Luke 3:3 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) He went into the whole region around the Jordan River proclaiming that those immersed on the basis of their repentance [i.e., determining to change their hearts and lives] would receive the forgiveness of sins [from God]. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin. American Standard Version (1901) And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; Common English Bible John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. Catholic Public Domain Version And he went into the entire region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; |
“I certainly am immersing you in water following [your] repentance, but the One who follows me [i.e., in my ministry], whose sandals I do not deserve to remove [as His slave], will immerse you people with the Holy Spirit and with fire [i.e., the punishment in hell. See verses 10 and 12].
And [you will] provide the knowledge of salvation to His people, by [granting them] the forgiveness of their sins
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River [i.e., where He had been immersed. See 3:21] and was led by the Holy Spirit [See Matt. 4:1] into the desert.
These things happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River where John was immersing people. [Note: This was a different Bethany from the one just outside of Jerusalem].
These disciples went to John and said to him, “Rabbi, look, that man who was with you on the east side of the Jordan River [i.e., Jesus], whom you testified about, is immersing people and everyone is going to him.” [Note: Actually, it was Jesus’ disciples who did the immersing. See 4:2].
His coming occurred after John [the Immerser] had preached to Israel that those who repented should be immersed [as evidence that they had done so].
Paul [then] said, “John immersed people who [demonstrated their] repentance, telling them they must believe in Jesus, the One who would come after him.”
So now, what are you waiting for? Get up and be immersed [into Christ], and have your sins washed away as you appeal to His name [i.e., to Christ's authority].’