Luke 3

The time when John the Baptist entered in his office 3 the sum of his preaching 7 his exhortation to repentance to those that came to him to be baptized 10 his answer to the question of the multitude 12 of the publicans 14 and of the soldiers what every one of them ought to do 15 his testimony of Christ and of baptism 19 his imprisonment 21 Christ is baptized by John 23 his genealogy is rehearsed even to Adam.

1. And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emp. Tiberius [that was the third Emperour in the Roman Empire who succeeded Augustus in the Empire under whose reign also Christ died] when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea [after that Archelaus the eldest son of Herod the great who reigned over Judea Matthew 2:22 because of his ill government was banished by the Romans the Romans Emperours caused that land from thenceforth to b governed by their own Lieutenants amongst whom this Pilate was the fifth the remainder of the land of Canaan was governed by the sons of Herod] and Herod a Tetrarch of Galilee [of these Tetrarch see the annotate on Matthew 14:1] in whose countries which are here named Christ preached much as also in Abtlene which lay in Decapolis Matthew 4:25 Mark 5:20] and his brothers Philip a Tetrarch of Iturea and of the alnd Trachonitis and Lisanias a tetrarch of Abtilene .

2. Under the high priest Annas and Cajaphas [Annas was the father in law of Cajaphas John 18 verse 13 and they are put here as two a high priest either because the high had always a deputy which supplied their place while they were unclean or sick see Numbers 3.321 Kings 4.4 2 Kings 23:4 and 25.18 or because at that time they administered the priest office the one the one year and the other the other year see John 11:49,51 and Acts 4:6 forasmuch as the suceession of the night high priest which were descended from Aaron had ceased and that office was now become a benefice or gift of the Romans] came the word of God unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness [of this wilderness see Matthew 3:1]

3. And he came into all the land lying about Jordan preaching the baptism of the repentance for the forgiveness of sins

4. As it is written in the book of the words of Esias the prophet saying the voice of the one crying in the wilderness [of this prophecy see the annotation on Matthew 3:3 and Isaiah 40:3,4] prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight.

5. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain or hill shall be brought low and the crooked ways shall become a straight way and the uneven shall become plain ways

6. And all flesh [that is all forths of man see Joel 2:28 Acts 2:17] shall see the salvation of God.

7. He said therefore to the multitude which came forth to be baptized of him ye [see chapter 2.30] breeds of Adders [these are a sort of serpents which are very venomous [see Acts 28:3,6] who hath shewed ye to flee from the wrath to come

8. Bring therefore fruits worth of repentance [or becoming or agreeable unto true repentance] and begin not to say with yourselves [Gr in yourselves] we have Abraham for a father for I say unto ye that God even of these stones can raise up children of Abraham

9. And the axe lyeth also already at the root of the trees [that is the judgment of God is ready and drawing near for those which hearing the preaching of the gospel bring forth no fruits] every tree therefore which bringeth forth no good fruits is hewen down and cast into the fire.

10. And the multitude asked him saying what shall we do then? [Namely to escape this punishment and be saved.]

11. He answering said unto them he that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none [that is let him that is shew love to his poor neighbour that before he should let him suffer want he should rather give him one of his coats and a part of his necessary food] and be that hath meat let him do likewise.

12. And there came also publicans to be baptized and said unto him master what shall we do?

13. And he said unto them ask no more then that which is appointed ye [namely by the supreme magistrate]

14. And the soldiers asked him also saying and we what shall we do? and he said unto them offer violence to no man [the Greek word properly signifies toss or shake any man hither or thither so that here all manner of spoiling insolence and wrongful violence is forbidden to soldiers] neither deprive any man of his own by fraud [the Greek word signifies indeed to accuse any one false but Luke useth this word in such sence as it is here translated as appears Luke 19:8] and be ye content with your wages.

15. And while the people expected [or stood in expectation namely of the coming of the Messiah] and all reasoned in their hearts concerning John whether it may be he wee not the Christ.

16. John answered them all saying I indeed baptize ye with water but he cometh that is stronger then I to whom I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of his shoes he shall baptize ye with the holy ghost Gr in and with fire [see Matthew 3:11]

17. Whose fan [or winnowing shovel see Matthew 3:12] is in his hand and he shall thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor and the wheat he shall bring together into his garner [or corn lost] but the chaffe he shall burn into unquenchable fire.

18. He therefore exhorting yet many other things published the gospel to the people

19. But when Herod the tetrarch [see more largely of this history Matthew 14:3] was reproved by him for Herodias sake and bother Philips wife and for all wicked practices which Herod did

20. He added yet this also above all that he shut John in prison.

21. And it came to pass when all the people were baptized and Jesus also was baptized and prayed that the heaven was opened.

22. And that the holy Ghost [see hereof Matthew 16:3] descended upon him in a bodily shape like a dove and that happened a voice out of heaven saying thou art my beloved son in thee I am well pleased .

23. And he Jesus began to be about thirty years old [this age the priest were to be of before they mightful execute their office Numbers 4:3 1 Chronicles 23:3] being as was suppose the son of Joseph the son of Heli [Joseph Matthew 1:16 is said to begotten or born of Jacob but is here called a son of Heli because as many think he had married Mary which was the daughter of Heli like as Ruth is called the daughter of Naomi because she had the son of Naomi Ruth 1:11]

24. The son of Matthat the son of Levi the son of Melchi the son of Jonna the son of Joseph.

25. The son of Mattathia the son of Amos the son of Naum the son of Elsi the son of Naggai

26. The son of Maath the son of Mattathia the son of Semei the son of Joseph the son Juda

27. The son of Joana the son of Resha the son of Zerubabel the son of Salathiel some think that this Zerubabel and Salathiel are the same which Matthew rehearseth chapter 1 verse 12 holding that the progeny of Solomon was extinct in Jachonia from Jeremiah 22:30 yet others think that this place of Jeremy may be understood that he is said to be withput children which as King should sit upon his throne seeing the regal dignity ended in Jachonia and think that out of 1 Chronicles 3:17 it appears that Jachonia had children of his own and that for this cause it is likely that this Zerubabel and Salathiel of the line of Nathan were other persons then those of which Matthew speaks like as divers families which are descended from one stock it often happens, that the same name are given to the posterity of which there is an example here in this very chapter verse 24.29.where the name of Matthew or Mattath and Levi are found in several persons twice one after another] the son of Neri.

28. The son of Melachi 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 the son of Levi

30. The son of Simeon the son of Juda the son of Jolseph the son of Jonan the son of Eliakim

31. The son of Molea the son of Mainan the son of Mattatha the son of Nathan the son of Dvaid [Matthew relates this genealogy of David by Solomon unto Joseph the husband of Mary but Luke here relates the genealogy of David by Nathan who was a brother of Solomon and another son of David by Bethsheba also 2 Samuel 5 .14,1Chronicles 3.5 and 14.4 unto Helii the father of Mary whose son Joseph is called verse 23 because he had married his daughter therefore it is not strange that here are other names found from David unto Joseph then are in Matthew because they describe several lines as also that Matthew rehearseth fewer persons then Luke seeing the leaves out of divers to confine himself within the number of fourteen see the annotation on Matthew 1:17]

32. The son of Jess the son of Obed the son of booz the son of Salmon the son of Nasson

33. The son of Aminadab the son of Aram the son of Esrom the son of Phares the son of Juda

34. The son of Jacob the son of Isaac the son of Abraham the son of Thara the son of Nachor

35. The son of Saruch the son of Ragan the son of Phaleck the son of Hebar the son of Sala

36. The son of Cainan [the name is not found in genealogy related by Moses Genesis10.24and 11.12 nor yet 1 Chronicles 1:24 but is found in the Greek translation which was in use among the Jews at that time wherefor some think that this also well agrees with that which Moses realtes Arphaxad should have been gotten Sala by his son Cainan as the like may be seen also 1 Chronicles 2:50 and 4.1] the son of Arphaxad the sonn of Sem the son of Noe the son of Lamech

37. The son of Methusala the son of Enock the son of Jared the son of Maleleel the son of Cainan

38. The son of Enos the son of Seth the son of Adam the son of God [Adam is here called son of God because he proceeded not from other men but was created by God himself after his own image like as the Angels also are herefore called the sons of God Job 1:6 chapter 38.7.]