JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHES

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

2Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4As 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.

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;

6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

9And now also the 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.

10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

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 appointed you.

14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

19But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS

21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22And 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.

THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS

23And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

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 sonof 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 Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,

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 sonof 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 Nathan, which was the son of David,

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, which was the sonof Nachor,

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 Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

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, which was the son of God.

Now in the fifteenth yeere of the reigne of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being Gouernour of Iudea, & Herode being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene,

2Annas and Caiaphas being the high Priests, the word of God came vnto Iohn the sonne of Zacharias, in the wildernesse.

3And he came into all the countrey about Iordane, preaching the baptisme of repentance, for the remissiō of sinnes,

4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the Prophet, saying, The voyce of one crying in the wildernesse, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5Euery valley shall be filled, and euery mountaine and hill shalbe brought low, and the crooked shall bee made straight, and the rough wayes shall be made smooth.

6And all flesh shal see the saluation of God.

7Then said hee to the multitude that came forth to bee baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8Bring forth therfore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: For I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.

9And now also the axe is laid vnto the root of the trees: Euery tree therefore which bringeth not foorth good fruit, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.

10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we doe then?

11He answereth, and saith vnto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, and he that hath meat, let him doe likewise.

12Then came also Publicanes to be baptized, and said vnto him, Master, what shall we doe?

13And he said vnto them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you.

14And the souldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we doe? And he said vnto them, Doe violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, & be content with your wages.

15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Iohn, whether he were the Christ or not:

16Iohn answered, saying vnto them all, I indeede baptize you with water, but one mightier then I commeth, the latchet of whose shooes I am not worthy to vnloose, he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.

17Whose fanne is in his hand, and he will thorowly purge his floore, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaffe he will burne with fire vnquencheable.

18And many other things in his exhortation preached he vnto the people.

19But Herode the Tetrarch being reprooued by him for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the euils which Herode had done,

20Added yet this aboue all, that he shut vp Iohn in prison.

21Now when all the people were baptized, and it came to passe that Iesus also being baptized, and praying, the heauen was opened:

22And the holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a Doue vpon him, and a voice came from heauen, which said, Thou art my beloued sonne, in thee I am well pleased.

23And Iesus himselfe began to be about thirty yeeres of age, being (as was supposed) the sonne of Ioseph, which was the sonne of Heli,

24Which was the sonne of Matthat, which was the sonne of Leui, which was the sonne of Melchi, which was the sonne of Ianna, which was the sonne of Ioseph,

25Which was the sonne of Matthathias, which was the sonne of Amos, which was the sonne of Naum, which was the sonne of Eli, which was the sonne of Nagge,

26Which was the sonne of Maath, which was the sonne of Matthathias, which was the sonne of Semei, which was the sonne of Ioseph, which was the sonne of Iuda,

27Which was the sonne of Ioanna, which was the sonne of Rhesa, which was the sonne of Zorobabel, which was the sonne of Salathiel, which was the sonne of Neri,

28Which was the sonne of Melchi, which was the sonne of Addi, which was the sonne of Cosam, which was the sonne of Elmodam, which was the sonne of Er,

29Which was the sonne of Iose, which was the sonne of Eliezer, which was the sonne of Iorim, which was the sonne of Matthat, which was the sonne of Leui,

30Which was the sonne of Simeon, which was the sonne of Iuda, which was the sonne of Ioseph, which was the sonne of Ionan, which was the sonne of Eliakim,

31Which was the sonne of Melea, which was the sonne of Menam, which was the sonne of Mattatha, which was the sonne of Nathan, which was the sonne of Dauid,

32Which was the sonne of Iesse, which was the sonne of Obed, which was the sonne of Booz, which was the sonne of Salmon, which was the sonne of Nasson,

33Which was the sonne of Aminadab, which was the sonne of Aram, which was the sonne of Esrom, which was the sonne of Phares, which was the sonne of Iuda,

34Which was the sonne of Iacob, which was the sonne of Isaac, which was the sonne of Abraham, which was the sonne of Thara, which was the sonne of Nachor,

35Which was the sonne of Saruch, which was the sonne of Ragau, which was the sonne of Phaleg, which was the sonne of Heber, which was the sonne of Sala,

36Which was the sonne of Cainan, which was the sonne of Arphaxad, which was the sonne of Sem, which was the sonne of Noe, which was the sonne of Lamech,

37Which was the sonne of Mathusala, which was the sonne of Enoch, which was the sonne of Iared, which was the sonne of Maleleel, which was the sonne of Cainan,

38Which was the sonne of Enos, which was the sonne of Seth, which was the sonne of Adam, which was the sonne of God.

II == John 11:49 , 51 ; 18:13 ; Acts 4:6

III ==Matt 3:1 ; Mark 1:4 ; Luke 1:77

IV == Isa 40:3 Matt 3:3 ; Mark 1:3 ; John 1:23

VI == Ps 98:2 ; Isa 52:10 ; Luke 2:10

VII == Matt 3:7

IX == Matt 7:19

X == Acts 2:37

XI == Luke 11:41 ; 2nd Cor 8:14 ; James 2:15-16 ; 1st John 3:17 ; 4:20

XII Matt 21:32 ; Luke 7:29

XIII Luke 19:8

XIV == Ex 23:1 ; Lev 19:11

XVI == Matt 3:11

XVII == Mic 4:12 ; Matt 13:30

XIX == Matt 14:3 ; Mark 6:17

XXI == Matt 3:13 ; John 1:32

XXIII == Num 4:3 , 35 , 39 , 43 , 47 ; Matt 13:55 ; John 6:42

XXXI == 2nd Sam 5:14 ; 1st Chr 3:5 ; Zech 12:12

XXXII == Ruth 4:18-22 ; 1st Chr 2:10-12

XXXIV == Gen 11:24 , 26

XXXVI == Gen 5:6-26 ; 11:10-26

XXXVIII == Gen 5:1-2

 

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" 7 He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11 He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. 19 Now Herod the tetrarch, who had been censured by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, 20 added still another to these by (also) putting John in prison. 21 After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." 23 When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

V 1-20 John the Baptist

v 1,2. When Christ was born it was recorded in the Roman Empire from the founding of the time of Rome. After Christianity became the universal religion a monk named Dionysius Exiguus by the request of the emperor Justinian made the Christian Calendar. From A. D. 526 reckoning time from the birth of Christ to supersede the Roman Calendar. Long, Long time after the Christian Calendar had replaced the Roman Calendar a mistake was found placing Christ birth in 753 from the founding of Rome. The date should of been 749.

Pilate was appointed and ruled from AD 26-36, and he never did get along with the Jews. He moved army headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem, bringing standards with image of the emperor into the holy city. He hung golden shields inscribed with other gods in the palace; He used money from the Holy treasury to build an aqueduct into Jerusalem; He killed certain Galileans, and to keep from more trouble with Jews, had Christ crucified. John’s message was in AD 29, during the time of high priest Annas and Caiaphas. This was not Herod the Great, but Herod  Antipas.

Reard in daily view of Mt Nebo, from the heighs Moses had viewed with longing eyes of the Promised Land and spoke of the Promised Messiah coming. overlooking the Jordan, where Joshua had crossed and the walls of Jericha had fallen at Joshua's blast, living in the same region where Amos had pastured his flocks. He often visited the brook Cherith where Elijah had been fed by the ravens;

Knowing he was to be the Elijah of prophecy Luke 1:17 Matthew 11:14, 17:10-13 Malachi 4:5 not Elijah in person John 1:21 intentionally , he may of copied the dress and habits of Elijah. He lived on locusts and wild honey Matthew 3:4 The Locust were roasted, or sundried and eaten like parched grain. The had been used for food from the earliest time.

At the age of 30 John started his calling. The nation was groaning under the cruelties of Roman bondage was electrified by the voice of this strange, rugged, hearless hermit of the desert, crying on the banks of Jordan that the long foretold Deliverer was at hand.

The place of John's preaching was the lower Jordan, over against Jericho on one of the main cross roads of the country, and a principal gateway to Jerusalem.

Repent was his cry, with his preaching experienced immense popular success. He stirred the hearts of many men, Great multitudes came to be baptism (Matthew 3:5) Even Herod heared him. (Mark 6:20) Introductory to the ceremony of Christian Baptism he required those who professed repentace to submit to baptism.

His work and mission was accomplished at the height of his popularity when he baptized Jesus. He continued preaching and baptizing for a few months while he moved northward to Aenon (John 3:23)

John was imprisoned by Herod to satisfy the whim of a wicked woman (Matthew 14:1-5) about a year after he had baptized Jesus. This was around the close of Jesus' early Judean Ministry (December Matthew 4:12 John 3:22, 4:35)

John place of imprisonment is not named, but we believe it would of been at Machaeurs, east of the Dead Sea, or at Tiberias, on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee. About the time of the second following Passover he was beheaded (Matthew 14:12-13 John 6:4)

We assume that John ministry lasted about a year and a half, with 30 years in seclusiton and began shortly before he baptized Jesus. A year and a half of public preaching with a year and 4 months in prison. Then death. Short life of the man who ushered in the Saviour of the World and who Jesus said there had not been born a greater (Matthew 11:11)

John had doubt (Matthew 11:3) even after he showed such confident and positive testimony that Jesus was the Lamb of God and the Son of God (John 1:29-34)

v 3-6. John shunned the habitations of men and lived in the solitude of the bleak and wild region west of the Dead Sea. He had known from childhood that the event of the Ages was at head. He also knew that he had been born to spread its arrival. John was the voice in the wilderness preaching a message of repentance in the lower Jordan valley where Elijah preached. See further comments Mt. 3:1-11. Not that repentance saved, repentance would result in sins forgiven, but that one’s life showed if he had truly repented.
v 7-9. Those who just thought baptism would save them are called vipers.
v 10-14. People in general were told basically to be generous. Unscrupulous tax collectors and soldiers were to be, honest and content.
v 15-17. Some began to think John might be the Messiah, but he was quick to point out the difference. He baptized with water, the baptism by Christ to be by fire, partly the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, eventually the judgments at Christ’s return.
v 18-20. John’s preaching ministry probably lasted about a year and then two years in prison. More details of imprisonment and beheading are given: Matt. 14:1-12; Mk. 6:14-29; Lk. 9:7-9, 19-20.
v 21, 22. All four gospels tell of the baptism of Jesus, but only Luke mentions He was praying before the Holy Spirit descending and the Father’s voice from heaven.
v 23. Luke was certain Jesus was about 30, the age priests began ministry. He made it clear that people thought Jesus was only the son of Joseph.
v 24-38. Matthew traced the line from Joseph to David and Abraham, showing Christ as king. Luke traces the line of Mary, showing Christ to be the Son of man, making Him human and qualified to redeem us. He goes clear back to Adam, showing that Christ was the Redeemer of the whole world.  Mary’s line was not under the curse  pronounced upon Jeconiah, or Coniah in Jer. 22:30, so He could be king. Joseph was his step father, so this made the action legal.
Mark did not give the genealogy, which would be inappropriate for a servant.
John did not give the genealogy because he presented Christ as Deity, the Son of God.