Luke 3:2
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Original Language Analysis
ἐπὶ
being
G1909
ἐπὶ
being
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
ἀρχιερέων
the high priests
G749
ἀρχιερέων
the high priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
2 of 17
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐγένετο
came
G1096
ἐγένετο
came
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
6 of 17
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ῥῆμα
the word
G4487
ῥῆμα
the word
Strong's:
G4487
Word #:
7 of 17
an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negat
θεοῦ
of God
G2316
θεοῦ
of God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
8 of 17
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἐπὶ
being
G1909
ἐπὶ
being
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
9 of 17
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ζαχαρίου
of Zacharias
G2197
Ζαχαρίου
of Zacharias
Strong's:
G2197
Word #:
13 of 17
zacharias (i.e., zechariah), the name of two israelites
υἱὸν
the son
G5207
υἱὸν
the son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
14 of 17
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Cross References
Acts 4:6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.John 18:24Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.Jonah 1:1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,Luke 1:80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.Isaiah 40:3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Matthew 26:3Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,John 1:23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.Matthew 11:7And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?Micah 1:1The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.Zephaniah 1:1The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
Historical Context
Annas was deposed by Roman prefect Valerius Gratus but remained the power behind the throne, controlling temple finances and Sanhedrin politics. His five sons and son-in-law Caiaphas created an unbroken high-priestly dynasty (AD 6-36). This priestly corruption sets the stage for John's wilderness ministry—God's word comes not to Jerusalem's elite but to a prophet in the desert, announcing judgment on the establishment.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God's word come to John in the wilderness rather than to the high priests in Jerusalem? What does this reveal about religious institutionalism?
- How does Luke's careful historical dating (verses 1-2) strengthen confidence in the Gospel's reliability?
- When has God bypassed expected channels or leaders to speak His word in unexpected places or through unlikely people?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests—Luke's unique dual designation reflects complex first-century politics: technically, archiereus (ἀρχιερεύς, 'high priest') was singular, held by Caiaphas (AD 18-36). However, Annas (high priest AD 6-15) retained the title and wielded enormous power as Caiaphas's father-in-law and patriarch of the high-priestly family. Five of Annas's sons also became high priests, creating a dynasty controlling the temple economy.
The word of God came unto John—The prophetic formula egeneto rhēma theou (ἐγένετο ῥῆμα θεοῦ, 'came the word of God') echoes Old Testament prophetic calls (Jeremiah 1:2, Hosea 1:1), signaling the end of 400 years of prophetic silence since Malachi. Luke alone dates this precisely (verse 1), anchoring sacred history within secular chronology. The phrase en tē erēmō (ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, 'in the wilderness')—the same wilderness where Israel wandered—now becomes the launching point for new covenant ministry. John's reception of God's word bypasses corrupt temple priesthood (Annas and Caiaphas), indicating divine initiative outside institutional channels.