1The preaching and baptism of John: 15his testimony of Christ: 19Herod imprisoneth John for his free reproof. 21Christ is baptized, and receiveth testimony from heaven. 23The age and genealogy of Christ from Joseph upwards.
1NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of 1Tiberius Caesar, 2Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being 3tetrarcha of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
1 This was the third emperor in the Roman empire, who succeeded Augustus in the empire, under whose reign Christ also died.
2 After that Archelaus, the eldest son of Herod the Great, who reigned over Judæa, Mat. 2:22, because of his ill government he was banished by the Romans, the Roman emperors caused that land to be thenceforth governed by their own lieutenants, amongst whom this Pilate was the fifth. The remainder of the land of Canaan was governed by the other sons of Herod.
3 Of these tetrarchs, see the annotation at Mat. 14 on verse 1, in whose countries, which are here named, Christ preached much, as also in Abilene, which was situated in Decapolis, Mat. 4:25; Mark 5:20.
a ruler over a fourth part of a country*
24Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,b the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias 5in the wilderness.
4 Annas was the father in law of Caiaphas, John 18:13, and they are put here as two high priests, either because the high priest had always a deputy, who supplied their place while they were unclean or sick. See Num. 3:32; 1 Kings 4:4; 2 Kings 23:4 and 25:18, or because at that time they administered the priest’s office, the one the one year, and the other the other year. See John 11:49, 51; Acts 4:6; since the succession of the rightful high priests, which were descended from Aaron, had come in decay, and that office was now become a benefice or gift of the Romans.
b Acts 4:6.
5 Of this wilderness see Mat. 3 on verse 1.
3Andc he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
c Mat. 3:1; Mark 1:4.
4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaiasd the prophet, saying, 6The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
d Isa. 40:3; Mat. 3:3; Mark 1:3; John 1:23.
6 Of this voice and prophesy see the annotations at Isa. 40 on verse 3, on verse 4 and Mat. 3 on verse 3.
5Every 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;
6Ande7all flesh shall see 8the salvation of God.
e Psalm 98:2; Isa. 52:10.
7 That is, all kinds of people. See Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17.
8 See Luke 2:30.
7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, Of generation of 9vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
f Mat. 3:7; 23:33.
9 These are a kind of serpents which are very venomous. See Acts 28:3, 6.
8Bring forth therefore fruits 10worthy of repentance, and begin not to say 11within yourselves, Weg have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 Or, becoming, and agreeable unto true repentance.
11 Or, with yourselves.
g Mat. 3:9; John 8:39; Acts 13:26.
9Andh now also 12the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
h Mat. 3:10; 7:19.
12 That is, the judgment of God is ready and drawing near for those, who, hearing the preaching of the Gospel, bring forth no fruits.
10And the people asked him, saying,i13What shall we do then?
i Acts 2:37.
13 Namely, to escape this punishment and be saved.
11He answereth and saith unto them, Hej that hath two coats, let him 14impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
j James 2:13, 15; 1 John 3:17.
14 That is, let him thus show love to his poor neighbor, that before he would let him suffer want, he rather give him one of his coats and a part of his necessary food.
12Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is 15appointed you.
15 Namely, by the supreme magistrate.
14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, 16Do violence to no man, neither 17accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
16 The Greek word properly signifies to toss and to shake any man hither and thither, so that here all manner of robbery, insolent and wrongful violence is forbidden to soldiers.
17 The Greek word signifies indeed to accuse anyone falsely, but this Greek word may also be translated as one who exacts, extorts, or defrauds money wrongfully, as appears in Luke 19:8.
15And as the people were in 18expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
18 Or, stood in expectation, namely, of the coming of the Messiah.
16John answered, saying unto them all, Ik indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchetl of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: hem shall baptize you 19with the Holy Ghost and with 20fire:
k Mat. 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:26; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:4.
l strap, lace*
m Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:4; 11:15.
19 Gr. in.
20 See Mat. 3:11.
17Whosen21fanois in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his 22garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
n Mat. 3:12.
21 Or, winnowing shovel. See Mat. 3:12.
o fork-like instrument used for winnowing*
22 Or, corn loft.
18And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
19Butp23Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
p Mat. 14:3; Mark 6:18.
23 See in more detail of this history in Mat. 14 on verse 3.
20Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21Nowq when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
q Mat. 3:13; Mark 1:9; John 1:32.
22And 24the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thour art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
24 See hereof Mat. 3:16.
r Isa. 42:1; Mat. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; Col. 1:13; 2 Peter 1:17.
23And Jesus himself began to be about 25thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) thes son of Joseph, which was 26the son of Heli,
25 This age the priests had to be before they were permitted to execute fully their office. Num. 4:3; 1 Chron. 23:3.
s Mat. 13:55; John 6:42.
26 Joseph is said in Mat. 1:16 to be begotten or born of Jacob, but here is called a son of Heli, because, as many think, he had married Mary who was the daughter of Heli; as Ruth is called the daughter of Naomi, because she had had the son of Naomi. Ruth 1:11.
24Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
25Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
26Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
27Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of 27Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
27 Some think that this Zorobabel and Salathiel are the same, who Matthew rehearses in Mat. 1:12, holding that the progeny of Solomon was extinct in Jeconiah, from Jer. 22:30. Yet others think that this place of Jeremiah may be thus understood that he is said to be without children, which as kings would sit upon his throne, seeing the regal dignity ended in Jeconiah (Coniah), and think that out of 1 Chron. 3:17, it appears that Jeconiah had children of his own, and that for this cause it is likely that this Zorobabel and Salathiel of the line of Nathan were other persons than those of whom Matthew speaks; as in divers families, which are descended from one stock, it often happens that the same names are given to the posterity, of which there is an example here in this very chapter, verses 24, 29, where the names of Matthat and Levi are found in several persons twice one after another.
28Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
29Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
30Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
31Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of 28Nathan, which was the son of David,
28 Matthew relates the genealogy of David by Solomon unto Joseph, the husband of Mary, but Luke here relates the genealogy of David by Nathan, who was a brother of Solomon and another son of David, also by Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 5:14; 1 Chron. 3:5 and 14:4, unto Heli, the father of Mary, whose son Joseph is called, verse 23, because he had married his daughter. Therefore it is not strange that here are other names found from David unto Joseph than are in Matthew, because they describe several lines. As also that Matthew rehearses fewer persons than Luke, seeing he leaves out several names to confine himself within the number of fourteen. See the annotation at Mat. 1 on verse 17.
32Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
33Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
34Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara,t which was the son of Nachor,
t Gen. 11:10, etc.
35Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
36Which was the son of 29Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
29 This name is not found in the genealogy related by Moses in Gen. 10:24 and 11:12, neither in 1 Chron. 1:24, but is found in the Greek translation, which was in use among the Jews at that time; wherefore some think that this also well agrees with that which Moses relates, because Arphaxad would have begotten Sala by his son Cainan; as the same may be seen also in 1 Chron. 2:50 and 4:1.
37Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
38Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam,u which was 30the son of God.
u Gen. 5:3.
30 Adam is here called a son of God, because he proceeded not from other men, but was created by God Himself after His own image, as the angels also are therefore called the sons of God, Job 1:6; 38:7.