Luke 3:1-20
Lesson 108
Lesson 108
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this Lesson:
In our last lesson, Jesus was twelve years old.
He's now thirty and starting His ministry.
In our last lesson, Jesus was twelve years old.
He's now thirty and starting His ministry.
John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness.
Study Tip:
As you study the Bible, pray, and trust your informed interpretations. God will open your heart and pour in more truth as you're ready to receive it.
As you study the Bible, pray, and trust your informed interpretations. God will open your heart and pour in more truth as you're ready to receive it.
Who was -
Tiberius Caesar -
Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar, the Roman emperor from AD 14 until his death in AD 37 at the age of 78. Born in 42 BC, he was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and the stepson of Caesar Augustus who was the Roman emperor when Jesus was born. Caesar Augustus adopted Tiberius after the death of his father. Tiberius rose to prominence as a military leader and was a cruel and brutal emperor prone to laziness and self-indulgence. King Herod Antipas named Tiberias, a city in Galilee, after him.
Pontius Pilate -
Pontius Pilate was the fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria. He served from AD 26 to 36 and disliked his Judean assignment so far from home. Pilate was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's harsh reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained about him to Rome. They accused him
of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he was in Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order as the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While in Jerusalem, the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to sentence a prisoner to death (John 18:31) so pressured Pilate to crucify Jesus. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. Already disciplined by Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. He repeatedly declared Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4; 23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was willing to have him executed. In A.D. 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought yet more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.
Herod -
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great (who ruled during the time of Jesus' birth and tried to kill the infant Messiah in Matthew 2:16). Ambitious, self-destructive, and without principle, the Romans appointed Herod tetrarch (ruler) over Galilee (Luke 3:1) and Perea after his father's death. Jesus called him a "fox" (Luke 13:32) because of his reputation for being sly, cunning, cowardly, and sordid. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded for criticizing his marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias (Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-18; Luke 9:9). At the time, Herod was at war with Aretas, the Arabian king of Petraea for divorcing Aretas' daughter so he could marry Herodias. After Jesus was arrested, He was brought before Herod and mocked (Luke 23:6-12). Herod was eventually dethroned by the Romans for "confederating with the king of Parthia against the Roman empire." Herod and his niece/wife, Herodias died in exile in Spain.
Philip -
Herod Philip, the son of Herod the Great, half brother to Herod Antipas, and the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis (Luke 3:1) located northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Philip's rule lasted thirty-seven years and was a period of peace and prosperity. He built the city of Caesarea Philippi and named it after Caesar and himself. Philip married his niece Herodias, but she divorced him to marry her other uncle, Herod Antipas. He was well thought of by his subjects and died in AD 34.
Lysanias -
The tetrarch of the Roman providence of Abilene located north of Damascus, Syria.
Annas -
The Jewish high priest for nine years (AD 6-15) until the Romans removed him from office. Many Jews resented Roman interference in their religious affairs and considered Annas the rightful high priest. After being deposed, he continued to hold lesser positions (Acts 4:6), and four of his sons went on to become high priest after him. After being arrested, Jesus had His first hearing before Annas. Annas' daughter married his successor, Joseph Caiaphas (John 18:13) who persecuted Jesus and called for His crucifixion.
Caiaphas -
Joseph Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest appointed by Pontius Pilate's predecessor, the Roman governor of Judaea, Valerius Gratus. Caiaphas served as the leader of the Sanhedrin for eighteen years (AD 18-36) and plotted Jesus' arrest, trial, and then pressured Pilate into crucifying Him. Later, he tried to cover up the resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15) and spent years persecuting Christians, including John and Peter (Acts 4:6-10). Caiaphas was married to the former
high priest Annas' daughter (John 18:13). He was eventually removed from office by the Romans. What finally became of Caiaphas is unknown although legend has it that he converted to Christianity.
Esaias -
Esaias is the Greek name for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (meaning Jehovah is salvation) who died in 681 BC. He is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah wrote "The Book of the Prophet Isaiah," which spoke out against hypocrisy (Isaiah 29:13) and idol worship ((Isaiah 2:6-9). In response to Isaiah's warnings, people made insincere religious sacrifices (Isaiah 1:10-17; 29:13) but refused to repent.
Isaiah warned that God would punish Israel for its disobedience (Isaiah 3:1-26). Sure enough, Babylon destroyed Israel and carried many of its citizens away as slaves. Isaiah prophesized that King Cyrus of Persia would free the abducted Jewish people and allow them to return to Jerusalem 80 years before they were taken captive and over 100 years before Cyrus was born. He also predicted that Cyrus would allow the rebuilding of the Temple before it had been destroyed. He prophesied the fall of Babylon 100 years before it rose and the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) 700 years before Christ's birth.
The Bible does not tell us how or when Isaiah died, but Jewish history reports that King Manasseh of Judah condemned Isaiah to death. Allegedly, he was found hiding in a hollow cedar tree and sawed in half with the tree. If this is true, then perhaps Hebrews 11:37 is referring to Isaiah. Isaiah is quoted over fifty times in the New Testament.
Herodias -
King Herod Antipas' wife and niece (the daughter of Aristobulus, Herod's half-brother). She divorced her first husband Philip (Herod Antipas's half-brother) to marry Herod (Mark 6:17). She plotted John the Baptist's beheading (Matthew 14:1-12) after he condemned her for marrying her uncle and ex-husband's brother. Herod Antipas and Herodias died in exile in Spain.
Tiberius Caesar -
Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar, the Roman emperor from AD 14 until his death in AD 37 at the age of 78. Born in 42 BC, he was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and the stepson of Caesar Augustus who was the Roman emperor when Jesus was born. Caesar Augustus adopted Tiberius after the death of his father. Tiberius rose to prominence as a military leader and was a cruel and brutal emperor prone to laziness and self-indulgence. King Herod Antipas named Tiberias, a city in Galilee, after him.
Pontius Pilate -
Pontius Pilate was the fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria. He served from AD 26 to 36 and disliked his Judean assignment so far from home. Pilate was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's harsh reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained about him to Rome. They accused him
of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he was in Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order as the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While in Jerusalem, the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to sentence a prisoner to death (John 18:31) so pressured Pilate to crucify Jesus. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. Already disciplined by Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. He repeatedly declared Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4; 23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was willing to have him executed. In A.D. 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought yet more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.
Herod -
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great (who ruled during the time of Jesus' birth and tried to kill the infant Messiah in Matthew 2:16). Ambitious, self-destructive, and without principle, the Romans appointed Herod tetrarch (ruler) over Galilee (Luke 3:1) and Perea after his father's death. Jesus called him a "fox" (Luke 13:32) because of his reputation for being sly, cunning, cowardly, and sordid. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded for criticizing his marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias (Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-18; Luke 9:9). At the time, Herod was at war with Aretas, the Arabian king of Petraea for divorcing Aretas' daughter so he could marry Herodias. After Jesus was arrested, He was brought before Herod and mocked (Luke 23:6-12). Herod was eventually dethroned by the Romans for "confederating with the king of Parthia against the Roman empire." Herod and his niece/wife, Herodias died in exile in Spain.
Philip -
Herod Philip, the son of Herod the Great, half brother to Herod Antipas, and the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis (Luke 3:1) located northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Philip's rule lasted thirty-seven years and was a period of peace and prosperity. He built the city of Caesarea Philippi and named it after Caesar and himself. Philip married his niece Herodias, but she divorced him to marry her other uncle, Herod Antipas. He was well thought of by his subjects and died in AD 34.
Lysanias -
The tetrarch of the Roman providence of Abilene located north of Damascus, Syria.
Annas -
The Jewish high priest for nine years (AD 6-15) until the Romans removed him from office. Many Jews resented Roman interference in their religious affairs and considered Annas the rightful high priest. After being deposed, he continued to hold lesser positions (Acts 4:6), and four of his sons went on to become high priest after him. After being arrested, Jesus had His first hearing before Annas. Annas' daughter married his successor, Joseph Caiaphas (John 18:13) who persecuted Jesus and called for His crucifixion.
Caiaphas -
Joseph Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest appointed by Pontius Pilate's predecessor, the Roman governor of Judaea, Valerius Gratus. Caiaphas served as the leader of the Sanhedrin for eighteen years (AD 18-36) and plotted Jesus' arrest, trial, and then pressured Pilate into crucifying Him. Later, he tried to cover up the resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15) and spent years persecuting Christians, including John and Peter (Acts 4:6-10). Caiaphas was married to the former
high priest Annas' daughter (John 18:13). He was eventually removed from office by the Romans. What finally became of Caiaphas is unknown although legend has it that he converted to Christianity.
Esaias -
Esaias is the Greek name for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (meaning Jehovah is salvation) who died in 681 BC. He is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish prophet. Isaiah wrote "The Book of the Prophet Isaiah," which spoke out against hypocrisy (Isaiah 29:13) and idol worship ((Isaiah 2:6-9). In response to Isaiah's warnings, people made insincere religious sacrifices (Isaiah 1:10-17; 29:13) but refused to repent.
Isaiah warned that God would punish Israel for its disobedience (Isaiah 3:1-26). Sure enough, Babylon destroyed Israel and carried many of its citizens away as slaves. Isaiah prophesized that King Cyrus of Persia would free the abducted Jewish people and allow them to return to Jerusalem 80 years before they were taken captive and over 100 years before Cyrus was born. He also predicted that Cyrus would allow the rebuilding of the Temple before it had been destroyed. He prophesied the fall of Babylon 100 years before it rose and the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) 700 years before Christ's birth.
The Bible does not tell us how or when Isaiah died, but Jewish history reports that King Manasseh of Judah condemned Isaiah to death. Allegedly, he was found hiding in a hollow cedar tree and sawed in half with the tree. If this is true, then perhaps Hebrews 11:37 is referring to Isaiah. Isaiah is quoted over fifty times in the New Testament.
Herodias -
King Herod Antipas' wife and niece (the daughter of Aristobulus, Herod's half-brother). She divorced her first husband Philip (Herod Antipas's half-brother) to marry Herod (Mark 6:17). She plotted John the Baptist's beheading (Matthew 14:1-12) after he condemned her for marrying her uncle and ex-husband's brother. Herod Antipas and Herodias died in exile in Spain.
