Luke 3 · Verse 21

Luke 3:21

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, King James Version

Luke 3:21 in other translations

BSBWhen all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
WEBNow when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. The sky was opened,
ASVNow it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
YLTAnd it came to pass, in all the people being baptised, Jesus also being baptised, and praying, the heaven was opened,
DARBYAnd it came to pass, all the people having been baptised, and Jesus having been baptised and praying, that the heaven was opened,
BBENow it came about that when all the people had been given baptism, Jesus, having had baptism with them, was in prayer, when, the heaven being open,
WebsterNow when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

What does Luke 3:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. when all the people were baptized--that He might not seem to be merely one of the crowd. Thus, as He rode into Jerusalem upon an ass, "whereon yet never man sat" (Lu 19:30), and lay in a sepulchre "wherein was never man yet laid" (Joh 19:41), so in His baptism He would be "separate from sinners."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Mt 3:13; Mt 3:14 Mt 3:15; Mt 3:16 Mt 3:17

Jesus being baptized; or, Jesus having been baptized. This took place after the baptism, and not during its administration, Mt 3:16.

Praying. This circumstance is omitted by the other evangelists; and it shows,

1st. That Jesus was in the habit of prayer.

2nd. That it is proper to offer up special prayer at the administration of the ordinances of religion.

3rd. That it is possible to pray in the midst of a great multitude, yet in secret. The prayer consisted, doubtless, in lifting up the heart silently to God. So we may do it anywhere--about our daily toil--in the midst of multitudes, and thus may pray always.

(s) "it came to pass" Mt 3:13, Jn 1:32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Jesus - being baptized - See on Mat 3:16, Mat 3:17 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 3:21-22
Christ did not confess sin, as others did, for he had none to confess; but he prayed, as others did, and kept up communion with his Father. Observe, all the three voices from heaven, by which the Father bare witness to the Son, were pronounced while he was praying, or soon after, Lu 9:35; Joh 12:28. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there came a voice from heaven, from God the Father, from the excellent glory. Thus was a proof of the Holy Trinity, of the Three Persons in the Godhead, given at the baptism of Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 3:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘγένετοEgenetoIt came to passG1096
δὲdenowG1161
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
βαπτισθῆναιbaptisthēnaibaptizingG907
ἅπανταhapantaallG537
τὸνtontheG3588
λαὸνlaonpeopleG2992
καὶkaiandG2532
ἸησοῦIēsouwhen JesusG2424
βαπτισθέντοςbaptisthentoshaving been baptizedG907
καὶkaiandG2532
προσευχομένουproseuchomenouhaving prayedG4336
ἀνεῳχθῆναιaneōchthēnai[was] openingG455
τὸνtontheG3588
οὐρανὸνouranonheavenG3772

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 3:21

  • John 1:32-34

    And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

  • Matthew 3:13-17

    Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: …

  • Luke 5:16

    And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

  • John 12:27-28

    Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

  • Mark 1:9-11

    And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Matthew 14:23

    And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

  • Luke 9:28-29

    And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

  • Luke 9:18

    And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
Mt 3:13-15; Mr 1:9; Joh 1:32-34
and praying.
9:28,29; Joh 12:27,28
the heaven.
Mt 3:16,17; Mr 1:10; Joh 1:32-34

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 3:20

    Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

  • Luke 3:21

    Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

  • Luke 3:22

    And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Read all of Luke 3

Luke 3:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció que, como todo el pueblo se bautizaba, también Jesús fué bautizado; y orando, el cielo se abrió,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva que, comme tout le peuple était baptisé, Jésus aussi étant baptisé et priant, le ciel s’ouvrit;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es geschah aber, als das ganze Volk getauft wurde, und Jesus getauft war und betete, daß der Himmel aufgetan wurde,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Factum est autem cum baptizaretur omnis populus, et Jesu baptizato, et orante, apertum est cælum: