Luke 3:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

NIV: Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

NASB: Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

CSB: Herod added this to everything else--he locked up John in prison.

NLT: So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.

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

NKJV: also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

When Herod the Great died (Matthew 2:19), his territory was split up among three of his sons. Two of these were Herod and Philip (Luke 3:1). At one point, Philip was married to a woman named Herodias. When Herod divorced his wife, Herodias divorced Philip and married Herod. This was against the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). John the Baptist condemned this as an illegitimate relationship (Luke 3:19), which likely offended Herod. He had John imprisoned—an act Luke wryly describes as yet another addition to Herod's long list of sins.

While Herod had a vague respect for John the Baptist (Mark 6:20), his wife Herodias was much more spiteful. She seems to have been the one pressing for John's arrest (Mark 6:17–19). Later, she would use her own daughter to manipulate Herod, resulting in John's gruesome execution (Mark 6:22–27).

Luke 3:7–22 is a relatively brief explanation of John the Baptist's ministry. John's preaching calls on people to repent and turn from their sins. At the same time, he is careful to declare that he is not Christ—John is only a herald of the Messiah. Luke's account quickly summarizes this message, John's conflict with Herod the Tetrarch, and the baptism of Jesus. Parallel accounts are found in Matthew 3, Mark 1:1–11, and John 1:19–34.

The early part of Luke's gospel shifts back and forth between the histories of Jesus and John the Baptist. Chapter 3 starts with historical and prophetic context about John. It then depicts some of John's interactions with local religious leaders. Luke gives only a brief description of Jesus' baptism. He also touches on John's criticism of Herod the Tetrarch, which would eventually result in John's execution (Matthew 14:10–12). The chapter ends with a genealogy of Christ.

Chapters 1 and 2 provided early history for both John the Baptist and Jesus. Chapter 3 establishes John's preaching ministry and its connection to Jesus Christ. The chapter ends with a genealogy which some believe runs through Mary's side of the family. Chapter 4 transitions from Jesus' baptism into His public ministry, by describing His fasting in the wilderness and temptation by Satan.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/5/2024 2:26:27 PM