Luke 3

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being…” Naming Abilene and Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” Naming Annas and Caiaphas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;” Naming Jordan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our…” Naming Abraham and Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bringeth, fire, fruit. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” Naming Exact keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;” Naming Christ and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the…” Naming Whose keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.” The line’s distinctive content terms include exhortation, people, preached. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which…” Naming Herod and Herodias keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.” Naming Added and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou…” Naming Ghost and Holy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna…” Naming Janna and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli…” Naming Amos and Esli keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph…” Naming Joseph and Juda keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of…” Naming Joanna and Neri keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam…” Naming Addi and Cosam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat…” Naming Eliezer and Jorim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which…” Naming Eliakim and Jonan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan…” Naming David and Mattatha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which…” Naming Booz and Jesse keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares…” Naming Aminadab and Aram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara…” Naming Abraham and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber…” Naming Heber and Phalec keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which…” Naming Arphaxad and Cainan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel…” Naming Cainan and Enoch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Naming Adam and Enos keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.