God’s Word Translation
Luke 3:1
1It was the fifteenth year in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod ruled Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.
Luke 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
- New International Version (NIV)In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Context of Luke 3:1
It was the fifteenth year in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod ruled Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. 2It was at the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests that God spoke to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Read all of Luke 3Luke 3:1 word by word
Ἐν ἔτει δὲ πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Τιβερίου Καίσαρος, ἡγεμονεύοντος Ποντίου Πιλάτου τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Γαλιλαίας Ἡρῴδου, Φιλίππου δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Ἰτουραίας καὶ Τραχωνίτιδος χώρας καὶ Λυσανίου τῆς Ἀβιληνῆς τετρααρχοῦντοςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Nowδέde · thenG1161
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the fifteenthπεντεκαιδέκατοςpentekaidekatos · fifteenthG4003
- yearἔτοςetos · yearG2094
- of the reignἡγεμονίαhēgemonia · reignG2231
- of TiberiusΤιβέριοςTiberios · TiberiusG5086
- CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
- PontiusΠόντιοςPontios · PontiusG4194
- PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
- being governorἡγεμονεύωhēgemoneuō · to governG2230
- of JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
- being tetrarchτετραρχέωtetrarcheō · be a tetrarchG5075
- of GalileeΓαλιλαίαGalilaia · GalileeG1056
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- PhilipΦίλιπποςPhilippos · PhilipG5376
- of ItureaἸτουραΐαItouraia · IturaeaG2484
- of the regionχώραchōra · countryG5561
- of TrachonitisΤραχωνῖτιςTrachōnitis · TrachonitisG5139
- LysaniasΛυσανίαςLusanias · LysaniasG3078
- of AbileneἈβιληνήAbilēnē · AbileneG9
Cross-references for Luke 3:1
- Luke 2:1At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire.
- Luke 23:1Then the entire assembly stood up and took him to Pilate.
- Genesis 49:10A scepter will never depart from Judah nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes and the people obey him.
- Acts 4:27“In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
- Acts 23:26Claudius Lysias sends greetings to Your Excellency, Governor Felix:
- Acts 24:27Two years passed. Then Porcius Festus took Felix’s place. (Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.)
- Acts 26:30The king, the governor, Bernice, and the people who were sitting with them got up.
- Luke 3:19John spoke out against the ruler Herod because Herod had married his own sister-in-law, Herodias. He also spoke out against Herod for all the evil things he had done.
- Luke 9:7Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life.
- Luke 23:6When Pilate heard that, he asked if the man was from Galilee.
- Matthew 14:3Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did this for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
- Mark 6:17Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.)
Commentaries on Luke 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Fifteenth year - This was the fifteenth of his principality and thirteenth of his monarchy: for he was two years joint emperor, previously to the death of Augustus. Tiberius Caesar - This emperor succeeded Augustus, in whose reign Christ was born. He began his reign August 19, a.d. 14, reigned twenty-three years, and died March 16, a.d. 37, aged seventy eight years. He was a most infamous character. During the latter part of his reign especially, he did…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Now in the fifteenth year - This was the “thirteenth” year of his being sole emperor. He was “two” years joint emperor with Augustus, and Luke reckons from the time when he was admitted to share the empire with Augustus Caesar. See Lardner‘s “Credibility,” vol. i. Tiberius Caesar - Tiberius succeeded Augustus in the empire, and began his “sole” reign Aug. 19th, 14 a.d. He was a most infamous character - a scourge to the Roman people. He reigned 23 years…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1John the Baptist's ministry. (1-14) John the Baptist testifies concerning Christ. (15-20) The baptism of Christ. (21-22) The genealogy of Christ. (23-38) Verses 1-14 The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar: Tiberius Caesar began to rule with his stepfather, Caesar Augustus, in AD 11. He became the sole emperor in AD 14 and ruled until AD 37. Luke may be counting from either AD 11 or AD 14. If so, John began his public ministry around AD 26/27 or AD 29/30. Jesus began his own ministry soon after John. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea from AD 26 to 36 (see “Pontius Pilate” Profile). Herod tetrarch of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-20(See on Mt 3:1-12; Mr 6:17, &c.). 1-2. Here the curtain of the New Testament is, as it were, drawn up, and the greatest of all epochs of the Church commences. Even our Lord's own age (Lu 3:23) is determined by it [Bengel]. No such elaborate chronological precision is to be found elsewhere in the New Testament, and it comes fitly from him who claims it as the peculiar recommendation of his Gospel, that he had "accurately traced down all things from the…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 3:1
In the dictionaries
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
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