Bible Strands
Luke 3:1
In 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,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Luke addresses his readers by anchoring the narrative in a precise historical moment under Roman and regional rulers. He identifies the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign and lists the contemporary governors of Judea, Galilee, Ituraea, Trachonitis, and Abilene.
The words — ἡγεμονίας (hēgemonias) denotes the governing authority or reign, while πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ (pentekaidekatō) specifies the fifteenth year. These terms ground the account in a verifiable chronological framework.
The thread — Luke 3:1 establishes the political backdrop for events recorded in Matthew 27:2, where Jesus is handed over to Pilate, and Luke 23:6, where Pilate inquires about a Galilean. Genesis 49:10 traces the lineage of Judah’s ruling authority until the coming of Shiloh.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine action enters recorded history under specific human authorities. Readers must account for the precise timing and political reality before drawing theological conclusions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Cross-references
- Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
- Matthew 27:2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
- Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
- Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
- Luke 9:7 When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,
- Luke 23:24 So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.
- Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
- Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,