Tyndale Open Study NotesLuke 3

After the birth story, Luke prepares his audience for the public ministry of Jesus. He describes the work of John the Baptist, who comes before the Messiah (the Christ, God's chosen king). He also tells about the baptism, family line (genealogy), and temptation of Jesus.

• In 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 Galilee: See “Herod Antipas” Profile.

• Antipas’s half-brother Philip was another son of Herod the Great. Philip ruled as tetrarch of the region northeast of Galilee from 4 BC until his death in AD 34. Tetrarch means “the ruler of a fourth of a kingdom.” The term later meant any minor ruler. Philip was a half brother of both Antipas and Herod Philip (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17).

• Annas and Caiaphas were Jewish high priests. Annas served from AD 6 to 15 until the Romans removed him. His son-in-law, Caiaphas, was the high priest from AD 18 to 36. Luke mentions both names because Annas was still very influential among the Jews (see John 18:13–14, 24; Acts 4:6).

• the word of God came to John son of Zechariah: John's role as a prophet was similar to that of the Old Testament prophets (see, for example, Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1).

preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins: John seems to have adapted the practice of baptism from Jewish rites using water to cleanse, or set apart, people and objects for God’s service (compare Leviticus 8:6). John called people to repent of their sins and prepare spiritually for the Messiah’s coming. Their baptism publicly demonstrated their repentance and spiritual cleansing.

• The quotation is from the ancient Greek version of Isaiah 40:3–5. It describes God bringing the Jews back from exile in Babylon. After they returned (Ezra 1–2). John shouted in the wilderness to prepare God’s people for the Lord’s coming. God’s salvation is portrayed as a new exodus, bringing deliverance like the first exodus from Egypt.

• make straight paths for Him … the rough ways smooth: This image reflects the Middle Eastern custom of preparing a road for a king (compare Luke 19:36–38).

God's coming wrath is the judgment for all who reject the gospel. Israel as a nation would experience this wrath in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 21:20–23).

• We have Abraham as our father: Some Jews believed that being part of Abraham's family line guaranteed their salvation (see John 8:33–39; Acts 7:2; Romans 4:1).

• And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.': God chose the Israelites as his people, but he could reject them. If he wanted, he could create children of Abraham from these very stones (compare Hosea 1:3–9; Romans 9:6–8, 27–28; 11:17–21).

every tree that does not produce good fruit: If Israel did not repent and produce good works, God would judge them to be as worthless as a vineyard without grapes (see Isaiah 5:1–7; compare Luke 13:7–9; 20:9–19).

two tunics: The Greek word refers to a long shirt worn next to the skin. Even the smallest surplus should be shared with others in need.

even tax collectors: In the first century, many people strongly disliked tax collectors. They were known for taking extra money and were seen as working for the Roman rulers, who were widely hated.

These soldiers were probably not Roman, but local Jewish troops under the authority of Herod Antipas. They might have been assigned to protect the tax collectors. John does not condemn either tax collectors or soldiers but calls them to honesty and integrity.

• the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: The untying of sandals was done only by slaves. John was showing great honor to Jesus the Messiah.

• Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire: Old Testament prophets said God would give his Spirit to his people in the last times (Isaiah 32:15, Ezekiel 36:28–29; Joel 2:28). This prophecy partly came true on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Fire often represents judgment (see Luke 3:9). It can also represent the spiritual cleansing and purifying of God's people (see 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; compare Isaiah 4:4; Malachi 3:2).

• After being harvested, the kernels of wheat would be beaten off the stalks and then tossed in the air with a winnowing fork to separate them from the chaff. The heavy grain would fall to the ground as the lighter chaff blew away. This is an image of separation for judgment.

• unquenchable fire: See Isaiah 66:24.

Herod Antipas was the ruler of Galilee. He divorced his first wife and married Herodias. Herodias was the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip.

When John publicly criticized Herod for this sin, Herod imprisoned and later executed him (compare 9:9; Mark 6:16–29). Herod’s execution of John is also recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 18.5.2).

The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of his public ministry and his anointing as the Christ (the Messiah, the one chosen and set apart by God). God spoke from heaven and confirmed who Jesus is and the mission he came to do.

• And 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).

• The Holy Spirit might have looked like a dove, or it might have come down as a dove would.

• You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased: This statement connects with Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1.

  • Psalm 2:7 shows that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ, the promised King) from David’s family line.

  • Isaiah 42:1 shows the servant of the Lord (the one chosen to carry out God’s work).

  God again declared who Jesus is from heaven at his transfiguration (when his appearance was changed in glory; Luke 9:35).

This record of the family line of Jesus is in the opposite order from Matthew’s list (Matthew 1:1–17). Luke traces the family line of Jesus back to Adam. This may show that Jesus is connected to all people as the Son of God (Luke 3:38).

Matthew’s list moves from Abraham down to Joseph. It shows that Jesus is the rightful heir (legal ruler) of David’s throne and the one who receives God’s promises to Abraham.

The two lists are very different. Because of this, some people suggest that Luke’s list is actually Mary’s family line (see study note on 3:23). If so, Mary may have been one of Luke’s main sources when he wrote his Gospel.

• Jesus Himself was about thirty years old: This is the only place in the New Testament that mentions how old Jesus was during his public ministry. The number is not exact. Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC (see study note on 2:2). He began his ministry between AD 27 and 29 (see study note on 3:1). This means he was probably about 31 to 35 years old when he began his public ministry.

• He was regarded as the son of Joseph: People understood Jesus to be Joseph’s son. He was Joseph’s legal son, but not his biological son.

• the son of Heli: If this passage gives Mary’s genealogy (a family line), as some think (see study note on 3:23–38), then Joseph may have been Heli’s son-in-law rather than his biological son. This is one possible meaning of the Greek sentence.

Zerubbabel was the governor of Judea. The Persians chose him when the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. He supervised the effort to build the temple again (Ezra 3:2, 8).

Nathan was King David’s third son, born in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:14). This is not the same person as Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 7:2).

Boaz married Ruth, who was from Moab (see Ruth 2–4).

• Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve. He was born after Cain killed Abel and God sent Cain away (Genesis 4:25–26).

• Adam was the son of God because he had no earthly father. God created him. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Satan repeatedly says to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God...” Adam was the first son of God and failed when tested. But Jesus, the Son of God in the fullest sense, successfully resisted temptation.