III. (1) NOW IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR... — The opening of the main narrative is characteristic of St. Luke’s desire to follow in the footsteps of regular historians, and to name the rulers of any regions that were affected, directly or indirectly, by the events which he narrates. TIBERIUS CÆSAR. — He... [ Continue Reading ]
ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS BEING THE HIGH PRIESTS. — Strictly speaking, there could be only one high priest, and the office was filled at this time by Caiaphas. Annas had been appointed by the Roman Procurator Quirinus, A.D. 7. In A.D. 14, he had to give way to Ishmael, who was appointed by Gratus successor... [ Continue Reading ]
Going upward from Zerubbabel and Salathiel, which are common to both genealogies, we come again across a different succession — St. Luke leading us to Nathan as the son of David, and St. Matthew to Solomon. Here again we have in St. Luke twenty-two generations from Salathiel to David, inclusive, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
(3-9) AND HE CAME INTO ALL THE COUNTRY... — The words paint the mission-work of John somewhat more vividly than those of St. Matthew and St. Mark, who represent the people flocking to Him from Jerusalem and Judæa. The two facts together complete the picture. THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE. — See Notes o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS. — See Note on Matthew 3:3. (4) From David to Abraham there is a general agreement, the only variation being that, in some MSS., the names of Arni and Admei in St. Luke (Luke 3:33) replace the Aram of St. Matthew. (4) The comparative slight variation here... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED. — The fuller citation by St. Luke, as compared with the other Gospels, is interesting, and suggests the thought that he was led to see in the manifold aspects of the Baptist’s ministry a fulfilment of this part of the prophecy. The “valley” was filled, when lowly and pe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SALVATION OF GOD. — The same word is used as in Luke 2:30, where see Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID HE TO THE MULTITUDE. — Better, _multitudes._ In St. Matthew the words “Generation” (or _brood_) “of vipers” are related, probably with greater accuracy, as having been addressed specifically to the Pharisees and Sadducees. On the question itself, see Note on Matthew 3:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE ASKED HIM... — The questions that follow are peculiar to St. Luke. They are interesting as showing that the work of the Baptist was not that of a mere preacher of repentance. Confession of sins followed naturally on the part of the penitents; that was followed, as naturally, by guidan... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH TWO COATS. — The remedy, in this case, was simple and practical. Selfishness was the root of evil. It was to be conquered not by religious emotions only, but by acts of unselfishness. HE THAT HATH MEAT. — The Greek noun is plural, and includes all forms of food.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME ALSO PUBLICANS. — The other Gospels do not mention the presence of this class in their narratives of the Baptist’s work, but it is implied in Matthew 21:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXACT NO MORE. — Under the “farming” system of taxation adopted by the Roman empire, this was the besetting temptation of all collectors employed in it, and it led naturally to the evil repute which attached, not in Judæa only, to the name of publican. (See Note on Luke 19:2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SOLDIERS LIKEWISE... — The Greek word has not the definite article, and is a participle. Better, _and soldiers, as they were marching._ The words probably point to the troops of Antipas on their way down the valley of the Jordan to attack Aretas (comp. Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:32), the fath... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MEN MUSED IN THEIR HEARTS... — The surmise which St. Luke thus records is not given by St. Matthew or St. Mark, but it agrees with what we find in St. John (John 1:19), and explains the reference to the “mightier” one which in the other Gospels comes in somewhat abruptly. On the answer itself, s... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL THROUGHLY PURGE... — The better MSS. give, _throughly to purge,_ and _to gather. _... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY OTHER THINGS... — This lay, more or less, in the nature of the case; but St. Luke’s is the only record which lays stress on the wider range of the Baptist’s teaching. The sources of information which supplied him with Luke 3:10, probably brought to his knowledge much of the same character; but... [ Continue Reading ]
(19-20) BUT HEROD THE TETRARCH. — See Notes on Matthew 14:3. St. Luke’s anticipation of the close of the Baptist’s history supplies a curious instance of an arrangement which was obviously deliberate. It seemed to him better to complete the account of the Baptist’s ministry here than to bring in the... [ Continue Reading ]
(21-22) NOW WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED. — See Notes on Matthew 3:13. St. Luke’s account is the shortest of the three first Gospels, but it adds here, as afterwards in his report of the Transfiguration, the fact that our Lord was “praying” at the time of the divine attestation to His Sonship.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A BODILY SHAPE. — The words are peculiar to St. Luke, and tend to confirm the traditional symbolism which finds in the dove the emblem of the Holy Spirit. They, at least, fall in naturally with this view; but the other construction, that the Holy Spirit descended, after the manner of a dove, firs... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN TO BE ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE. — At this age the Levites entered on their full work (Numbers 4:23; Numbers 4:30; Numbers 4:35), a kind of probationary period beginning at twenty-five (Numbers 8:24) or even, in later times, when their work was lighter, at twenty (1 Chronicles 23:27). No age w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS THE SON OF GOD. — The whole form of the genealogy leads us to apply these words to Adam. Humanity as such, as the result of an immediate creative act, was the offspring of God (Acts 17:28), and the words of the angel (Luke 1:35) imply that it was because the human nature of our Lord origin... [ Continue Reading ]