Luke 3:23

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 3:23-38

3:23-38 When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 3:23

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age ,.... Or Jesus, when he was baptized and began his public ministry, was about thirty years of age: an age at which the priests, under the law, who were typical of Christ, entered on their work, Numbers 4:23 The word, "began", is left out in the Syriac and Persic versions: and is often indeed redundant, as in Luke 3:8 and frequently in Mark's Gospel. The Arabic version renders it, "Jesus began to enter into the thirtieth year", which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 3:23

Thirty years of age - This was the age required by the law, to which the priests must arrive before they could be installed in their office: see Numbers 4:3 . Being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph - This same phrase is used by Herodotus to signify one who was only reputed to be the son of a particular person: τουτου παις νομιζεται he was Supposed to be this man's son. Much learned labor has been used to reconcile this genealogy with that in St. Matthew, Matthew 1:1-17, and there... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 3:23

Verse 23 This was also the reason why he delayed his baptism till the thirtieth year of his age, (Luke 3:23.) Baptism was an appendage to the Gospel: and therefore it began at the same time with the preaching of the Gospel. When Christ was preparing to preach the Gospel, he was introduced by Baptism into his office; and at the same time was endued with the Holy Spirit. When John beholds the Holy Spirit descending upon Christ, it is to remind him, that nothing carnal or earthly must be expected... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:23

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age . This was the age at which the Levites entered upon their work; the age, too, at which it was lawful for scribes to teach. Generally speaking, thirty among the Jews was looked upon as the time of life when manhood had reached its full development. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 3:23-38

THE EARTHLY GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST . Although in every Hebrew family the hope seems to have been cherished that the promised Messiah would be born among them, yet generally the prophetic utterances were understood to point to the Deliverer springing from the royal house of David. To demonstrate that this was actually true in the case of the reputed Son of Mary and Joseph, both the genealogies contained in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were compiled from private and public... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 3:23

Jesus began to be ... - This was the age at which the priests entered on their office, Numbers 4:3, Numbers 4:47; but it is not evident that Jesus had any reference to that in delaying his work to his thirtieth year. He was not subjected to the Levitical law in regard to the priesthood, and it does not appear that prophets and teachers did not commence their work before that age.As was supposed - As was commonly thought, or perhaps being legally reckoned as his son. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 3:23-35

Luke 3:23-35. And Jesus John’s beginning was computed by the years of princes: our Saviour’s by the years of his own life, as a more august era: began to be about thirty years of age The Greek here, και αυτος ην ο Ιησους ωσει ετων τριακοντα αρχομενος , should rather be rendered, (as many commentators understand it,) And Jesus, beginning, (or, when beginning,) namely, the public exercise of his ministry, was about thirty years of age. “I can recollect no sufficient authority,” says... read more

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