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Luke, 3

1. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

1. It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilatus was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias over Abilene.

2. Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

2. Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests at that time when the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert.

3. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

3. John proclaimed a baptism for repentant people to obtain forgiveness of sins and he went through the whole country bordering the Jordan River.

4. 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.

4. It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.

5. 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;

5. The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low. Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough paths smooth;

6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

6. and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

7. 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?

7. John said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! How will you escape when divine punishment comes?

8. 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.

8. Produce now the fruits of a true change of heart, and do not deceive yourselves by saying: 'Abraham is our ancestor!.' For I tell you, God can make children of Abraham from these stones.

9. 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.

9. The axe is already laid to the root of the tree and every tree that fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

10. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

10. The people asked him, "What are we to do?"

11. 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.

11. And John answered, "If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none; and if you have food, do the same."

12. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

12. Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him, "Master, what must we do?"

13. And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

13. John said to them, "Collect no more than your fixed rate."

14. 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.

14. People serving as soldiers asked John, "What about us? What are we to do?" And he answered, "Don't take anything by force or threaten the people by denouncing them falsely. Be content with your pay."

15. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

15. The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?"

16. 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:

16. Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal.

17. 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.

17. He comes with a winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and gather the grain into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out."

18. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

18. With these and many other words John announced the Good News to the people

19. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

19. until Herod had him put in prison. For John reproached Herod for living with Herodias, his brother's wife, and for his evil deeds.

20. Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

20. Then Herod added another crime to all the rest he had committed: he put John in prison.

21. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

21. Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, Jesus too was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened:

22. 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.

22. the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, "You are my Son, this day I have begotten you."

23. 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,

23. When Jesus made his appearance, he had reached the age of thirty years. He was known as the son of Joseph, whose father and forefathers were: Heli,

24. 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,

24. Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph,

25. 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,

25. Matthathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai,

26. 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,

26. Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda,

27. 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,

27. Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri,

28. 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,

28. Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er,

29. 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,

29. Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi,

30. 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,

30. Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim,

31. 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,

31. Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David,

32. 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,

32. Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahson,

33. 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,

33. Amminadab, Adnim, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah,

34. 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,

34. Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,

35. 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,

35. Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah,

36. 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,

36. Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech,

37. 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,

37. Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Malaleel, Cainan,

38. Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God.

38. Enos, Seth, and Adam - who was from God.



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Footnotes:

3:1-6 - John the Baptist's ministry begins with a proclamation of repentance and baptism, preparing the way for the Messiah's arrival. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy about the forerunner who would prepare the people for salvation (see also Matthew 3:1-12 and Isaiah 40:3-5).

3:7-14 - John exhorts the crowd to genuine repentance, not just through words, but through concrete actions of justice and compassion. He teaches that true repentance is reflected in ethical behavior and attitudes toward others (see also Matthew 3:7-12 and James 2:14-17).

3:15-17 - John speaks of the coming Messiah, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire and judge the world with righteousness. He highlights the difference between his ministry of repentance and Jesus' ministry, which will bring inner transformation and eternal salvation (see also Matthew 3:11-12 and John 1:33-34).

3:18-20 - John the Baptist denounces the corruption and sins of rulers, paving the way for God's judgment. His boldness in speaking the truth demonstrates the courage needed to confront the world's injustices, even at great cost (see also Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:17-29).

3:21-22 - Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River is a moment of revelation of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus, and the Father's voice is heard, affirming Jesus as His beloved Son. This event marks the public beginning of Jesus' ministry (see also Matthew 3:13-17 and John 1:32-34).

Verses related to Luke, 3:

Luke chapter 3 prepares the way for Jesus' ministry. How does John the Baptist fulfill his mission? This foundational text recounts the ministry of John, the baptism of Jesus, and His genealogy. The chapter explores themes such as repentance, messianic identity, and Jesus' Davidic lineage. Luke 3 presents Jesus as the beloved Son of God, ready for His mission. Discover with us five biblical passages that elucidate the preparatory themes of this crucial chapter.

Isaiah 40:3-5: "A voice cries out: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; [...] And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and, together, everyone will see it." - This prophecy is cited in Luke 3:4-6 in relation to the ministry of John the Baptist.

Malachi 3:1: "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me." - This prophetic verse is fulfilled in John the Baptist, as described in Luke 3:2-6.

Acts 13:23: "From this man's descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior Jesus to Israel." - This verse from Acts reflects the genealogy of Jesus presented in Luke 3:23-38.

Matthew 3:11: "I baptize them with water for repentance. But after me comes someone more powerful than me, so much so that I am not even worthy of wearing his sandals. He will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire." - This parallel verse reflects the words of John the Baptist in Luke 3:16.

Psalms 2:7: "I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, 'You are my son; I have begotten you today.'" - This psalm is quoted in the voice from heaven at Jesus' baptism in Luke 3:22.

FAQ:

What did John the Baptist preach in the desert?

John the Baptist preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins and baptized in the Jordan River, preparing the way for Jesus' coming. (Luke 3:3-6)

How did John the Baptist describe the Messiah?

John said that the Messiah would come after him, with power to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, separating the wheat from the chaff. (Luke 3:16-17)

What happened during Jesus' baptism?

When Jesus was baptized by John, heaven was opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son." (Luke 3:21-22)

What is the importance of Jesus' genealogy in Luke 3?

Jesus' genealogy in Luke 3 traces His lineage back to Adam, showing His connection to humanity and affirming His deity and humanity at the same time. (Luke 3:23-38)

Why was Jesus tempted in the wilderness?

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days, resisting every temptation, to demonstrate His faithfulness and obedience to God. (Luke 4:1-13)


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