Now 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,
Study Helps
Interpretation
The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Savior. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water.
Glossary
- Abilene Place
- A plain, a district lying on the east slope of the Anti-Lebanon range; so called from its chief town, Abila ( Luke 3:1 ), which stood in the Suk Wady Barada. Modern identification: Souq Wadi Barada.
- Galilee Place
- Biblical region. Modern identification: Galilee.
- Ituraea Place
- A district in the north-east of Palestine, forming, along with the adjacent territory of Trachonitis, the tetrarchy of Philip ( Luke 3:1 ). The present Jedur comprehends the chief part of Ituraea. Modern identification: Mount Hermon.
- Judea Place
- Biblical region. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
- Tetrarch Person
- Strictly the ruler over the fourth part of a province; but the word denotes a ruler of a province generally ( Matt. 14:1 ; Luke 3:1 , 19; 9:7; Acts 13:1 ).
- Trachonitis Place
- A rugged region, corresponds to the Heb. Argob (q. v. ), the Greek name of a region on the east of Jordan ( Luke 3:1 ); one of the five Roman provinces into which that district was divided. Modern identification: Lajat.