3:1 fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Successor of Caesar Augustus; ruled ca. ad 14–37. This reference puts the start of John’s ministry around ad 28.

Political Leaders in the New Testament Table

Pontius Pilate Ruled ca. ad 26–36. See note on Matt 27:2.

Herod was tetrarch of Galilee Refers to Herod Antipas. After the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was divided among his sons. Antipas controlled Galilee and Perea; Archelaus ruled Samaria, Judaea, and Idumea; and Philip governed the smaller enclaves northeast of the Sea of Galilee, composed primarily of Syrians and Greeks.

Political Leaders in the New Testament Table

3:2 Annas High priest ca. ad 6–15. The title high priest seems to have been permanent even though the functions were temporary. In other words, ex-high priests bore the honorific title for life even after they were replaced by another high priest.

Caiaphas Annas’ son-in-law; served as high priest ca. ad 18–36.

John the son of Zechariah See 1:13.

in the wilderness See note on 4:1 (compare 1:80).

3:3 baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins Baptism demonstrated repentance and a commitment to a changed life in preparation for the coming Messiah. In this way John’s baptism was related to forgiveness of sins.

Baptism

Aphesis Word Study

3:4 words of the prophet Isaiah Introduces the quotation of Isa 40:3–5. John’s ministry was in preparation for the Messiah.

3:6 all flesh will see the salvation of God See Luke 2:32 and note.

3:7 he was saying to the crowds Matthew 3:7 identifies the recipients of John’s rebuke as the Pharisees and Sadducees.

3:8 fruit worthy of repentance Anticipates the tree metaphor in the next verse. John is calling for obedience—behavior that is the natural result of a truly repentant heart. Compare Luke 6:43–44.

We have Abraham as father An authoritative appeal to Jewish ethnic identity as a means of deliverance from God’s judgment. However, John argues that repentance—not legal observance or familial descent—is most important. Jesus addresses this issue in the Gospel of John (compare John 8:39 and note).

3:9 ax is positioned at the root An image of impending judgment. Compare Luke 13:6–9.

fire A symbol of divine wrath. Fire also became an image for final punishment—especially connected with the Valley of Ben-Hinnom (2 Chr 33:6; Jer 7:31–32) on the west side of Jerusalem at Wadi er-Rababi. See note on Luke 12:5.

3:11 share The people of God demonstrate this quality (see note on Matt 5:1–12; compare Luke 6:29; Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–37).

3:12 tax collectors Associated with sinners throughout Luke’s Gospel (e.g., Luke 5:30; 7:34; 15:1; 19:1–7). Jews in the first century despised tax collectors, who profited by charging people more than they owed. See note on Matt 5:46.

3:13 no more than what you are ordered to John advises the tax collectors to stop defrauding people. Zacchaeus exemplifies obedience to this exhortation in Luke 19:1–10.

3:14 do not blackmail anyone, and be content John advises the soldiers to practice honesty and contentment.

3:15 the people were waiting expectantly Jews in the first-century ad anticipated the coming of the Messiah (compare 1:66; 2:25–37).

3:16 more powerful John makes it clear that he is not the Messiah (compare John 1:20; note on Mark 1:7).

untie the strap of his sandals Refers to a task normally given to a slave. An alternate form of this saying appears in John 1:27.

baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire This likely signals the purifying function of Jesus’ efforts, reflecting prophetic imagery (compare Isa 6:5–7). It also could anticipate the events of Pentecost (Acts 2). Another possibility draws on the symbolic association of fire with divine wrath (e.g., Luke 3:9, 17; Matt 3:10, 12) and envisions a twofold baptism: The repentant will receive baptism with the Holy Spirit, but the non-repentant will receive the baptism associated with judgment.

3:17 winnowing shovel A symbol of judgment. See note on Matt 3:12.

unquenchable fire A symbol of divine wrath (compare Rev 19:11–20:10). See note on Luke 3:9.

3:19 concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife John had spoken out against Herod’s marriage to Herodias. See Matt 14:3–12; Mark 6:14–29.

3:21 Jesus also was baptized See Matt 3:15 and note.

3:22 in bodily form Luke is the only Gospel to include this detail. See Matt 3:16 and note.

You are my beloved Son See note on Mark 1:11.

with you I am well pleased Possibly an allusion to Isaiah (see Isa 42:1 and note).

3:23 about thirty years old Luke uses the Greek preposition hōsei (meaning “like,” “as,” or “about”) to approximate Jesus’ age at the inception of His ministry (compare 1:80 and note).

as it was believed Not everyone knew of Jesus’ miraculous conception, and people would have assumed that Joseph was His biological father (e.g., 4:22). Nonetheless, Jesus is presented as Joseph’s rightful heir.