1ενG1722{PREP} ετειG2094{N-DSN} δεG1161{CONJ} πεντεκαιδεκατωG4003{A-DSN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ηγεμονιαςG2231{N-GSF} τιβεριουG5086{N-GSM} καισαροςG2541{N-GSM} ηγεμονευοντοςG2230{V-PAP-GSM} ποντιουG4194{N-GSM} πιλατουG4091{N-GSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ιουδαιαςG2449{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ατετρααρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} τσβτετραρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γαλιλαιαςG1056{N-GSF} ηρωδουG2264{N-GSM} φιλιππουG5376{N-GSM} δεG1161{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSM} αδελφουG80{N-GSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} ατετρααρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} τσβτετραρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ιτουραιαςG2484{A-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} τραχωνιτιδοςG5139{N-GSF} χωραςG5561{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} λυσανιουG3078{N-GSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} αβιληνηςG9{N-GSF} ατετρααρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} τσβτετραρχουντοςG5075{V-PAP-GSM} 2αβεπιG1909{PREP} τσεπG1909{PREP} αβαρχιερεωςG749{N-GSM} τσαρχιερεωνG749{N-GPM} ανναG452{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} καιαφαG2533{N-GSM} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} ρημαG4487{N-NSN} θεουG2316{N-GSM} επιG1909{PREP} ιωαννηνG2491{N-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} τστουG3588{T-GSM} ζαχαριουG2197{N-GSM} υιονG5207{N-ASM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ερημωG2048{A-DSF} 3καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} πασανG3956{A-ASF} α[την]G3588{T-ASF} τσβτηνG3588{T-ASF} περιχωρονG4066{A-ASF} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιορδανουG2446{N-GSM} κηρυσσωνG2784{V-PAP-NSM} βαπτισμαG908{N-ASN} μετανοιαςG3341{N-GSF} ειςG1519{PREP} αφεσινG859{N-ASF} αμαρτιωνG266{N-GPF} 4ωςG5613{ADV} γεγραπταιG1125{V-RPI-3S} ενG1722{PREP} βιβλωG976{N-DSF} λογωνG3056{N-GPM} ησαιουG2268{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} προφητουG4396{N-GSM} τσβλεγοντοςG3004{V-PAP-GSN} φωνηG5456{N-NSF} βοωντοςG994{V-PAP-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ερημωG2048{A-DSF} ετοιμασατεG2090{V-AAM-2P} τηνG3588{T-ASF} οδονG3598{N-ASF} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} ευθειαςG2117{A-APF} ποιειτεG4160{V-PAM-2P} ταςG3588{T-APF} τριβουςG5147{N-APF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} 5πασαG3956{A-NSF} φαραγξG5327{N-NSF} πληρωθησεταιG4137{V-FPI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} πανG3956{A-NSN} οροςG3735{N-NSN} καιG2532{CONJ} βουνοςG1015{N-NSM} ταπεινωθησεταιG5013{V-FPI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} εσταιG2071{V-FXI-3S} ταG3588{T-NPN} σκολιαG4646{A-NPN} ειςG1519{PREP} ευθειανG2117{A-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} αιG3588{T-NPF} τραχειαιG5138{A-NPF} ειςG1519{PREP} οδουςG3598{N-APF} λειαςG3006{A-APF} 6καιG2532{CONJ} οψεταιG3700{V-FDI-3S} πασαG3956{A-NSF} σαρξG4561{N-NSF} τοG3588{T-ASN} σωτηριονG4992{A-ASN} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} 7ελεγενG3004{V-IAI-3S} ουνG3767{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} εκπορευομενοιςG1607{V-PNP-DPM} οχλοιςG3793{N-DPM} βαπτισθηναιG907{V-APN} υπG5259{PREP} αυτουG846{P-GSM} γεννηματαG1081{N-VPN} εχιδνωνG2191{N-GPF} τιςG5101{I-NSM} υπεδειξενG5263{V-AAI-3S} υμινG5213{P-2DP} φυγεινG5343{V-2AAN} αποG575{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} μελλουσηςG3195{V-PAP-GSF} οργηςG3709{N-GSF} 8ποιησατεG4160{V-AAM-2P} ουνG3767{CONJ} καρπουςG2590{N-APM} αξιουςG514{A-APM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} μετανοιαςG3341{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} αρξησθεG756{V-AMS-2P} λεγεινG3004{V-PAN} ενG1722{PREP} εαυτοιςG1438{F-3DPM} πατεραG3962{N-ASM} εχομενG2192{V-PAI-1P} τονG3588{T-ASM} αβρααμG11{N-PRI} λεγωG3004{V-PAI-1S} γαρG1063{CONJ} υμινG5213{P-2DP} οτιG3754{CONJ} δυναταιG1410{V-PNI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} λιθωνG3037{N-GPM} τουτωνG5130{D-GPM} εγειραιG1453{V-AAN} τεκναG5043{N-APN} τωG3588{T-DSM} αβρααμG11{N-PRI} 9ηδηG2235{ADV} δεG1161{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} αξινηG513{N-NSF} προςG4314{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ριζανG4491{N-ASF} τωνG3588{T-GPN} δενδρωνG1186{N-GPN} κειταιG2749{V-PNI-3S} πανG3956{A-NSN} ουνG3767{CONJ} δενδρονG1186{N-NSN} μηG3361{PRT-N} ποιουνG4160{V-PAP-NSN} καρπονG2590{N-ASM} καλονG2570{A-ASM} εκκοπτεταιG1581{V-PPI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ειςG1519{PREP} πυρG4442{N-ASN} βαλλεταιG906{V-PPI-3S} 10καιG2532{CONJ} επηρωτωνG1905{V-IAI-3P} αυτονG846{P-ASM} οιG3588{T-NPM} οχλοιG3793{N-NPM} λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} τιG5101{I-ASN} ουνG3767{CONJ} αποιησωμενG4160{V-AAS-1P} τσβποιησομενG4160{V-FAI-1P} 11αποκριθειςG611{V-AOP-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} αελεγενG3004{V-IAI-3S} τσβλεγειG3004{V-PAI-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} οG3588{T-NSM} εχωνG2192{V-PAP-NSM} δυοG1417{A-NUI} χιτωναςG5509{N-APM} μεταδοτωG3330{V-2AAM-3S} τωG3588{T-DSM} μηG3361{PRT-N} εχοντιG2192{V-PAP-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} εχωνG2192{V-PAP-NSM} βρωματαG1033{N-APN} ομοιωςG3668{ADV} ποιειτωG4160{V-PAM-3S} 12ηλθονG2064{V-2AAI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} τελωναιG5057{N-NPM} βαπτισθηναιG907{V-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} αειπανG3004{V-2AAI-3P} τσβειπονG2036{V-2AAI-3P} προςG4314{PREP} αυτονG846{P-ASM} διδασκαλεG1320{N-VSM} τιG5101{I-ASN} αποιησωμενG4160{V-AAS-1P} τσβποιησομενG4160{V-FAI-1P} 13οG3588{T-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} αυτουςG846{P-APM} μηδενG3367{A-ASN} πλεονG4119{A-ASN-C} παραG3844{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} διατεταγμενονG1299{V-RPP-ASN} υμινG5213{P-2DP} πρασσετεG4238{V-PAI-2P} 14επηρωτωνG1905{V-IAI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} αυτονG846{P-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} στρατευομενοιG4754{V-PMP-NPM} λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} ατιG5101{I-ASN} αποιησωμενG4160{V-AAS-1P} καιG2532{CONJ} ημειςG2249{P-1NP} τσβτιG5101{I-ASN} τσβποιησομενG4160{V-FAI-1P} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} ααυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τσβπροςG4314{PREP} τσβαυτουςG846{P-APM} μηδεναG3367{A-ASM} διασεισητεG1286{V-AAS-2P} μηδεG3366{CONJ} συκοφαντησητεG4811{V-AAS-2P} καιG2532{CONJ} αρκεισθεG714{V-PPM-2P} τοιςG3588{T-DPN} οψωνιοιςG3800{N-DPN} υμωνG5216{P-2GP} 15προσδοκωντοςG4328{V-PAP-GSM} δεG1161{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSM} λαουG2992{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} διαλογιζομενωνG1260{V-PNP-GPM} παντωνG3956{A-GPM} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} καρδιαιςG2588{N-DPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} περιG4012{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιωαννουG2491{N-GSM} μηποτεG3379{ADV} αυτοςG846{P-NSM} ειηG1498{V-PXO-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} χριστοςG5547{N-NSM} 16απεκρινατοG611{V-ADI-3S} αλεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} απασινG3956{A-DPM} οG3588{T-NSM} ιωαννηςG2491{N-NSM} τσβαπασινG537{A-DPM} τσβλεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} εγωG1473{P-1NS} μενG3303{PRT} υδατιG5204{N-DSN} βαπτιζωG907{V-PAI-1S} υμαςG5209{P-2AP} ερχεταιG2064{V-PNI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} ισχυροτεροςG2478{A-NSM-C} μουG3450{P-1GS} ουG3739{R-GSM} ουκG3756{PRT-N} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} ικανοςG2425{A-NSM} λυσαιG3089{V-AAN} τονG3588{T-ASM} ιμανταG2438{N-ASM} τωνG3588{T-GPN} υποδηματωνG5266{N-GPN} αυτουG846{P-GSM} αυτοςG846{P-NSM} υμαςG5209{P-2AP} βαπτισειG907{V-FAI-3S} ενG1722{PREP} πνευματιG4151{N-DSN} αγιωG40{A-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} πυριG4442{N-DSN} 17ουG3739{R-GSM} τοG3588{T-NSN} πτυονG4425{N-NSN} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} χειριG5495{N-DSF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} αδιακαθαραιG1245{V-AAN} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσβδιακαθαριειG1245{V-FAI-3S-ATT} τηνG3588{T-ASF} αλωναG257{N-ASF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ασυναγαγεινG4863{V-2AAN} τσβσυναξειG4863{V-FAI-3S} τονG3588{T-ASM} σιτονG4621{N-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} αποθηκηνG596{N-ASF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} τοG3588{T-ASN} δεG1161{CONJ} αχυρονG892{N-ASN} κατακαυσειG2618{V-FAI-3S} πυριG4442{N-DSN} ασβεστωG762{A-DSN} 18πολλαG4183{A-APN} μενG3303{PRT} ουνG3767{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} ετεραG2087{A-APN} παρακαλωνG3870{V-PAP-NSM} ευηγγελιζετοG2097{V-IMI-3S} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM} 19οG3588{T-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} ηρωδηςG2264{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} ατετρααρχηςG5076{N-NSM} τσβτετραρχηςG5076{N-NSM} ελεγχομενοςG1651{V-PPP-NSM} υπG5259{PREP} αυτουG846{P-GSM} περιG4012{PREP} ηρωδιαδοςG2266{N-GSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γυναικοςG1135{N-GSF} τσφιλιππουG5376{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} αδελφουG80{N-GSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} περιG4012{PREP} παντωνG3956{A-GPN} ωνG3739{R-GPN} εποιησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} πονηρωνG4190{A-GPN} οG3588{T-NSM} ηρωδηςG2264{N-NSM} 20προσεθηκενG4369{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} τουτοG5124{D-ASN} επιG1909{PREP} πασινG3956{A-DPN} α[και]G2532{CONJ} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} κατεκλεισενG2623{V-AAI-3S} τονG3588{T-ASM} ιωαννηνG2491{N-ASM} ενG1722{PREP} τσβτηG3588{T-DSF} φυλακηG5438{N-DSF} 21εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} βαπτισθηναιG907{V-APN} απανταG537{A-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ιησουG2424{N-GSM} βαπτισθεντοςG907{V-APP-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} προσευχομενουG4336{V-PNP-GSM} ανεωχθηναιG455{V-APN} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} 22καιG2532{CONJ} καταβηναιG2597{V-2AAN} τοG3588{T-NSN} πνευμαG4151{N-NSN} τοG3588{T-NSN} αγιονG40{A-NSN} σωματικωG4984{A-DSN} ειδειG1491{N-DSN} αωςG5613{ADV} τσβωσειG5616{ADV} περιστερανG4058{N-ASF} επG1909{PREP} αυτονG846{P-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} φωνηνG5456{N-ASF} εξG1537{PREP} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} γενεσθαιG1096{V-2ADN} τσβλεγουσανG3004{V-PAP-ASF} συG4771{P-2NS} ειG1488{V-PXI-2S} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} μουG3450{P-1GS} οG3588{T-NSM} αγαπητοςG27{A-NSM} ενG1722{PREP} σοιG4671{P-2DS} αβευδοκησαG2106{V-AAI-1S} τσηυδοκησαG2106{V-AAI-1S} 23καιG2532{CONJ} αυτοςG846{P-NSM} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} τσβοG3588{T-NSM} ιησουςG2424{N-NSM} ααρχομενοςG756{V-PMP-NSM} ωσειG5616{ADV} ετωνG2094{N-GPN} τριακονταG5144{A-NUI} τσβαρχομενοςG756{V-PMP-NSM} ωνG5607{V-PXP-NSM} αυιοςG5207{N-NSM} ωςG5613{ADV} ενομιζετοG3543{V-IPI-3S} τσβυιοςG5207{N-NSM} ιωσηφG2501{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ηλιG2242{N-PRI} 24τουG3588{T-GSM} αμαθθατG3158{N-PRI} τσβματθατG3158{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} λευιG3017{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} μελχιG3197{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιανναιG2388{N-PRI} τσβιανναG2388{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιωσηφG2501{N-PRI} 25τουG3588{T-GSM} ματταθιουG3161{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} αμωςG301{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ναουμG3486{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} εσλιG2069{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ναγγαιG3477{N-PRI} 26τουG3588{T-GSM} μααθG3092{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ματταθιουG3161{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ασεμεινG4584{N-PRI} τσβσεμειG4584{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιωσηχG2501{N-PRI} τσβιωσηφG2501{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιωδαG2448{N-PRI} τσβιουδαG2455{N-GSM} 27τουG3588{T-GSM} αβιωανανG2490{N-PRI} τσιωανναG2490{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ρησαG4488{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ζοροβαβελG2216{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} σαλαθιηλG4528{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} νηριG3518{N-PRI} 28τουG3588{T-GSM} μελχιG3197{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αδδιG78{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} κωσαμG2973{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αελμαδαμG1678{N-PRI} τσβελμωδαμG1678{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ηρG2262{N-PRI} 29τουG3588{T-GSM} αιησουG2424{N-GSM} τσβιωσηG2499{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ελιεζερG1663{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιωριμG2497{N-PRI} τσβιωρειμG2497{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αμαθθατG3158{N-PRI} τσβματθατG3158{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} λευιG3017{N-PRI} 30τουG3588{T-GSM} σσιμεωνG4826{N-PRI} αβτσυμεωνG4826{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιουδαG2455{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιωσηφG2501{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιωναμG2494{N-PRI} τσβιωνανG2494{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αελιακιμG1662{N-PRI} τσβελιακειμG1662{N-PRI} 31τουG3588{T-GSM} μελεαG3190{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αμενναG3104{N-PRI} σμεναμG3104{N-PRI} βτμαινανG3104{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ματταθαG3160{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αναθαμG3481{N-PRI} τσβναθανG3481{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αβδαυιδG1138{N-PRI} τσδαβιδG1138{N-PRI} 32τουG3588{T-GSM} ιεσσαιG2421{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιωβηδG5601{N-PRI} τσβωβηδG5601{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αβοοςG1003{N-PRI} τσββοοζG1003{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ασαλαG4527{N-PRI} τσβσαλμωνG4533{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ναασσωνG3476{N-PRI} 33τουG3588{T-GSM} αμιναδαβG284{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ααδμινG689{N-PRI} ατουG3588{T-GSM} ααρνιG2496{N-PRI} τσβαραμG689{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} εσρωμG2074{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} φαρεςG5329{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ιουδαG2455{N-GSM} 34τουG3588{T-GSM} ιακωβG2384{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ισαακG2464{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αβρααμG11{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} θαραG2291{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ναχωρG3493{N-PRI} 35τουG3588{T-GSM} αβσερουχG4562{N-PRI} τσσαρουχG4562{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ραγαυG4466{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} βφαλεγG5317{N-PRI} ατσφαλεκG5317{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} εβερG1443{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} σαλαG4527{N-PRI} 36τουG3588{T-GSM} ακαιναμG2536{N-PRI} τσβκαινανG2536{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αρφαξαδG742{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} σημG4590{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} νωεG3575{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} λαμεχG2984{N-PRI} 37τουG3588{T-GSM} μαθουσαλαG3103{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} ενωχG1802{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} αιαρετG2391{N-PRI} τσβιαρεδG2391{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} μαλελεηλG3121{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSM} 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Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PREACHING, BAPTISM, AND IMPRISONMENT OF JOHN. (Luke 3:1-20)
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 (
Luke 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 first" (
Luke 1:3). Here, evidently, commences his proper narrative. Also see on
Matt 3:1.
the fifteenth year of Tiberius--reckoning from the period when he was admitted, three years before Augustus' death, to a share of the empire [WEBSTER and WILKINSON], about the end of the year of Rome 779, or about four years before the usual reckoning.
Pilate . . . governor of Judea--His proper title was Procurator, but with more than the usual powers of that office. After holding it about ten years he was ordered to Rome, to answer to charges brought against him, but ere he arrived Tiberius died (A.D. 35), and soon after Pilate committed suicide.
Herod--(See on
Mark 6:14).
Philip--a different and very superior Philip to the one whose wife Herodias went to live with Herod Antipas. (See
Mark 6:17).
Iturea--to the northeast of Palestine; so called from Ishmael's son Itur or Jetur (
1Chr 1:31), and anciently belonging to the half tribe of Manasseh.
Trachonitis--farther to the northeast, between Iturea and Damascus; a rocky district, infested by robbers, and committed by Augustus to Herod the Great to keep in order.
Abilene--still more to the northeast, so called from Abila, eighteen miles from Damascus [ROBINSON].
2 Annas and Caiaphas . . . high priests--the former, though deposed, retained much of his influence, and, probably, as sagan or deputy, exercised much of the power of the high priesthood along with Caiaphas (
John 18:13;
Acts 4:6). Both Zadok and Abiathar acted as high priests in David's time (
2Sam 15:35), and it seems to have become the fixed practice to have two (
2Kgs 25:18). (Also see on
Matt 3:1.)
word of God came unto John--Such formulas, of course, are never used when speaking of Jesus, because the divine nature manifested itself in Him not at certain isolated moments of His life. He was the one everlasting manifestation of the Godhead--THE WORD [OLSHAUSEN].
5 Every valley, &c.--levelling and smoothing, obvious figures, the sense of which is in the first words of the proclamation, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
6 all flesh, &c.--(quoted literally from the Septuagint of
Isa 40:5). The idea is that every obstruction shall be so removed as to reveal to the whole world the Salvation of God in Him whose name is the "Saviour" (compare
Ps 98:3;
Isa 11:10;
Isa 49:6;
Isa 52:10;
Luke 2:31-
Luke 2:32;
Acts 13:47).
10 What shall we do then?--to show the sincerity of our repentance. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
11 two coats--directed against the reigning avarice. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
12 publicans, &c. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
13 Exact no more, &c.--directed against that extortion which made the publicans a byword. (See on
Luke 19:2;
Luke 19:8). (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
14 soldiers . . . Do violence to none--The word signifies to "shake thoroughly," and so to "intimidate," probably in order to extort money or other property. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
accuse . . . falsely--acting as informers vexatiously, on frivolous or false grounds.
content with your wages--"rations." We may take this as a warning against mutiny, which the officers attempted to suppress by largesses and donations [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. And thus the "fruits" which would evidence their repentance were just resistance to the reigning sins, particularly of the class to which the penitent belonged, and the manifestation of an opposite spirit.
15 whether he were the Christ--showing both how successful he had been in awakening the expectation of Messiah's immediate appearing, and the high estimation, and even reverence, which his own character commanded. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
16 John answered--either to the deputation from Jerusalem (see
John 1:19, &c.), or on some other occasion, simply to remove impressions derogatory to his blessed Master which he knew to be taking hold of the popular mind. (Also see on
Matt 3:10.)
saying unto them all--in solemn protestation. So far from entertaining such a thought as laying claim to the honors of Messiahship, the meanest services I can render to that "Mightier than I that is coming after me," are too high an honor for me. Beautiful spirit, distinguishing this servant of Christ throughout!
one mightier than I--"the Mighter than I."
18 many other things, &c.--such as we read in
John 1:29,
John 1:33-
John 1:34;
John 3:27-
John 3:36. (Also see on
Matt 3:12.)
19 But Herod, &c.--See on
Mark 6:14, &c. (Also see on
Matt 3:12.)
and for all the evils which Herod had done--important fact here only mentioned, showing how thoroughgoing was the fidelity of the Baptist to his royal hearer, and how strong must have been the workings of conscience in that slave of passion when, notwithstanding such plainness, he "did many things and heard John gladly" (
Mark 6:20,
Mark 6:26).
20 Added yet, &c.--(Also see on
Matt 3:12).
21 BAPTISM OF AND DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT UPON JESUS. (
Luke 3:21-
Luke 3:22)
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" (
Luke 19:30), and lay in a sepulchre "wherein was never man yet laid" (
John 19:41), so in His baptism He would be "separate from sinners."
23 GENEALOGY OF JESUS. (Luke 3:23-38)
he began to be about thirty--that is, "was about entering on His thirtieth year." So our translators have taken the word (and so CALVIN, BEZA, BLOOMFIELD, WEBSTER and WILKINSON, &c.): but "was about thirty years of age when He began [His ministry]," makes better Greek, and is probably the true sense [BENGEL, OLSHAUSEN, DE WETTE, MEYER, ALFORD, &c.]. At this age the priests entered on their office (
Num 4:3).
being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, &c.--Have we in this genealogy, as well as in Matthew's, the line of Joseph? or is this the line of Mary?--a point on which there has been great difference of opinion and much acute discussion. Those who take the former opinion contend that it is the natural sense of this verse, and that no other would have been thought of but for its supposed improbability and the uncertainty which it seems to throw over our Lord's real descent. But it is liable to another difficulty; namely, that in this case Matthew makes Jacob, while Luke makes "Heli," to be Joseph's father; and though the same man had often more than one name, we ought not to resort to that supposition, in such a case as this, without necessity. And then, though the descent of Mary from David would be liable to no real doubt, even though we had no table of her line preserved to us (see, for example, Luke 1:2-32, and see on
Luke 2:5), still it does seem unlikely--we say not incredible--that two genealogies of our Lord should be preserved to us, neither of which gives his real descent. Those who take the latter opinion, that we have here the line of Mary, as in Matthew that of Joseph--here His real, there His reputed line--explain the statement about Joseph, that he was "the son of Hell," to mean that he was his son-in-law, as the husband of his daughter Mary (as in
Ruth 1:11-
Ruth 1:12), and believe that Joseph's name is only introduced instead of Mary's, in conformity with the Jewish custom in such tables. Perhaps this view is attended with fewest difficulties, as it certainly is the best supported. However we decide, it is a satisfaction to know that not a doubt was thrown out by the bitterest of the early enemies of Christianity as to our Lord's real descent from David. On comparing the two genealogies, it will be found that Matthew, writing more immediately for Jews, deemed it enough to show that the Saviour was sprung from Abraham and David; whereas Luke, writing more immediately for Gentiles, traces the descent back to Adam, the parent stock of the whole human family, thus showing Him to be the promised "Seed of the woman." "The possibility of constructing such a table, comprising a period of thousands of years, in an uninterrupted line from father to son, of a family that dwelt for a long time in the utmost retirement, would be inexplicable, had not the members of this line been endowed with a thread by which they could extricate themselves from the many families into which every tribe and branch was again subdivided, and thus hold fast and know the member that was destined to continue the lineage. This thread was the hope that Messiah would be born of the race of Abraham and David. The ardent desire to behold Him and be partakers of His mercy and glory suffered not the attention to be exhausted through a period embracing thousands of years. Thus the member destined to continue the lineage, whenever doubtful, became easily distinguishable, awakening the hope of a final fulfilment, and keeping it alive until it was consummated" [OLSHAUSEN].
24 son of Matthat, &c.--(See on
Matt 1:13-
Matt 1:15). In
Luke 3:27, Salathiel is called the son, while in
Matt 1:12, he is called the father of Zerubbabel. But they are probably different persons.
38 son of God--Compare
Acts 17:28.