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BOOK 42 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Luke 3

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Luke 3 Overview

Luke dates John the Baptist’s ministry under named rulers and presents him preaching repentance and baptism in the Jordan. John rebukes reliance on Abrahamic descent, gives practical ethical instructions, and points beyond himself to the mightier Christ. After John’s imprisonment is noted, Jesus is baptized, the Holy Ghost descends, the Father speaks from heaven, and Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy back through David and Abraham to Adam and God.

LukeBook
3Chapter
38Verses
GospelsDivision

Before you read Luke 3

Coming from

Luke 2 established the immediate context: Caesar’s decree brings Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and laid in a manger.

In this chapter

Luke 3 roots John and Jesus in public history, prepares Israel for Messiah, displays the Trinity at Jesus’ baptism, and connects Jesus to all humanity through Adam.

Leads into

Luke 4 continues the account: Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, is tempted by the devil in the wilderness and answers from Deuteronomy.

Key understandingExplore deeper

John’s ethical instructions are fruits fitting repentance within his prophetic call; they are not works a person must perform to earn eternal life.

Luke’s genealogy differs in arrangement from Matthew’s and moves backward to Adam. Harmonization proposals vary; the clear Lukan point is Jesus’ real place in Israel’s line and in the human family.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Prophetic repentance is concrete

John refuses empty ancestry claims and addresses greed, extortion, and abuse of office.

John deliberately points away from himself

He distinguishes his water baptism from the greater ministry of the coming Christ.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are personally distinguished

The Son is baptized, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks.

Jesus is connected with humanity as well as Israel

Luke traces the line back to Adam.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Isaiah 40:3–5

Luke quotes the wilderness-way prophecy more fully than the other Synoptics.

Malachi 3–4

John fulfills the expected messenger/Elijah-like preparation.

Acts 10:37–38

Peter later dates Jesus’ public ministry from John’s baptism and speaks of His anointing with the Holy Ghost.

Romans 5:12–19

Paul’s Adam/Christ framework resonates with Luke tracing Jesus to Adam.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not preach repentance as turning from every sin in order to qualify for eternal life

John’s call concerns response to God and fitting fruits; salvation is by faith in Christ.

Do not teach baptismal regeneration

Water baptism accompanies John’s preparatory ministry and Christian discipleship but does not replace faith.

Do not use genealogy differences to dismiss either Gospel

Each writer shapes the genealogy for his theological and literary purpose.

Read Luke 3 watching for…

The rulers Luke names.

John’s practical answers to different groups.

His contrast between himself and Christ.

The Father-Son-Spirit scene.

Where Luke places the genealogy.

The movement from Jesus back to Adam.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline3 sections
1-20John preaches repentance, baptizes the people, and rebukes Herod21-22Jesus is baptized and the Holy Ghost descends while the Father speaks23-38The genealogy of Jesus is traced back to Adam
1

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, 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.

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Luke 3:30

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