Luke 3:21 kjv
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luke 3:21 nkjv
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
Luke 3:21 niv
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
Luke 3:21 esv
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
Luke 3:21 nlt
One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,
Luke 3 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 3:13-17 | Then Jesus came from Galilee to John... A voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son..." | Parallel account of Jesus' baptism. |
| Mark 1:9-11 | In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee... a voice came from heaven... | Parallel account of Jesus' baptism. |
| John 1:32-34 | John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend... the one on whom you see the Spirit..." | John's testimony about the Spirit and Jesus' identity. |
| Luke 11:13 | If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more... Holy Spirit... | Connects God's readiness to give the Holy Spirit to prayer. |
| Isa 64:1 | Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down... | Prophetic yearning for divine intervention and revelation. |
| Ezek 1:1 | ...the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. | A prophet receiving divine revelation through open heavens. |
| Acts 7:56 | And Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man..." | Open heavens signify divine witness and revelation to a martyr. |
| Rev 4:1 | After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven... | Revelation of heavenly realities and divine counsel. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy... | Encouragement to approach God in prayer and find grace. |
| Luke 5:16 | But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray. | Jesus' consistent practice of private prayer. |
| Luke 6:12 | In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night... | Jesus praying before selecting His disciples. |
| Luke 9:18 | Now it happened that as He was praying alone... | Jesus praying before Peter's confession. |
| Luke 9:28-29 | ...He went up on the mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed... | Jesus praying during His transfiguration. |
| Luke 22:41 | And He knelt down and prayed... "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." | Jesus praying in Gethsemane. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | ...though He was in the form of God... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient... | Jesus' humility in identifying with humanity, including baptism. |
| 1 Pet 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you... | Jesus as an example of righteous suffering and identification. |
| Isa 42:1 | Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in whom My soul delights... | Prophecy fulfilled at Jesus' baptism, identified as God's Servant. |
| Ps 2:7 | You are My Son; today I have begotten You. | Psalm declaring divine sonship, quoted at Jesus' baptism. |
| Isa 11:2 | And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding... | Prophecy of the Spirit's anointing on the Messiah. |
| Joel 2:28-29 | And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... | Prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring, hinted at new era. |
| Matt 3:15 | ...for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. | Jesus' reason for baptism: to fulfill divine decree. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become... | Jesus identifying with sinful humanity without Himself being sinful. |
| Rom 8:15 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption... | Adoption into sonship through the Spirit, linking to Jesus' sonship. |
Luke 3 verses
Luke 3 21 Meaning
Luke 3:21 describes a pivotal moment at the very start of Jesus' public ministry. It records that after a general baptism of the people by John the Baptist, Jesus himself was also baptized. Crucially, as He was praying, the heavens opened. This verse sets the scene for the divine affirmation of Jesus' identity and mission, marking the commencement of His Messianic work and signifying God's direct communication and presence.
Luke 3 21 Context
Luke 3:21 follows a significant period in which John the Baptist has been actively ministering, calling "all the people" to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, as a preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John's ministry serves to "prepare the way of the Lord" (Luke 3:4). The immediate context shows John's powerful impact, warning even religious leaders and teaching practical ethics to diverse groups. He also points forward to one who is "mightier" than he, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Luke 3:20 reports John's imprisonment, implying the completion of his preparatory work. Against this backdrop, Jesus emerges. His baptism marks His public entrance onto the stage, signifying His solidarity with humanity, His humble submission to God's will, and the divine inauguration of His ministry. The event itself, with the heavens opening, serves as God's authoritative testimony and anointing of Jesus as the promised Messiah and Son.
Luke 3 21 Word analysis
- Now when: Indicates a temporal connection, moving the narrative forward from John's widespread ministry.
- all the people: Signifies the extensive reach and success of John the Baptist's ministry of repentance, providing a backdrop for Jesus' emergence amongst a crowd.
- were baptized: Refers to a completed action (aorist tense in Greek), highlighting that John’s baptisms were widely administered before Jesus stepped forward.
- and when Jesus also: The word "also" (καὶ - kai) is significant. It subtly emphasizes Jesus' inclusion among the many being baptized, but His identity and purpose are distinct. He identifies with sinful humanity but is Himself without sin.
- had been baptized: Denotes the state of being baptized, indicating the completed rite. This was His initial public act.
- and was praying: (προσευχομένου - proseuchomenou, a present participle). This is a unique and crucial detail found only in Luke's account of the baptism. It signifies that Jesus was actively engaged in prayer at the very moment the divine manifestation occurred. This highlights Jesus' life of dependence on the Father, His communion with God, and Luke's overall theme of prayer preceding significant divine revelations or empowerments in Jesus' ministry.
- the heaven: (τὸν οὐρανόν - ton ouranon). More than just the visible sky, this term refers to the abode of God, the spiritual realm.
- was opened: (ἀνεῳχθῆναι - aneōchthēnai, a perfect infinitive in the Greek, signifying a completed state with ongoing effects, often rendered passively, indicating divine action). This imagery signifies direct divine intervention and communication. It represents a rending of the veil between the spiritual and physical realms, ending a long period of prophetic silence. It echoes Old Testament yearnings for God to intervene and reveal Himself.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "all the people... Jesus also had been baptized": This juxtaposition underscores Jesus' solidarity and humility. He did not come as one above the people but as one among them, choosing to identify with humanity in a ritual of cleansing, despite having no sin of His own for which to repent (Matt 3:15).
- "was praying, the heaven was opened": This strong correlation underscores a fundamental Lukan theme: prayer is often the gateway for divine revelation and power. Jesus' direct communion with the Father precipitates the visible and audible manifestations of God's presence and affirmation.
Luke 3 21 Bonus section
The concept of the "heavens opening" (ἀνεῳχθῆναι) resonates deeply with Old Testament prophetic yearnings, particularly Isaiah 64:1, where the prophet cries out for God to "rend the heavens and come down." This event signifies that the long-awaited divine intervention is indeed happening through Jesus. Luke’s consistent emphasis on Jesus' prayer life, unique among the Gospels, presents Jesus as the model for how God's children relate to Him. This passage establishes a pattern where profound spiritual encounters and divine affirmations in Jesus' life are directly linked to His prayer (cf. Transfiguration in Luke 9:29). This inaugural event, initiated by Jesus' prayer, marks Him as the new 'Adam', perfectly obedient and in communion with God, unlike the first Adam. It is a vital moment that prefaces His temptation and public teaching, establishing His divine credentials for the journey ahead.
Luke 3 21 Commentary
Luke 3:21 concisely yet profoundly details the inaugural event of Jesus' public ministry. It portrays Jesus' humble submission to baptism, aligning Himself with those needing repentance, not out of personal sin but in fulfillment of righteousness and solidarity with humanity. Luke's unique inclusion of Jesus praying at this specific moment underscores Jesus' perfect dependence on the Father and Luke's pervasive theme that prayer is vital for receiving divine empowerment and revelation. The dramatic opening of the heavens signifies a new era: God is actively breaking His silence and intervening directly. This divine act is not merely a symbolic gesture but a tangible, authoritative declaration of Jesus' unique status as the beloved Son and the beginning of His messianic mission through the power of the Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian revelation, though not fully explicit in this verse, is understood in the wider context, providing a divine endorsement for His impending ministry.