Luke 3

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign [period of rule, kingdom] of Tiberius Caesar [Roman Emperor, supreme ruler], while Pontius Pilate [Roman governor, ruler of Judea] was governor [ruling authority, leader] of Judea [region in southern Palestine], Herod [ruler of a fourth part] tetrarch [ruler of a region, having authority] of Galilee [region in northern Palestine], his brother Philip [relative, sibling] tetrarch [ruler, having power] of Ituraea [region in ancient Palestine] and Trachonitis [region in Syria, rough terrain], and Lysanias [governor, ruler] tetrarch [having authority, ruling] of Abilene [region in Syria], word study 2 during the high priesthood [a position of great spiritual authority] of Annas [a prominent Jewish leader] and Caiaphas [the official high priest], the word [a declaration or utterance] of God [the one true deity] came to John [a prophet and messenger of God] son of Zechariah [a righteous priest] in the wilderness [a deserted and isolated region, often a place of spiritual reflection]. word study 3 He went into [all the surrounding area, throughout the whole region] all the region around the Jordan, preaching [proclaiming, heralding] a baptism [ceremonial act of washing, immersion] of repentance [feeling sorry for sin, turning away from wrongdoing] for the forgiveness [pardon, remission] of sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], word study 4 as it is written [recorded, inscribed] in the book [scroll, sacred writings] of the words [messages, prophecies] of Isaiah [a prophet of God, a messenger] the prophet [one who speaks for God, a seer]: “A voice [sound, cry] of one calling [crying out, shouting] in the wilderness [desert, uninhabited land], ‘Prepare the way [path, road] for the Lord [God, the Messiah], make straight [level, smooth] paths [roads, highways] for Him [the Lord, the King]. word study 5 Every [all, each one] valley [low-lying area, ravine] shall be filled in [made level, lifted up], and every [all, each one] mountain [high elevation, hill] and hill [small elevation, mound] made low [brought down, humbled]. The [those that are] crooked [twisted, perverted] ways [paths, roads] shall be made straight [level, smooth], and the [those that are] rough [rocky, uneven] ways [roads, paths] smooth [even, flat]. word study 6 And all [every, entire] humanity [flesh, mortal beings] will see [perceive, experience] God’s [the one true deity] salvation [deliverance, rescue, spiritual rescue].’” word study 7 Then John said to the crowds [large groups of people, multitudes] coming out [to depart, going forth] to be baptized [to be immersed, fully wet] by him, “You brood [offspring, generation] of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned [showed, instructed] you to flee [to run away, escape] from the coming [approaching, impending] wrath [God’s strong anger, divine judgment]? word study 8 Produce [bring forth, demonstrate] fruit, then, in keeping with [worthy of, consistent with] repentance [a change of heart, turning from sin]. And do not begin [start, commence] to say to yourselves, ‘We have [possess, claim] Abraham [the father of faith, a patriarch] as our father [ancestor, spiritual leader].’ For I tell you that out of these stones [ordinary, unremarkable objects] God [the Almighty, Creator] can raise up [bring into existence, create] children [descendants, spiritual offspring] for Abraham [the father of the faithful]. word study 9 The axe [already laid, ready to strike] lies ready at the root [source, foundation] of the trees, and every tree [a plant with a trunk and branches] that does not produce [bring forth, yield] good [beautiful, virtuous] fruit will be cut down [hewn, severed] and thrown [cast, hurled] into the fire [flames].” word study 10 The crowds [multitudes, large groups of people] asked him, “What [which thing, what action] then [therefore, at that time] should we do [make, take action, produce a result]?” word study 11 John replied, “Whoever [has the means, is able] has two tunics [coats, shirts] should share [impart, give] with him who has none [no clothing, is in need], and whoever [he that] has food [meat, provisions] should do [act, behave] the same [similarly, likewise].” word study 12 Even tax collectors [publicans, gatherers of public revenue] came to be baptized [immersed, fully wet]. “Teacher [instructor, master],” they asked, “what [which thing] should we do [make, perform, accomplish]?” word study 13 “Collect [do not exact or extort] no more than [nothing beyond] you are authorized [appointed or directed to do],” he answered [said to them, replied]. word study 14 Then some soldiers [men of the army, warring] asked him, “And what [which thing, what action] should we do [make or perform, to please God]?” “Do not take [extort, demand by force] money by force [violence, intimidation] or false [wrongful, untrue] accusation [falsely accuse, calumniate],” he said. “Be content [satisfied, have enough] with your wages [compensation, payment for services].” word study 15 The people [all men, a crowd] were waiting expectantly [in anticipation, looking forward] and were all wondering [reasoning, thinking carefully] in their hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings] if John [the Baptist, a prophet] could be [perhaps, possibly] the Christ [the Messiah, anointed one]. word study 16 John answered all of them: “I [indeed, truly] baptize you with water [for repentance, ceremonial cleansing], but One [mightier] more powerful than I will come, the straps [latchets, thongs] of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie [loose, release]. He will baptize you with the Holy [set apart, divine] Spirit and with fire [judgment, purification]. word study 17 His winnowing fork [a farming tool to separate grain from chaff] is in His hand [a symbol of power and authority] to clear [thoroughly cleanse, purge] His threshing floor [a flat area for grain separation] and to gather [collect, assemble] the wheat [grain, especially wheat] into His barn [storehouse, granary]; but He will burn up [completely consume] the chaff [outer husks of grain, worthless material] with unquenchable [never extinguished, eternal] fire [flames].” word study 18 With these [many other] and many other exhortations [words of comfort and warning], John [the Baptist, a prophet] proclaimed [preached, announced] the good news [the gospel, a message of salvation] to the people [a crowd, a nation]. word study 19 But when he rebuked [reproved, corrected] Herod [a ruler of a fourth part of the country] the tetrarch [a regional ruler] regarding his brother’s wife [his brother Philip’s wife] Herodias [the granddaughter of Herod the Great] and all the evils [wrongdoings, sinful acts] he had done [committed, perpetrated], word study 20 Herod added [to them all, as the final act] this [one more evil deed] to them all: He locked [shut up, incarcerated] John [the Baptist, a prophet of God] up in [a place of confinement, a cell] prison [a place of guard, a watch]. word study 21 When all [every single one, the entire multitude] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] were being baptized [immersed, fully wet], Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was baptized [immersed, fully wet] too [also, in like manner]. And as He was praying [worshipping, communing with God], heaven [the sky, God’s home] was opened [made accessible, revealed], word study 22 and the Holy Spirit [the divine Presence, breath of God] descended on Him in a bodily form [physical appearance, like a human body] like a dove [a symbol of peace, innocence]. And a voice [sound, utterance] came from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place]: “You are My beloved [dearly loved, cherished] Son; in You [as Your dwelling place, in Your presence] I am well pleased [delighted, satisfied].” word study 23 Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior] Himself was about [approximately, around] thirty years old when He began [to rule, to commence] His ministry [public service, teaching]. He was regarded [thought, considered] as the son [a descendant, an heir] of Joseph [a righteous man, a carpenter], the son of Heli [a father, an ancestor], word study 24 the son of Matthat [an Israelite ancestor], the son of Levi [a descendant of Jacob], the son of Melchi [meaning king], the son of Jannai [also known as Janna], the son of Joseph [a righteous man], word study 25 the son of Mattathias [a gift from God], the son of Amos [a prophet of God], the son of Nahum [one who comforts], the son of Esli [my God is my salvation], the son of Naggai [one who shines, a bright one], word study 26 the son of Maath [an Israelite ancestor], the son of Mattathias [a gift of God], the son of Semein [also known as Shimi], the son of Josech [or Joseph, the son of Joda], the son of Joda [or Judah, the son of Joanan], word study 27 the son of Joanan [an Israelite and ancestor], the son of Rhesa [a descendant in Jesus’ genealogy], the son of Zerubbabel [a leader of Israel], the son of Shealtiel [a forefather of Jesus], the son of Neri [also known as Nerijah], word study 28 the son of Melchi [a descendant of the tribe of Judah], the son of Addi [an ancestor of Jesus], the son of Cosam [part of Jesus’ family tree], the son of Elmadam [an Israelite, one of Jesus’ forefathers], the son of Er [an important person in Jesus’ lineage], word study 29 the son of Joshua [or Jose, Jesus], the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi [a descendant of the tribe of Levi], word study 30 the son [descendant, offspring] of Simeon [an ancestor of Jesus], the son of Judah [Juda, the son of Joseph], the son of Joseph [the son of Jonam], the son of Jonam [Jonan, an Israelite], the son of Eliakim [an ancestor of Jesus], word study 31 the son of Melea [an Israelite ancestor], the son of Menna [a family lineage connector], the son of Mattatha [of Hebrew origin], the son of Nathan [a significant figure], the son of David [the king of Israel], word study 32 the son of Jesse [the father of King David], the son of Obed [a significant ancestor], the son of Boaz [who married Ruth], the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon [a leader in Israel], word study 33 the son of Amminadab [an ancestor of Jesus], the son of Admin [or Aram, an Israelite], the son of Arni [or Ram], the son of Hezron [an Israelite and ancestor], the son of Perez [meaning ‘breach’ or ‘divide’], the son of Judah [a son of Jacob, and his descendants], word study 34 the son of Jacob [a patriarch and progenitor of the Israelites], the son of Isaac [a key figure in God’s covenant], the son of Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation], the son of Terah [also known as Thara], the son of Nahor [Abraham’s grandfather], word study 35 the son of Serug [a patriarch, ancestor of Jesus], the son of Reu [descendant of Noah], the son of Peleg [derived from Hebrew], the son of Eber [an ancestor of Jesus], the son of Shelah [Sala, part of Jesus’ family tree], word study 36 the son of Cainan [a descendant of Enos], the son of Arphaxad [who lived after the flood], the son of Shem [one of Noah’s three sons], the son of Noah [a patriarch, a righteous man], the son of Lamech [a descendant of Cain, known for violence], word study 37 the son of Methuselah [an ancestor of Jesus, known for his long life], the son of Enoch [who walked with God, a righteous man], the son of Jared [a forefather of Jesus, part of God’s plan], the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan [a descendant of Adam, in the line of Jesus], word study 38 the son of Enosh [an early descendant of Adam], the son of Seth [the third son of Adam and Eve], the son of Adam [the first man created by God], the son of God [the Creator, having a divine nature]. word study