1 And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar—Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 [and] Annas and Caiaphas being chief priests—there came a word of God to John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness, 3 and he came to all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of conversion for forgiveness of sins, 4 as it has been written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, || Make His paths straight; 5 Every valley will be filled, || And every mountain and hill will be made low, || And the crooked will become straightness, || And the rough become smooth ways; 6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.” 7 Then he said to the multitudes coming forth to be immersed by him, “Brood of vipers! Who prompted you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Make, therefore, fruits worthy of conversion, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have a father—Abraham; for I say to you that God is able to raise children to Abraham out of these stones; 9 and also the axe is already laid to the root of the trees, every tree, therefore, not making good fruit is cut down, and it is cast into fire.” 10 And the multitudes were questioning him, saying, “What, then, will we do?” 11 And he answering says to them, “He having two coats, let him impart to him having none; and he having food, let him do in like manner.” 12 And there also came tax collectors to be immersed, and they said to him, “Teacher, what will we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Exact no more than that directed you.” 14 And also questioning him were those warring, saying, “And we, what will we do?” And he said to them, “Do violence to no one, nor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” 15 And the people are looking forward, and all are reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether or not he may be the Christ; 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed immerse you in water, but He comes who is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to loose the strap of His sandals—He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire; 17 whose winnowing shovel [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His floor, and will gather the wheat into His storehouse, and He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And therefore, indeed, with many other things, exhorting, he was proclaiming good news to the people, 19 and Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him concerning Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and concerning all the evils that Herod did, 20 added also this to all, that he shut up John in the prison. 21 And it came to pass, in all the people being immersed, Jesus also being immersed, and praying, Heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit came down in a bodily appearance, as if a dove, on Him, and a voice came out of Heaven, saying, “You are My Son, the Beloved, in You I delighted.” 23 And Jesus Himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, Son of Joseph, 24 the [son] of Eli, the [son] of Matthat, the [son] of Levi, the [son] of Melchi, the [son] of Janna, the [son] of Joseph, 25 the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Amos, the [son] of Nahum, the [son] of Esli, 26 the [son] of Naggai, the [son] of Maath, the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Semei, the [son] of Joseph, the [son] of Judah, 27 the [son] of Joanna, the [son] of Rhesa, the [son] of Zerubbabel, the [son] of Shealtiel, 28 the [son] of Neri, the [son] of Melchi, the [son] of Addi, the [son] of Cosam, the [son] of Elmodam, the [son] of Er, 29 the [son] of Jose, the [son] of Eliezer, the [son] of Jorim, the [son] of Matthat, 30 the [son] of Levi, the [son] of Simeon, the [son] of Judah, the [son] of Joseph, the [son] of Jonan, the [son] of Eliakim, 31 the [son] of Melea, the [son] of Mainan, the [son] of Mattatha, the [son] of Nathan, 32 the [son] of David, the [son] of Jesse, the [son] of Obed, the [son] of Boaz, the [son] of Salmon, the [son] of Nahshon, 33 the [son] of Amminadab, the [son] of Aram, the [son] of Esrom, the [son] of Perez, 34 the [son] of Judah, the [son] of Jacob, the [son] of Isaac, the [son] of Abraham, the [son] of Terah, the [son] of Nahor, 35 the [son] of Serug, the [son] of Reu, the [son] of Peleg, the [son] of Eber, 36◆ the [son] of Salah, the [son] of Cainan, the [son] of Arphaxad, the [son] of Shem, the [son] of Noah, the [son] of Lamech, 37 the [son] of Methuselah, the [son] of Enoch, the [son] of Jared, the [son] of Mahalaleel, 38 the [son] of Cainan, the [son] of Enos, the [son] of Seth, the [son] of Adam, the [son] of God.
Luke · Literal Standard Version
Luke 3 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Addi
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Cosam.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28
Amos
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Nahum.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25
Annas
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
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
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
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Elmadam.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28
Eliakim
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melea.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30
Eliezer
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jorim.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29
Er
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Joshua.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28
Esli
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Naggai.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25
Jacob
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 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
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Matthat.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29
Joseph
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jonam.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30
Joseph
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Mattathias.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24
Judah
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Joseph.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30
Levi
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melchi.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24
Levi
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Simeon.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29
Lysanias
Named in Luke 3:1 as tetrarch of Abilene in the fifteenth year of Tiberius.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:1
Maath
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Mattathias.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:26
Mattatha
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Nathan.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:31
Mattathias
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Amos.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25
Mattathias
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Semein.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:26
Matthat
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Levi.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24
Matthat
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Levi.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:29
Melchi
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Addi.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:28
Melchi
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Jannai.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:24
Melea
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Menna.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:31
Naggai
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Maath.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25
Nahum
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Esli.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:25
Neri
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Melchi.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:27
Obed
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
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
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
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Zerubbabel.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:27
Shealtiel
A son of the exiled king, a link between fallen throne and hoped-for return.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chron. 3:17; Ezra 3:2; Hag. 1:1; Matt. 1:12; Luke 3:27
Simeon
Listed in Luke's genealogy of Jesus as the son of Judah.
Cited in the guide: Luke 3:30
Tiberius Caesar
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 Luke 23:6–11; Genesis 49:10; Luke 23:24; Acts 4:27; Matthew 27:2
- 2 Acts 4:6; Jonah 1:1; Luke 1:80; Micah 1:1; John 18:24
- 3 Luke 1:77; Matthew 3:5–6; Acts 13:24; Matthew 3:11; Acts 19:4
- 4 Isaiah 40:3–5; John 1:23; John 1:26–36; Luke 1:76–79; John 1:7
- 5 Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16; Isaiah 45:2; Isaiah 49:11; Ezekiel 17:24
- 6 Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 40:5; Psalm 98:2–3; Isaiah 49:6; Romans 10:18
- 7 Matthew 23:33; Matthew 12:34; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 6:18; 1 John 3:8
- 8 Ezekiel 18:27–31; Acts 26:20; Isaiah 1:16–18; Galatians 5:22–24; Matthew 21:43
- 9 Matthew 7:19; John 15:6; Isaiah 10:33–34; Luke 13:9; Matthew 3:10
- 10 Acts 2:37; Luke 3:14; Acts 16:30; Acts 9:6; Luke 3:12
- 11 Isaiah 58:7–11; 1 John 3:17; 1 Timothy 6:18; Luke 18:22; 1 John 4:20
- 12 Luke 7:29; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:1–2; Matthew 21:31–32
- 13 Luke 19:8; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Isaiah 1:16–17; Micah 6:8
- 14 Hebrews 13:5–6; Exodus 20:16; 1 Timothy 6:8–10; Philippians 4:11; Exodus 23:1
- 15 John 10:24; John 3:28–29; John 1:19–28
- 16 Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15–16; John 1:33; John 1:26
- 17 Micah 4:12; Jeremiah 15:7; Matthew 13:30; Psalm 1:4; Psalm 21:9–10
- 18 Acts 2:40; John 1:34; John 3:29–36; John 1:29; John 1:15
- 19 Matthew 14:3–4; Luke 3:1; Mark 6:17–18; Proverbs 15:12; Matthew 11:2
- 20 2 Chronicles 24:17–22; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Revelation 16:6; Matthew 23:31–33; 2 Kings 24:4
- 21 John 1:32–34; Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 5:16; John 12:27–28; Mark 1:9–11
- 22 Psalm 2:7; 2 Peter 1:17–18; Isaiah 42:1; John 1:32; Luke 9:34–35
- 23 Luke 4:22; Matthew 13:55; Numbers 4:3; John 6:42; Acts 1:1
- 27 Matthew 1:12
- 31 1 Chronicles 3:5; 2 Samuel 5:14; Zechariah 12:12; 1 Chronicles 14:4
- 32 Ruth 4:18–22; Isaiah 11:1–2; Matthew 1:3–6; 1 Chronicles 2:10–15; Acts 13:22–23
- 33 1 Chronicles 9:4; 1 Chronicles 2:4–5; 1 Chronicles 2:9–10; Ruth 4:12; Genesis 38:29
- 34 Genesis 21:3; Joshua 24:2; Matthew 1:2; 1 Chronicles 1:34; Acts 7:8
- 35 Genesis 11:12–21; Genesis 10:24–25
- 36 Genesis 10:21–22; Genesis 5:28–32; Genesis 9:1; Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 11:10–26
- 37 1 Chronicles 1:1–3; Genesis 5:6–28
- 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?
- Genesis 5 and 11: why the patriarchs’ ages differ
In the Greek Septuagint most patriarchs in Genesis 5 and 11 become fathers about 100 years later than in the Hebrew text, and Genesis 11 adds a second Cainan, whom St Luke also names (Luke 3:36). The result is a world history over a thousand years longer. The Byzantine calendar was built on the Greek numbers. No doctrine depends on either set.
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).
… 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.
… 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)
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)
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)
"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)