Keraia
Luke 3

Luke 3:1

The Mission of John the Baptist · Luke 3:1–20
Read Luke 3

Translations

Modern
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Traditional
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Literal
And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip being tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and of Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene,
Latin
Anno autem quintodecimo imperii Tiberii Cæsaris, procurante Pontio Pilato Judæam, tetrarcha autem Galilææ Herode, Philippo autem fratre ejus tetrarcha Iturææ, et Trachonitidis regionis, et Lysania Abilinæ tetrarcha,

Original

Greek
English
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Notes

Luke 3:1

  • In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar: Tiberius Caesar began to rule with his stepfather, Caesar Augustus, in AD 11. He became the sole emperor in AD 14 and ruled until AD 37. Luke may be counting from either AD 11 or AD 14. If so, John began his public ministry around AD 26/27 or AD 29/30. Jesus began his own ministry soon after John.

  • Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea from AD 26 to 36 (see “Pontius Pilate” Profile).

  • Herod tetrarch of Galilee: See “Herod Antipas” Profile.

  • Antipas’s half-brother Philip was another son of Herod the Great. Philip ruled as tetrarch of the region northeast of Galilee from 4 BC until his death in AD 34. Tetrarch means “the ruler of a fourth of a kingdom.” The term later meant any minor ruler. Philip was a half brother of both Antipas and Herod Philip (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17).

Luke 3:1–4:13

After the birth story, Luke prepares his audience for the public ministry of Jesus. He describes the work of John the Baptist, who comes before the Messiah (the Christ, God's chosen king). He also tells about the baptism, family line (genealogy), and temptation of Jesus.

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Matthew 3:1–12 Mark 1:1–8 John 1:19–28

People

Augustus: Roman emperor during the birth of Jesus Herod: Tetrarch of Galilee during Jesus' ministry Lysanias: Tetrarch of Abilene during John the Baptist's ministry Philip: Tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis Pilate: Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial Tiberius: Roman emperor during Jesus' ministry and death

Places

Abilene: A region ruled by Lysanias when John began preaching Galilee: Region in northern Israel; key location in Jesus' ministry Jetur: A descendant of Ishmael and a region in Syria Judea: The southern region of Israel, centered around Jerusalem Trachonitis: A rugged region northeast of the Jordan River

Glossary

Abilene Augustus Caesar Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Genealogy Governor Herod, Herodian Family Ituraea, Iturea, Itureans Jetur, Jeturites Judah, Tribe of Luke, Gospel of Lysanias Philip Rome (City) Tetrarch The Caesars Tiberius Trachonitis, Traconitis Wilderness

Topics

Abilene: A Roman Province in Palestine Caesar: Tiberius Canaan: Land of Roman Provinces of Galilee: Jurisdiction of, Granted to Herod by the Romans Galilee: The Northern District of Palestine: Herod (Antipas), Tetrarch of Government: Provincial Herod: Tetrarch of Galilee (Herod Antipas) Holy Land: Divided Into: Four Provinces by the Romans Ituraea: Small Province in the Northwest of Palestine Lysanias: A Tetrarch Modern Judea: One of the Divisions of the Holy Land Under the Romans Philip: Tetrarch of Iturea Pontius Pilate: Roman Governor of Judaea During the Time of Jesus' Ministry Roman Empire: Ruled by Tiberius Caesar The Roman Empire: Emperors of, Mentioned: Tiberius Tiberius Caesar: An Important Emperor of Rome Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Accession of Kings Trachonitis: A Part of the Tetrarchy of Philip