1
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,

2
in the days when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

3
Then John came into all the region of the Jordan and proclaimed: “Repent, and let yourselves be baptized, and God will forgive your sins,

4
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
A voice crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.

5
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill made low;
the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places made level,

6
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

7
Then he said to the crowds who came to him to be baptized, saying: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. And do not think within yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father!’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

9
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10
The crowds asked him, “Then what shall we do?”

11
He answered, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the one who has none, and whoever has food should do likewise.”

12
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13
He said to them, “Collect no more than what has been appointed for you.”

14
Soldiers also asked him, “And what shall we do?” John answered them, “Do not extort, and do not accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15
As the people were waiting and hoping, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

16
John answered and said to them all: “I baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

17
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18
With many other exhortations John proclaimed the good news to the people.

19
But after he rebuked the tetrarch Herod concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the other evil things he had done,

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the ruler added this to his wickedness: he put John in prison.

21
Now when all the people had been baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened

22
and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

23
When Jesus began His work, He was about thirty years old, and as was supposed, He was the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,

24
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25
the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

26
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

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the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

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the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

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the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

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the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

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the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

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the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

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the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

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the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

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the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

38
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

📖 Luke 3 – John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus

🧾 Summary of Luke 3

Luke 3 focuses on the ministry of John the Baptist, his message of repentance, the baptism of Jesus, and His genealogy. This chapter serves as a bridge between the prophecy of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Main Points:

1. The ministry of John the Baptist (verses 1–6):

   • Luke begins by naming the Roman and Jewish rulers to establish the historical setting.

   • The word of God came to John in the wilderness.

   • John proclaimed repentance and forgiveness of sins, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah:

     “A voice crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord…”

2. A call to repent (verses 7–14):

   • John warned the crowd not to rely only on being descendants of Abraham.

   • He emphasized that true repentance must be accompanied by fruit.

   • He answered people’s questions about what they should do in practical terms:

     • Share with others.

     • Do not extort or oppress.

     • Be content with wages.

3. John’s testimony about the Messiah (verses 15–20):

   • John affirmed that he was not the Messiah.

   • He said that One greater would come, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

   • John also rebuked Herod Antipas for his adultery, and so he was imprisoned.

4. Jesus Is Baptized (verses 21–22):

   • Jesus also came to be baptized.

   • As He prayed, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven said:

     “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

5. The Genealogy of Jesus (verses 23–38):

   • The genealogy of Jesus is traced back to Adam, showing that Jesus is the Son of Man who came for all people.

📘 Main Teachings of Luke 3

1. True repentance is shown by real actions, not only by words.
2. Salvation is not based on spiritual lineage, but on faith and a changed heart.
3. Jesus was baptized not because He was sinful, but to show solidarity with humanity and to begin His ministry.
4. The identity of Jesus as the Son of God is affirmed by a direct voice from heaven.
5. Jesus is the promised Messiah and the heir of all humanity.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Luke 3

• The Lord calls His people to live in godliness, justice, and compassion.
• An attitude of humility like John’s is key to recognizing and honoring Christ.
• The baptism of Jesus became the beginning of the anointing of His ministry—and marked the importance of obedience in faith.
• The genealogy of Jesus shows that He came not only for Israel, but for the whole world.
• The Holy Spirit and the word of God work together in the renewal and mission of God’s Kingdom.