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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 3:21-38

The evangelist mentioned John's imprisonment before Christ's being baptized, though it was nearly a year after it, because he would finish the story of John's ministry, and then introduce that of Christ. Now here we have, I. A short account of Christ's baptism, which had been more fully related by St. Matthew. Jesus came, to be baptized of John, and he was so, Luke 3:21, 22. 1. It is here said that, when all the people were baptized, then Jesus was baptized: all that were then present. Christ... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 3:21-22

3:21-22 When all the people had been baptized and when Jesus too had been baptized, as he was praying, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit in bodily form like a dove came down upon him and there was a voice from heaven. "You are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased." The thinkers of the church have always sought an answer to the problem, "Why did Jesus go to John to be baptized?" The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance and it is our conviction that Jesus was without sin.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 3:22

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape ,.... In a corporeal form, in a visible manner, and was seen with bodily eyes, at least by John the administrator; to whom this was a signal of his being the Messiah, and a fresh confirmation of it: like a dove upon him ; either in the form of a dove, or this corporeal form, whatever it was, descended and hovered on him as a dove does: and a voice came from heaven ; at the same time the Holy Ghost came down upon him; which said, thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:21-22

Now when all the people were baptized . This is the shortest account of the first three Gospels of this event. Two circumstances related are, however, peculiar to St. Luke—the fact that he ascended "praying" from the water, and the opening words of this verse, which probably signify that on this day Jesus waited till the crowds who were in the habit of coming to John had been baptized. Jesus also being baptized . There is a curious addition to the Gospel narratives of the baptism of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:21-22

The baptism of Jesus, and the descent of the Holy Ghost. The narrative of the meeting between Jesus and John is given at greater length, and with more completeness of detail, by St. Matthew (see homiletics on Matthew 3:13-17 ). But the account of St. Luke suggests some points of interest. I. THE IDENTIFICATION OF JESUS WITH THE PEOPLE . "When all the people were baptized, Jesus also having been baptized." In this, as in other things, "he is made like to his brethren."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:21-22

God's good pleasure in us. There are some preliminary lessons we do well to learn before we approach the main one; e.g. : 1 . That piety will sometimes prompt us to do that which we are under no constraint to do. Jesus was not under any obligation to be baptized with the baptism of repentance. Moreover, he could not be said to be enrolling himself as a disciple of John. But he felt that "it became him" to do what he did ( Matthew 3:15 ); probably his abstention would have been far... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:21-38

The baptism and genealogy of Jesus. From the general features of the remarkable ministry of the Baptist, summed up as it is for us in the preceding verses, we now pass to the most notable instance of baptism performed by him. This was the baptism of Jesus. We are expressly told that it was when the movement under John had become national, when all the people ( ἅπαντα τὸν λαόν ) had submitted to the rite, with, of course, the Pharisaic exceptions already noticed ( Luke 7:30 ), that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 3:21-22

See the notes at Matthew 3:13-17. “Jesus being baptized;” or, Jesus “having been” baptized. This took place after the baptism, and not “during” its administration, Matthew 3:16.Praying - This circumstance is omitted by the other evangelists; and it shows,That Jesus was in the habit of prayer. That it is proper to offer up special prayer at the administration of the ordinances of religion. That it is possible to pray in the midst of a great multitude, yet in secret. The prayer consisted,... read more

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