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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 3:21 - 3:21
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When all the people were baptised (en tōi baptisthēnai hapanta ton laon). The use of the articular aorist infinitive here with en bothers some grammarians and commentators. There is no element of time in the aorist infinitive. It is simply punctiliar action, literally “in the being baptized as to all the people.” Luke does not say that all the people were baptized before Jesus came or were baptized at the same time. It is merely a general statement that Jesus was baptized in connexion with or at the time of the baptizing of the people as a whole.
Jesus also having been baptized (kai Iēsou baptisthentos). Genitive absolute construction, first aorist passive participle. In Luke’s sentence the baptism of Jesus is merely introductory to the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father. For the narrative of the baptism see note on Mar 1:9; notes on Mat 3:13-16.
And praying (kai proseuchomenou). Alone in Luke who so often mentions the praying of Jesus. Present participle and so naturally meaning that the heaven was opened while Jesus was praying though not necessarily in answer to his prayer.
The heaven was opened (aneōichthēnai ton ouranon). First aorist passive infinitive with double augment, whereas the infinitive is not supposed to have any augment. The regular form would be anoichthēnai as in D (Codex Bezae). So the augment appears in the future indicative kateaxei (Mat 12:20) and the second aorist passive subjunctive kateagōsin (Joh 19:31). Such unusual forms appear in the Koiné. This infinitive here with the accusative of general reference is the subject of egeneto (it came to pass). Mat 3:16 uses the same verb, but Mar 1:10 has schizomenous, rent asunder.