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William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Luke 3:1-38

Chapter 6THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.WHEN the Old Testament closed, prophecy had thrown upon the screen of the future the shadows of two persons, cast in heavenly light. Sketched in outline rather than in detail, still their personalities were sufficiently distinct to attract the gaze and hopes of the intervening centuries; while their differing, though related missions were clearly recognized. One was the Coming ONE, who should bring the "consolation" of Israel, and who should Himself be that... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Luke 3:1-38

II. The Beginnings of His Ministry -- Chapter 3-4:13 CHAPTER 3 1. The Ministry of John the Baptist. (Luke 3:1-14 .) 2. His Testimony to Christ and his Imprisonment. (Luke 3:15-20 .) 3. The Baptism of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 3:21-22 .) 4. The Genealogy of Mary, the Mother of our Lord. (Luke 3:23-38 .) Luke 3:1-14 Eighteen more years of silence follow. It is broken by the voice of the forerunner, John, who preached at Jordan the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. He is not... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 3:1-38

A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS (vs.1-20) The first two verses of this chapter establish the precise time of the appearance of John the Baptist in his ministry, so that the reality of it cannot be disputed, and they indicate that this solemn call of Israel to repentance was at a time when wickedness was prospering in high places. Tiberius Caesar was notorious for his cruelty to the Jews, specially bitter toward them, though other religions meant nothing to him either. Pontius Pilate's... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Luke 3:1-38

PREPARATION FOR PUBLIC MINISTRY MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST John the Baptist’s ministry is the first event here (Luke 3:1-22 ). Also he quotes more fully from Isaiah 40:0 than the preceding evangelists, and for the purpose of giving the words, “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” The quotation is from the Septuagint, and is in harmony with Luke’s objective towards the verses, as he distinctively shows that the grace of God in Christ is for all people who will accept it, and not for... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Luke 3:1-38

The Descent of the Holy Ghost Luk 3:22 It is that "bodily shape" that creates all the difficulty in some lumbering and wooden minds. How to connect spirit and body is the profound and insoluble problem. Some persons can believe in matter; they think they see it. Others have a dim notion of the possibility of there being a force in creation that might be called Mind or Spirit. But how to connect the two, how to get the Holy Ghost into a bodily shape, that is the puzzle, the problem, the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Luke 3:3-22

(3) And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (4) As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (5) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth: (6) And all flesh shall see the salvation... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Luke 3:22

The reason why the Holy Ghost shewed himself in the shape of a dove, was because he could not be seen in the substance of his divinity. But why a dove? To express that simplicity acquired in the sacrament of baptism. Be ye simple as doves; to signify that peace bestowed by baptism, and prefigured by the olive branch which the dove carried back to the ark, a true figure of the Church, and which was the only security from the destructive deluge. (St. Ambrose) --- You will object: Christ, though... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Luke 3:21-22

21,22 Christ did not confess sin, as others did, for he had none to confess; but he prayed, as others did, and kept up communion with his Father. Observe, all the three voices from heaven, by which the Father bare witness to the Son, were pronounced while he was praying, or soon after, Luke 9:35; John 12:28. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there came a voice from heaven, from God the Father, from the excellent glory. Thus was a proof of the Holy Trinity, of... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Luke 3:1-99

Luke 3 THE COMMENCEMENT of John’s ministry is very fully dated in the opening two verses. They show that things were entirely out of course, government was vested in the Gentiles, and even in Israel things were in confusion, for there were two high priests instead of one. Hence repentance was the dominant note in his preaching. Earlier prophets had reasoned with Israel and recalled them to the broken law. John no longer does this, but demands repentance. They were to acknowledge that they were... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Luke 3:21-22

The Baptism and Genealogy of Christ. Luke 3:21-Zechariah : The baptism of Jesus: v. 21. Now, when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened, v. 22. and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased. When all the people were being baptized, when the ministry of John had reached its climax, Jesus Himself came... read more

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