Luke 3:21

Luke 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
• New International Version (NIV)When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
• New King James Version (NKJV)When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

Context of Luke 3:21

19But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things he had done, 20Herod added this to everything else — he locked up John in prison. When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” 23As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,

Luke 3:21 word by word

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ βαπτισθῆναι ἅπαντα τὸν λαὸν καὶ Ἰησοῦ βαπτισθέντος καὶ προσευχομένου ἀνεῳχθῆναι τὸν οὐρανὸνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• whenἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• allἅπαςhapas · allG537
• the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
• were baptizedβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907
• it came to passγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• that JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• prayingπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• the heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• was openedἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455

Cross-references for Luke 3:21

• Matthew 3:13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
• Mark 1:9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
• John 1:32And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him.
• Luke 9:28About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
• John 12:27“Now my soul is troubled. What should I say — Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour.
• Matthew 3:16When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
• Mark 1:10As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Commentaries on Luke 3:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Jesus - being baptized - See on Matthew 3:16, Matthew 3:17; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21See the notes at Matthew 3:13-17. “Jesus being baptized;” or, Jesus “having been” baptized. This took place after the baptism, and not “during” its administration, Matthew 3:16. Praying - This circumstance is omitted by the other evangelists; and it shows, 1.That Jesus was in the habit of prayer. 2.That it is proper to offer up special prayer at the administration of the ordinances of religion. 3.That it is possible to pray in the midst of a great…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-22Verses 21-22 Christ did not confess sin, as others did, for he had none to confess; but he prayed, as others did, and kept up communion with his Father. Observe, all the three voices from heaven, by which the Father bare witness to the Son, were pronounced while he was praying, or soon after, Lu 9:35; Joh 12:28. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there came a voice from heaven, from God the Father, from the excellent…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21And as He was praying: Luke shows that Jesus trusted God and depended on him through prayer (5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1; 22:32, 41, 44; 23:34, 46). heaven was opened: This image was a sign of God’s presence (Isaiah 64:1), divine revelation (Ezekiel 1:1; John 1:51), and the end of an age (a major period in God’s plan; Revelation 4:1; 15:5; 19:11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. when all the people were baptized--that He might not seem to be merely one of the crowd. Thus, as He rode into Jerusalem upon an ass, "whereon yet never man sat" (Lu 19:30), and lay in a sepulchre "wherein was never man yet laid" (Joh 19:41), so in His baptism He would be "separate from sinners."Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 3:21

• Baptism
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• John

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Demand
• Mary
• Reprove
• Unquenchable
• Violence
• Wages
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on Luke 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings