The Gospel According to Saint Luke
Luke 3
Chapter III · Vol. IV, pp. 153–155
1 The preaching and baptism of John: 15 his testimony of Christ. 19 Herod imprisoneth John. 21 Christ is baptized, and receiveth testimony from heaven. 23 The age and genealogy of Christ from Joseph upwards.
1 Now in the fifteenth1 year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch2 of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea3 and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch2 of Abilene,
A.D. cir. 27.
1 That is, in his fifteenth as Cæsar, or co-regent with Augustus, and the thirteenth of his government as emperor. Pilate was the fourth governor of Judea after the deposition of Archelaus, the son of Herod, who was deposed by Augustus.—C.
2 Governor of a fourth part of the country.
3 Iturea, Abilene, Trachonitis. The geographical boundaries of these districts are not accurately known; but Abilene is supposed to have been part of Cœle-Syria, lying between Lebanon and Anti-Libanus, on the north of Judea; and Iturea, in the valleys of Anti-Libanus, on the north-east of Judea: Trachonitis adjoining it, and lying south of Damascus.—C.
2 Annasa and Caiaphas being the high-priests,4 the bword of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.5
a Jn.11.49,51; 18.13. Ac.4.6.
4 The law allowed but one high-priest: but two are here mentioned, either because Annas had been once high-priest, and so retained the title, or because, owing to some circumstance not recorded, Caiaphas was deputy, with the title of high-priest.—C.
5 ch.1.80. Jos.15.61; i.e. a country thinly inhabited.
3 Andc he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance6 for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, dThe voice of one crying in the wilderness, ePrepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Everyg 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 hall flesh7 shall see the salvation of God.
A.M. cir. 4031. A.D. cir. 27.
h ch.2.11, 30-32. Ps.98.2. Is.40.5;49.6;52.10. Mar.16.15,16. Ro.10.12,18.
7 All flesh—both Jew and Gentile.—C.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, iO generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from jthe wrath to come?
8 Bringk forth, therefore, fruits worthy 8of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, lWe have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of nthese stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
k Ac.26.20. Ga.5.22,23. 2 Pe.1.4-10. 2 Co.7.11. Is.1.16,17.
8 Or, meet for.
l Jn.8.33,39. Ac.13.26. Je.7.4.
n Jos.4.3,8. Mat.8.11,12; 21.43. ch.19.40.
9 Ando 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.
11 He answereth and saith unto them, qHe that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none;1 and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
q Ja.2.15,16; 1.27. 1 Jn.3.17;4.20. 1 Pe.4.8. 2 Co.8.14. ch.11.41. 1 Ti.6.18.
1 Let him that has honestly acquired more than he needs, impart to him that has less, who, with equal honesty, yet unsuccessfully, endeavoured to provide for his wants.—Note, It were worse than a perversion of Scripture to strain these words to a demand upon every honest and industrious man to bestow the surplus of his acquirements upon every man who had need, however dishonest or idle. But it were equally contrary to the spirit and intent of the passage to conclude that it does not require of Christians every degree of liberality which the tears of misery can entreat, consistently with the calculations of justice.—C.
12 Thenr came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
r Mat.21.31,32;8.10. ch.7.29,30;15.1,2;5.27-32.
14 And the tsoldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, uDo violence to no man,2 neither accuse any falsely;3 and be content with your wages.4Cited in WSC 78 · WCF 23.2 · HC 110
u Ex.23.1. Le.19.11,13. 1 Ti.6.8-10.
2 Or, Put no man in fear.
3 Neither accuse any falsely. 'Neither circumvent nor oppress any.'—C.
4 Or, allowance.
15 And as the people were in 5expectation, and all men mused6 in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not;7
5 Or, in suspense, Jn.1.19-24.
6 Or, reasoned or debated.
7 This verse is peculiar to Luke. It forms a suitable introduction to what follows, showing that the people were expecting some public declaration on the part of the Baptist as to his character and work.—P.
16 John answered, saying unto them all, vI indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: xhe shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:8
v Mat.3.11,12. Mar.1.7,8. Jn.1.15,26,33. Ac.13.24,25;19.4;1.5;11.16.
x Is.44.3,4. Joel 2.28. Mal.3.1,2,3. Jn.7.38. Ac.1.5;2.4,17;10.45;11.16. 1 Co.12.13. Pr.1.23.
8 See Mat.3.11,12.—C.
17 Whosey 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.
y Mat.3.12;13.30. Je.15.7,19. Mi.4.12. Mal.3.3;4.1. Ps.i.xxi.cx. Mar.9.44,48.
18 And many other things, in his exhortation, preached he unto the people.
19 Butz Herod9 the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
z Mat.14.3,4;11.2. Mar.6.17,18.
9 See Mat.14.1.—C.
20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, ait came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,Cited in HC 31
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove1 upon him; and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art bmy beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.2Cited in HC 31
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirtyc years of age,3 being (as was supposed) thed son of Joseph, which was the son4 of Heli,5
3 Had nearly completed his thirtieth year, the time at which the priests under the law, who were typical of Christ, entered on their work, Nu.4.23. 1 Ch.23.3.—C.
d Mat.13.55. Mar.6.3. Jn.6.42. ch.4.22.
4 Son-in-law. The forty men here mentioned from Joseph to David were Christ's natural progenitors by his mother, whereas those mentioned by Matthew (ch.1.6-16) were ancestors in office, and progenitors of Joseph his supposed father.
5 Matthew has traced the genealogy of Jesus through Solomon and Joseph; Luke through Nathan, another son of David, and Mary. Heli was not the natural father of Joseph, but his father-in-law and father of Mary. Females were not reckoned in the Jewish genealogies. Mary is, therefore, passed over in name, but clearly intended when her father Heli is introduced. Joseph was, however, legally called the son of Heli, inasmuch as those who married heiresses were obliged to pass into the families of their fathers-in-law and be reckoned as their sons. Luke, writing for the Gentiles, proves Christ to be the 'seed of the woman;' Matthew, writing for the Jews, proves him the son of David and Abraham.—C.
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,
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,
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,
27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel,6 which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
6 Whether Zorobabel and Salathiel are the same as those in Mat.1.12,13; 1 Ch.3.17,19; Ezr.3.2, is uncertain.
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,
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,
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,
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of eNathan, which was the son of David,
32 Whichg 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,
A.M. cir. 4034. A.D. cir. 30.
g 1 Ch.2.4,5,9-15. Mat.1.3-6. Ru.4.18-22.
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,
34 Whichh 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 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 Which was the son of 7Cainan,8 which was the son of jArphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
* The venerable Brown is of opinion that the name of Cainan should be thrown out, inasmuch as it is not found in the genealogy of Ge.11.12 and 1 Ch.1.18. But as no authority of MSS. is adduced for this omission, and as Luke must have quoted from the public registries, it would be unsafe to reject a name thus sanctioned. For examples are not wanting in the Old Testament of names occurring in one genealogy, and, for legal reasons now unknown to us, expunged from another. The reverse of this may, of course, be the case; and a name expunged from one ancient genealogy may, for legal reasons, be restored in another.—C.
7 This name ought to be thrown out, as it is not found in the correspondent lists.
8 See note * in first column.
j Ge.11.12.
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,
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.
Notes
Reflections.—The season of important events ought to be exactly marked. In great wisdom and grace Jesus appears to erect his kingdom when rulers almost everywhere are monsters of wickedness. And God, by his forerunner, honourably introduces him to his work. Great need have sinners to hasten to him when death and ruin are just at their heels. Dreadful is their case who fall into the hands of the living God. And none bid fairer for hell than they who have the strongest carnal or legal hopes of heaven. No outward privilege can avail those who have unrenewed hearts and unholy lives. And no repentance can be justly reckoned sincere that does not make men cease from and detest the sins to which they are most tempted or addicted. God often renders the most unlikely the distinguished monuments of his power and grace. But at best the state of the church is but imperfect and mixed in this world. In the next God will, to the joy of saints and terror of obstinate sinners, make a full separation; and many who, like Herod, did many good things, and heard God's ministers gladly, shall be cast into eternal ruin. It is a delightful sight when great honours render men humble; and humility is rewarded with more abundant honours. How solemn was our Saviour's consecration to his work, and his attestation by God! And it is plainly manifest that he is the seed of the woman, and of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Jesse, and David, according to the promise.