^a Tiberius Caesar came after Emperor Augustus who died on August 19, A.D. 14. The fifteenth year of Tiberius’ reign would be around A.D. 28-29. Historians would frequently date an event by giving the year of the ruler’s reign in which the event took place.

^b Judea was part of the region assigned by Herod the Great (refer to ‘The Family of Herod the Great’, p. viii) to his son Archelaus. Archelaus ruled so badly that his subjects petitioned the Romans to remove him. They did so and installed their own governor or procurator in A.D. 6. Pontius Pilate held this office from A.D. 26-36 (refer to ’Pontius Pilate’, p. ix).

^c This Herod is Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. He became ruler of Galilee and Perea at his father’s death in 4 B.C. until A.D. 39. He thus ruled over Galilee during most of Jesus’ lifetime there.

^d Not much is known about Lysanias.

^e Annas was high priest from A.D. 6-15 but he was removed from his office by the Roman governor Gratus. He was followed by one of his sons. Then Caiaphas, his son-in-law, took office from A.D. 18-36. Although Caiaphas was the official high priest, as the family head, Annas was the most influential priest and he still bore the title. He was probably regarded by many Jews as the true high priest. So Luke included his name as well as that of the Roman appointee Caiaphas.

^f The picture or imagery here is of making ready the roads that would be travelled by a royal visitor when he visits a distant country. Every barrier must be removed to prepare the way. To prepare for the coming of God’s Saviour, what needed to be removed was the sins of the people and that was what John came to do – to preach about repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

^g This is a reference to both the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. 21:20-24) which occurred in A.D. 70 and the final judgment.

^h This is a symbolic way of saying that judgment was near for those who showed no evidence or results of repentance in their lives. Fire is used here as a symbol of judgment.

ⁱ The ‘shirt’ refers to the tunic or undershirt which was a short undergarment worn under the longer outer robe (refer to ‘Clothing’, p. xv). Normally only one was worn. A man might use an extra tunic for warmth or as a change of clothes. Since two such garments were not normally needed, the second should be given to one who is in need.

^j Taxes were collected for the Roman government by Jewish agents who were thus called tax collectors (refer to ‘Social Classes’, p. xvi). They were especially hated for helping the pagan conqueror and for cheating their own people by often collecting more than what was owed and pocketing the extra themselves.

^k Most likely these were Jewish soldiers who were assigned to internal Jewish affairs, e.g., police guard for the Temple, escorts for the tax collectors, etc. The Romans allowed limited Jewish military forces for certain Jewish individuals or institutions. What the Jews condemned were not the professions of tax-collector and soldier but the unethical practices that were associated with them.

^l There was a saying among the rabbis that any service that a slave does for his master, a disciple shall do for his teacher, except to untie his sandals. Rabbis were not paid but pupils used to show their appreciation by doing a variety of services for their teachers. John was saying that he was not worthy even to do such a menial task like this for Jesus.

^m Fire is an ancient symbol of judgment, refinement and purification. John baptised with water. Jesus, being greater than John, would baptise with God’s Holy Spirit and he would cleanse and purify as with fire. This was fulfilled at Pentecost (Ac 1:5, 2:4).

ⁿ John continues with the theme of judgment. Winnowing is the process by which the grain, having been loosened from the husks by the treading of oxen, is thrown into the air against a breeze. The wind would carry the chaff (empty husks) away, but the grain would fall straight down. The winnowing fork or shovel is used to throw the grain into the air. The wheat grain is then brought into the barn but the chaff is burnt. John uses this image to show that when Jesus comes, those who accept him will be like the grain but those who are unrepentant and reject him, even if they are Jews, will be like the chaff. They will ultimately face God’s judgment. Many Jews thought that only pagans would be judged and punished when the Messiah came. John, however, declared that judgment would come to all who did not repent, including Jews.

^o Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod Antipas’ brother. She had left Philip to marry Herod while he had divorced his wife to marry her. She was also his niece (refer to ‘The Family of Herod the Great’, p. viii)

^p This did not occur until sometime after the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Luke mentions it here because he wants to conclude his section of John’s ministry before beginning his account of the start of Jesus’ ministry.