NOW IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR (εν ετε δε πεντεκαιδεκατω). Tiberius Caesar was ruler in the provinces two years before Augustus Caesar died. Luke makes a six-fold attempt here to indicate the time when John the Baptist began his ministry. John revived the function of the prophet (Εχχε Hομο, p. Luke 3:2... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF GOD CAME UNTO JOHN (εγενετο ρημα θεου επ Ιωανην). The great epoch marked by εγενετο rather than ην. Ρημα θεου is some particular utterance of God (Plummer), common in LXX, here alone in the N.T. Then John is introduced as the son of Zacharias according to Chapter 1. Matthew describes... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT JORDAN (πασαν περιχωρον του Ιορδανου). The wilderness was John's abode (Luke 1:80) so that he began preaching where he was. It was the plain (Genesis 13:10) or valley of the Jordan, El Ghor, as far north as Succoth (2 Chronicles 4:17). Sometimes he was on the eastern ba... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN (ως γεγραπτα). The regular formula for quotation, perfect passive indicative of γραφω.ISAIAH THE PROPHET (Εσαιου του προφητου). The same phrase in Mark 1:2 (correct text) and Matthew 3:3. Mark, as we have seen, adds a quotation from Malachi 3:1 and Luke gives verses 4 and 5 of L... [ Continue Reading ]
VALLEY (φαραγξ). Here only in the N.T., though in the LXX and ancient Greek. It is a ravine or valley hedged in by precipices.SHALL BE FILLED (πληρωθησετα). Future passive indicative of πληροω. In 1845 when the Sultan visited Brusa the inhabitants were called out to clear the roads of rocks and... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL FLESH (πασα σαρξ). Used in the N.T. of the human race alone, though in the LXX brutes are included.THE SALVATION OF GOD (το σοτηριον του θεου). The saving act of God. This phrase aptly describes Luke's Gospel which has in mind the message of Christ for all men. It is the universal Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE MULTITUDE THAT WENT OUT (τοις εξπορευομενοις οχλοις). Plural,MULTITUDES . The present participle also notes the repetition of the crowds as does ελεγεν (imperfect), he used to say. Matthew 3:7-10 singles out the message of John to the Pharisees and Sadducees, which see for discussion of d... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKED (επηρωτων). Imperfect tense, repeatedly asked.WHAT THEN MUST WE DO? (τ ουν ποιησωμεν;). Deliberative aorist subjunctive. More exactly,WHAT THEN ARE WE TO DO ,WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO? Same construction in verses Luke 3:12; Luke 3:14. The ουν refers to the severe things already said by Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
COATS (χιτωνας). The inner and less necessary undergarment. The outer indispensable ιματιον is not mentioned. Note the specific and different message to each class. John puts his finger on the weaknesses of the people right before him.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO PUBLICANS (κα τελωνα). We have had the word already in Matthew (Matthew 5:46; Matthew 9:10; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 18:17; Matthew 21:31) and Mark (Mark 11:15). It is sometimes coupled with harlots and other sinners, the outcasts of society. The word is made up from τελος, tax, and ωνεομα, to... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLDIERS ALSO (κα στρατευομενο). Men on service, _militantes_ rather than _milites_ (Plummer). So Paul in 2 Timothy 2:4. An old word like στρατιωτης, soldier. Some of these soldiers acted as police to help the publicans. But they were often rough and cruel.DO VIOLENCE TO NO MAN (μηδενα διασειση... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE IN EXPECTATION (προσδοκωντος). Genitive absolute of this striking verb already seen in Luke 1:21.REASONED (διαλογιζομενων). Genitive absolute again. John's preaching about the Messiah and the kingdom of God stirred the people deeply and set them to wondering.WHETHER HAPLY HE WERE THE CHRIS... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS MIGHTIER THAN I (ο ισχυροτερος μου). Like Mark 1:7, "the one mightier than I." Ablative case (μου) of comparison. John would not turn aside for the flattery of the crowd. He was able to take his own measure in comparison with the Messiah and was loyal to him (see my _John the Loyal_). C... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY OTHER EXHORTATIONS (πολλα μεν ουν κα ετερα). Literally, many and different things did John εςανγελιζε, ευαγγελιζετο, to the people. Luke has given a bare sample of the wonderful messages of the Baptist. Few as his words preserved are they give a definite and powerful conception of his preach... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROVED (ελεγχομενος). Present passive participle of ελεγχω, an old verb meaning in Homer to treat with contempt, then to convict (Matthew 18:15), to expose (Ephesians 5:11), to reprove as here. The substantive ελεγχος means proof (Hebrews 11:1) and ελεγμος, censure (2 Timothy 3:16). Josephus (_... [ Continue Reading ]
ADDED (προσεθηκεν). First aorist active indicative (kappa aorist). Common verb (προστιθημ) in all Greek. In N.T. chiefly in Luke and Acts. Hippocrates used it of applying wet sponges to the head and Galen of applying a decoction of acorns. There is no evidence that Luke has a medical turn to the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BAPTISED (εν τω βαπτισθηνα απαντα τον λαον). The use of the articular aorist infinitive here with εν bothers some grammarians and commentators. There is no element of time in the aorist infinitive. It is simply punctiliar action, literally "in the being baptized as to all... [ Continue Reading ]
DESCENDED (καταβηνα). Same construction as the preceding infinitive.THE HOLY GHOST (το πνευμα το αγιον). The Holy Spirit. Mark 1:10 has merely the Spirit (το πνευμα) while Matthew 3:16 has the Spirit of God (πνευμα θεου).IN A BODILY FORM (σωματικω ειδε). Alone in Luke who has also "as a dove... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS HIMSELF (αυτος Ιησους). Emphatic intensive pronoun calling attention to the personality of Jesus at this juncture. When he entered upon his Messianic work.WHEN HE BEGAN TO TEACH (αρχομενος). The words "to teach" are not in the Greek text. The Authorized Version "began to be about thirty y... [ Continue Reading ]