into the fire." 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.
10 The crowds asked him, "So what are we supposed to do?" And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who does not have any. If you have food, share it with someone who is hungry." 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.
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 He told them, "Only collect the amount you are supposed to -- nothing extra." And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 Some soldiers asked him the same question: "What about us?" He answered, "Do not threaten people or make up lies about them to get what you want. Be satisfied with the pay you earn." 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.
John Points to the Coming Messiah
Study note
As people wonder if John might be the Christ, he clearly distinguishes himself from the one to come, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John's metaphor of winnowing separates those who respond to God from those who do not. Luke then notes John's imprisonment by Herod for rebuking his unlawful marriage, showing the cost of prophetic faithfulness.
15 Everyone was feeling more and more excited. They all started wondering if maybe John was the Messiah. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
16 John set them straight by saying, "I use water to baptize you. But someone far more powerful than me is on his way. I am not even good enough to untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." 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:
17 "He is holding a winnowing fork, ready to separate the grain from the husks on his threshing floor. He will store the good grain safely in his barn, but the worthless husks he will burn up in a fire that never goes out." 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.
18 With these and many other strong words, John shared the good news with the people. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
19 John also spoke out against Herod the ruler. He called him out for marrying Herodias, his own brother Philip's wife. He also called him out for all the other wicked things Herod had done. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 On top of everything else, Herod threw John into prison. Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
Study note
Jesus is baptized along with the people, and as He prays, heaven opens, the Holy Spirit descends on Him in bodily form like a dove, and the Father's voice declares Him the beloved Son. This trinitarian moment marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and affirms His identity and mission. Luke uniquely notes that Jesus was praying when this revelation occurred.
21 Before that happened, when everyone was getting baptized, Jesus was baptized too. While he was praying, the sky above him opened up, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him, looking like a dove. Then a voice spoke from heaven: "You are my Son, and I love you. I am so pleased with you." 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 Genealogy of Jesus
Study note
Unlike Matthew's genealogy that begins with Abraham, Luke traces Jesus' lineage backward from Joseph all the way to Adam and ultimately to God. This universal genealogy underscores Luke's theme that Jesus is the Savior not just of Israel but of all humanity. By ending with 'Adam, who was the son of God,' Luke connects Jesus' divine sonship declared at baptism with the original creation of humanity.
23 Jesus was around thirty years old when he started his work. People thought he was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, 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,
24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Janna, son of Joseph, 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,
25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Naum, son of Esli, son of Nagge, 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,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semei, son of Joseph, son of Juda, 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,
27 Joanna was the son of Rhesa. Rhesa was the son of Zorobabel. Zorobabel was the son of Salathiel. Salathiel was the son of Neri. 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,
28 who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er, 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,
29 son of Jose, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, 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,
30 Simeon was the son of Juda. Juda was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Jonan. Jonan was the son of Eliakim. 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,
31 son of Melea, son of Menan, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, 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,
32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Booz, son of Salmon, son of Naasson, 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,
33 son of Aminadab, son of Aram, son of Esrom, son of Phares, son of Juda, 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,
34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Thara, son of Nachor, 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,
35 son of Saruch, son of Ragau, son of Phalec, son of Heber, son of Sala, 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,
36 who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Sem, who was the son of Noe, who was the son of Lamech, 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,
37 son of Mathusala, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Maleleel, son of Cainan, 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,
38 who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.