Skip to the text

Luke · King James Version (with Apocrypha)

Luke 3 King James Version (with Apocrypha)

Leer en español
About KJV
  • Protestant
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Textus Receptus
  • Protestant, with the Apocrypha
  • Formal (word for word)
  • 1611
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages. 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli, 24 Which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Janna, which was [the son] of Joseph, 25 Which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Amos, which was [the son] of Naum, which was [the son] of Esli, which was [the son] of Nagge, 26 Which was [the son] of Maath, which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Semei, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Juda, 27 Which was [the son] of Joanna, which was [the son] of Rhesa, which was [the son] of Zorobabel, which was [the son] of Salathiel, which was [the son] of Neri, 28 Which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Addi, which was [the son] of Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam, which was [the son] of Er, 29 Which was [the son] of Jose, which was [the son] of Eliezer, which was [the son] of Jorim, which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, 30 Which was [the son] of Simeon, which was [the son] of Juda, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan, which was [the son] of Eliakim, 31 Which was [the son] of Melea, which was [the son] of Menan, which was [the son] of Mattatha, which was [the son] of Nathan, which was [the son] of David, 32 Which was [the son] of Jesse, which was [the son] of Obed, which was [the son] of Booz, which was [the son] of Salmon, which was [the son] of Naasson, 33 Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares, which was [the son] of Juda, 34 Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara, which was [the son] of Nachor, 35 Which was [the son] of Saruch, which was [the son] of Ragau, which was [the son] of Phalec, which was [the son] of Heber, which was [the son] of Sala, 36◆ Which was [the son] of Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech, 37 Which was [the son] of Mathusala, which was [the son] of Enoch, which was [the son] of Jared, which was [the son] of Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan, 38 Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Addi

    Son of Cosam (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Cosam.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28

  • Amos

    Son of Nahum (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Nahum.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25

  • Annas

    High priest, father-in-law of Caiaphas

    Named as high priest alongside Caiaphas when John began preaching, and as the father-in-law of Caiaphas, to whom Jesus was brought first.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:2; John 18:13; John 18:24

  • Caiaphas

    High priest

    The high priest that year, son-in-law of Annas, in whose court the council met to plot against Jesus and to whom Jesus was sent bound.

    Cited in the guide: Matthew 26:3; Matthew 26:57; Luke 3:2

  • Cainan

    Son of Arphaxad (Luke)

    Luke 3:36 lists Cainan as the son of Arphaxad and father of Shelah; he is absent from the Hebrew Genesis 11 list, which has Arphaxad as Shelah's father directly.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:36

  • Cosam

    Son of Elmadam (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Elmadam.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28

  • Eliakim

    Son of Melea (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melea.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30

  • Eliezer

    Son of Jorim (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jorim.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29

  • Er

    Son of Joshua (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Joshua.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28

  • Esli

    Son of Naggai (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Naggai.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25

  • Heli

    Father of Joseph (Luke)

    Luke 3:23 says Jesus was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, whereas Matthew 1:16 names Joseph's father as Jacob; the two accounts are recorded as given.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:23

  • Jacob

    Father of Joseph

    The father of Joseph in Matthew's genealogy, on the eve of the Messiah's coming.

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:15-16; cf. Luke 3:23

  • Jesus

    The Messiah

    The Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35): the promised Son of David and Son of Abraham, 'the Word became flesh.' Joseph,…

    Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:1, 16-17; Luke 3:23-38; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3

  • Jorim

    Son of Matthat (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Matthat.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29

  • Joseph

    Son of Jonam (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jonam.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30

  • Joseph

    Son of Mattathias (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Mattathias.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24

  • Levi

    Son of Melchi (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melchi.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24

  • Levi

    Son of Simeon (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Simeon.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29

  • Lysanias

    Tetrarch of Abilene

    Named in Luke 3:1 as tetrarch of Abilene in the fifteenth year of Tiberius.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:1

  • Maath

    Son of Mattathias (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Mattathias.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:26

  • Mattatha

    Son of Nathan (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Nathan.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:31

  • Mattathias

    Son of Amos (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Amos.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25

  • Mattathias

    Son of Semein (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Semein.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:26

  • Matthat

    Son of Levi (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Levi.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24

  • Matthat

    Son of Levi (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Levi.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29

  • Melchi

    Son of Addi (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Addi.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28

  • Melchi

    Son of Jannai (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jannai.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24

  • Melea

    Son of Menna (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Menna.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:31

  • Neri

    Son of Melchi (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melchi.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:27

  • Obed

    Grandfather of David

    Son of Boaz and Ruth, and grandfather of King David.

    Cited in the guide: Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chron. 2:12; Matt. 1:5; Luke 3:32

  • Philip

    Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis

    Called the brother of Herod and tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis in the fifteenth year of Tiberius.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:1

  • Pontius Pilate

    Governor of Judea

    Roman governor of Judea who questioned Jesus, found no guilt in Him, released Barabbas, and gave Him up to be crucified and permitted Joseph of Arimathea to take the body.

    Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:2; Luke 3:1; John 18:38

  • Rhesa

    Son of Zerubbabel (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Zerubbabel.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:27

  • Simeon

    Son of Judah (Luke)

    Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Judah.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30

  • Tiberius Caesar

    Roman emperor

    The emperor in the fifteenth year of whose reign the word of God came to John the Baptist.

    Cited in the guide: Luke 3:1

Cross references (32)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Luke 23:6–11; Genesis 49:10; Luke 23:24; Acts 4:27; Matthew 27:2
  2. 2 Acts 4:6; Jonah 1:1; Luke 1:80; Micah 1:1; John 18:24
  3. 3 Luke 1:77; Matthew 3:5–6; Acts 13:24; Matthew 3:11; Acts 19:4
  4. 4 Isaiah 40:3–5; John 1:23; John 1:26–36; Luke 1:76–79; John 1:7
  5. 5 Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16; Isaiah 45:2; Isaiah 49:11; Ezekiel 17:24
  6. 6 Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 40:5; Psalm 98:2–3; Isaiah 49:6; Romans 10:18
  7. 7 Matthew 23:33; Matthew 12:34; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 6:18; 1 John 3:8
  8. 8 Ezekiel 18:27–31; Acts 26:20; Isaiah 1:16–18; Galatians 5:22–24; Matthew 21:43
  9. 9 Matthew 7:19; John 15:6; Isaiah 10:33–34; Luke 13:9; Matthew 3:10
  10. 10 Acts 2:37; Luke 3:14; Acts 16:30; Acts 9:6; Luke 3:12
  11. 11 Isaiah 58:7–11; 1 John 3:17; 1 Timothy 6:18; Luke 18:22; 1 John 4:20
  12. 12 Luke 7:29; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:1–2; Matthew 21:31–32
  13. 13 Luke 19:8; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Isaiah 1:16–17; Micah 6:8
  14. 14 Hebrews 13:5–6; Exodus 20:16; 1 Timothy 6:8–10; Philippians 4:11; Exodus 23:1
  15. 15 John 10:24; John 3:28–29; John 1:19–28
  16. 16 Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15–16; John 1:33; John 1:26
  17. 17 Micah 4:12; Jeremiah 15:7; Matthew 13:30; Psalm 1:4; Psalm 21:9–10
  18. 18 Acts 2:40; John 1:34; John 3:29–36; John 1:29; John 1:15
  19. 19 Matthew 14:3–4; Luke 3:1; Mark 6:17–18; Proverbs 15:12; Matthew 11:2
  20. 20 2 Chronicles 24:17–22; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Revelation 16:6; Matthew 23:31–33; 2 Kings 24:4
  21. 21 John 1:32–34; Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 5:16; John 12:27–28; Mark 1:9–11
  22. 22 Psalm 2:7; 2 Peter 1:17–18; Isaiah 42:1; John 1:32; Luke 9:34–35
  23. 23 Luke 4:22; Matthew 13:55; Numbers 4:3; John 6:42; Acts 1:1
  24. 27 Matthew 1:12
  25. 31 1 Chronicles 3:5; 2 Samuel 5:14; Zechariah 12:12; 1 Chronicles 14:4
  26. 32 Ruth 4:18–22; Isaiah 11:1–2; Matthew 1:3–6; 1 Chronicles 2:10–15; Acts 13:22–23
  27. 33 1 Chronicles 9:4; 1 Chronicles 2:4–5; 1 Chronicles 2:9–10; Ruth 4:12; Genesis 38:29
  28. 34 Genesis 21:3; Joshua 24:2; Matthew 1:2; 1 Chronicles 1:34; Acts 7:8
  29. 35 Genesis 11:12–21; Genesis 10:24–25
  30. 36 Genesis 10:21–22; Genesis 5:28–32; Genesis 9:1; Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 11:10–26
  31. 37 1 Chronicles 1:1–3; Genesis 5:6–28
  32. 38 Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 64:8; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Corinthians 15:47; Genesis 4:25–5:3

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

Why does my Bible say something different?

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 3:17 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book I, Chapters III–IV)

    … but a sword." They also maintain that John indicated the same thing when he said, "The fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge the floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable." By this declaration He set forth the faculty of Horos.

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  2. Quotes verse 3:5 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book IX)

    … pleasant it is to me, O Lord, to confess unto Thee, by what inward goads Thou didst subdue me, and how Thou didst make me low, bringing down the mountains and hills of my imaginations, and didst straighten my crookedness, and smooth my rough ways; and by what means Thou also didst subdue that brother of my heart, Alypius, unto …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 3:16 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily III)

    So likewise John: "I am not meet to loose the latchet of His shoe;" because of this he was the "friend of the Bridegroom," and the hand which he affirmed to be unworthy to touch His shoes, this did Christ draw unto His own head.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 3:11 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture III)

    Let him that hath two coats give to him that hath none: the teacher was worthy of credit, since he was also the first to practise what he taught: he was not ashamed to speak, for conscience hindered not his tongue: and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 3:16 Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit (Chapters XI–XIII)

    "For into one Spirit," it says, "we were all baptized in one body." And in harmony with this are the passages: "You shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost," and "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." But no one on this account would be justified in calling that baptism a perfect baptism wherein only the name of the …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)