Luke 3:1-20
John Prepares the Way
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1In 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,
2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
5Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
6And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
16John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Luke names the rulers of the region and then turns to John, who receives God's word in the wilderness. John travels through the Jordan region proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
His message fulfills Isaiah's picture of a voice preparing the Lord's way. John calls people to make the road straight by turning from sin. Crowds come, but he refuses to let religious ancestry replace repentance. Abraham's descendants need changed lives too. The image of an axe ready at a tree's root warns that judgment is near; belonging to the right family does not remove that danger.
When people ask what they should do, John gives concrete answers. Whoever has two tunics should share with someone who has none. Tax collectors must collect no more than authorized, and soldiers must not extort or accuse falsely.
Some wonder whether John is the Christ. He points beyond himself to the One who is mightier and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. His next picture is a harvest being separated: wheat gathered safely and chaff burned. The coming One has authority to save and to judge. John's call to repent is urgent because meeting the Lord is no small matter. John also confronts Herod's evil, and the ruler eventually imprisons him.
How We Know
Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3–5 to explain John's work. The prophet pictures a road prepared for the Lord through the wilderness, and Luke applies that language to John's call for repentance. The connection identifies whose way John prepares; it gives his ministry meaning within God's promise of coming to his people.
Questions
1 What does John proclaim?
AnswerJohn proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and calls people to prepare the Lord's way.
2 How does John describe repentance in practical terms?
AnswerHe tells those with spare clothing and food to share, tax collectors to collect only what is authorized, and soldiers to stop extortion and false accusations.
3 How does John answer those who wonder if he is the Christ?
AnswerHe says someone mightier is coming, someone who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
4 Why is John's message uncomfortable for powerful people?
AnswerHe applies God's truth to public behavior, including Herod's wrongdoing. Repentance is not only private regret; it can challenge injustice and abuse of power.
What This Means for Us
John refuses a version of faith that sounds spiritual while leaving possessions, work, and power untouched. His examples are ordinary and specific: share clothing, take only what is right, and stop using authority to harm.
Families should be careful not to use repentance as a weapon against others while excusing their own habits. Name a concrete practice that needs to change, and make restitution or seek accountability where harm has been done.
Prayer
God of mercy and truth, turn us from vague regret to faithful change. Show our household where greed, dishonesty, or power has harmed others, and give us courage to repair what we can. Amen.