3:1 Now 1 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,
(1) John comes at the time foretold by the prophets and lays
the foundation of the gospel which is exhibited unto us,
setting forth the true observing of the law and free mercy
in Christ, which comes after John, using also baptism which
is the outward sign both of regeneration and also
forgiveness of sins.
3:2a Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of
God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
(a) Josephus calls him Ananus.
3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is b
appointed you.
(b) Require no more than that sum that is appointed for the
tribute money.
3:14 And 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 c
wages.
(c) Which was paid to them partly in money and partly in
food.
3:152 And as the people were in expectation, and all men
mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ,
or not;
(2) If we would rightly and fruitfully receive the sacraments,
we must neither rest in the signs, neither in him that
ministers the signs, but lift up our eyes to Christ, who is
the author of the sacraments, and the giver of that which
is represented by the sacraments.
3:173 Whose 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.
(3) The gospel is the fan of the world.
3:194 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for
Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils
which Herod had done,
(4) John's preaching is confirmed with his death.
3:215 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass,
that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was
opened,
(5) Our baptism is sanctified in the head of the Church, and
Christ also by the voice of the Father is pronounced to be
our everlasting King, Priest, and Prophet.
3:236 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of
age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was
[the son] of Heli,
(6) Christ's lineage, according to the flesh, is traced back
even to Adam, and so to God, that it might appear that it
was only he whom God promised to Abraham and David, and
appointed from everlasting to his Church, which is composed
of all sorts of men.
