independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The word of God comes to John — the fifteenth-year synchronism and Isaiah's voice 3:1–6
vv. 1–2 — the sixfold synchronism: the word arrives in datable history
1
Ἐν ἔτει δὲ πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Τιβερίου Καίσαρος,phrase modifier — the ἐν ἔτει frame — one emperor: Tiberius' fifteenth year (c. AD 28/29); leans on ἐγένετο (v. 2)
ἡγεμονεύοντος Ποντίου Πιλάτου τῆς Ἰουδαίας,participial — genitive absolute — the governor (prefect AD 26–36); the cascade begins
καὶ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Γαλιλαίας Ἡρῴδου,participial — genitive absolute — Antipas, John's future jailer (v. 19)
Φιλίππου δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Ἰτουραίας καὶ Τραχωνίτιδος χώρας,participial — genitive absolute — the third ruler of Herod the Great's divided realm
καὶ Λυσανίου τῆς Ἀβιληνῆς τετρααρχοῦντος,participial — genitive absolute — Abilene, NW of Damascus; the political cascade complete
2
ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως Ἅννα καὶ Καϊάφα,phrase modifier — the priestly pair — singular ἀρχιερέως covers both: Annas the power, Caiaphas the officeholder
ἐγένετο ῥῆμα θεοῦ ἐπὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν Ζαχαρίου υἱὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.independent — the one main verb of vv. 1–2 — ἐγένετο ῥῆμα, the prophetic-call formula (Jer 1:2; Hos 1:1)
vv. 3–6 — the herald's circuit and the extended Isaiah citation
3
καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν περίχωρον τοῦ Ἰορδάνουindependent — the herald's circuit — the whole Jordan country his pulpit
κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν,participial — manner participle — the program of Mark 1:4
4
ὡς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ λόγων Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου·comparative — the citation formula — Luke alone runs the quotation on to v. 6
Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ·content — Isa 40:3 — the voice identifies John; verbless heading
Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου,content — the voice's summons — κύριος (YHWH in Isaiah) applied to the Lord who comes
εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ·content — the parallel command — the royal road cleared
5
πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεταιcontent — Isa 40:4 — the leveling begins in the terrain
καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται,content — heights lowered — ταπεινόω, the verb of Luke's reversal motif (1:52)
καὶ ἔσται τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθείανcontent — σκολιά — crooked, also morally perverse; the road-work turns ethical
καὶ αἱ τραχεῖαι εἰς ὁδοὺς λείας·content — elliptical — ἔσται carried over from the previous line
6
καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ.content — Isa 40:5 LXX — Luke's unique extension: πᾶσα σάρξ, the Gentile-wide σωτήριον (2:30; Acts 28:28)
Brood of vipers — fruits worthy of repentance, and what to do 3:7–14
vv. 7–9 — the axe at the root
7
Ἔλεγεν οὖν τοῖς ἐκπορευομένοις ὄχλοις βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ·independent — iterative imperfect — John's repeated preaching to the streaming crowds
Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν,content — verbless vocative — the stinging epithet opens the sermon
τίς ὑπέδειξεν ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς;content — ironic rhetorical question — who tipped you off?
8
ποιήσατε οὖν καρποὺς ἀξίους τῆς μετανοίας·content — the demand — plural καρπούς, deeds that evidence the turning
καὶ μὴ ἄρξησθε λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς·content — prohibitive subjunctive — do not even begin the excuse
Πατέρα ἔχομεν τὸν Ἀβραάμ,content — the quoted refuge — descent claimed as shelter
λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖνcause — the ground of the prohibition
ὅτι δύναται ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τῶν λίθων τούτων ἐγεῖραι τέκνα τῷ Ἀβραάμ.content — the Jordan's stones — the Aramaic pun ('ăbānîm / bānîm) behind stones/children
9
ἤδη δὲ καὶ ἡ ἀξίνη πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται·content — ἤδη — the judgment already in position
πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεταιcontent — the fruitless tree — v. 8's demand sealed by gnomic presents
καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται.content — the chapter's first fire (cf. vv. 16, 17)
vv. 10–14 — three exchanges: crowds, tax collectors, soldiers
10
Καὶ ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοιindependent — iterative imperfect — the first questioners
λέγοντες·participial — pleonastic speech-participle
Τί οὖν ποιήσωμεν;content — deliberative subjunctive — the refrain of the section (vv. 12, 14; cf. Acts 2:37)
11
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἔλεγεν
ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the answer-frame — iterative imperfect again
Ὁ ἔχων δύο χιτῶνας μεταδότω τῷ μὴ ἔχοντι,content — concrete generosity — the second tunic belongs to the one without
καὶ ὁ ἔχων βρώματα ὁμοίως ποιείτω.content — the same rule for food — repentance as sharing
12
ἦλθον δὲ καὶ τελῶναι βαπτισθῆναιindependent — καὶ τελῶναι — even the despised come; purpose infinitive kept in the line
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν·independent — the second exchange
Διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσωμεν;content — the refrain again — Διδάσκαλε on tax collectors' lips
13
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς·independent — the answer-frame
Μηδὲν πλέον παρὰ τὸ διατεταγμένον ὑμῖν πράσσετε.content — not abandon the trade but purge it — πράσσετε, the collector's technical verb
14
ἐπηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ στρατευόμενοιindependent — στρατευόμενοι — men on service, the third group
λέγοντες·participial — pleonastic speech-participle
Τί ποιήσωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς;content — καὶ ἡμεῖς — the refrain a third time
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the answer-frame
Μηδένα διασείσητε μηδὲ συκοφαντήσητε,content — διασείω / συκοφαντέω — shakedown and blackmail, the soldier's twin sins
καὶ ἀρκεῖσθε τοῖς ὀψωνίοις ὑμῶν.content — ὀψώνια — the ration-money; contentment as fruit
Not the Christ — the Mightier One with the winnowing fork 3:15–18
15
Προσδοκῶντος δὲ τοῦ λαοῦparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἀπεκρίνατο (v. 16)
καὶ διαλογιζομένων πάντων ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν περὶ τοῦ Ἰωάννου,participial — second genitive absolute — the messianic speculation, silent and universal
μήποτε αὐτὸς εἴη ὁ χριστός,content — indirect question with optative εἴη — Luke's literary mood
16
ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης·independent — the disclaimer — he answers thoughts, not spoken words
Ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς·content — emphatic ἐγὼ μέν — John's half of the antithesis
ἔρχεται δὲ ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου,content — the Coming One — futuristic present
οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ·relative — John beneath the slave's task
αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί·content — emphatic αὐτός — Spirit and fire: Pentecost and judgment both in view
17
οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦrelative — verbless relative — the fork already in hand
διακαθᾶραι τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦpurpose — purpose infinitive — the winnowing
καὶ συναγαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην αὐτοῦ,purpose — the wheat gathered — the coordinate purpose
τὸ δὲ ἄχυρον κατακαύσει πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ.content — fronted τὸ ἄχυρον — the fire of v. 16 lands on the chaff
18
Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἕτερα παρακαλῶν εὐηγγελίζετο τὸν λαόν·independent — Luke's summary — εὐηγγελίζετο: even the axe and the fire are gospel
Herod adds this to them all — John shut up in prison 3:19–20
19
ὁ δὲ Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετραάρχης, ἐλεγχόμενος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ περὶ Ἡρῳδιάδος τῆς γυναικὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦparticipial — preposed participial period — leans on προσέθηκεν (v. 20); Luke closes John's story out of sequence
καὶ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν πονηρῶν ὁ Ἡρῴδης,phrase modifier — second περί phrase — ὧν attracted (for ἅ); the indictment widened past Herodias
20
προσέθηκεν καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ πᾶσιν,independent — the main verb at last — the crowning crime added to the ledger
κατέκλεισεν τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐν φυλακῇ.content — epexegetic asyndeton — what 'this' is; the herald leaves the stage before Jesus' baptism is told
The baptism of Jesus — heaven opened, the Spirit, the voice 3:21–22
21
Ἐγένετο δὲindependent — the ἐγένετο frame — governing the chain of infinitives that follows
ἐν τῷ βαπτισθῆναι ἅπαντα τὸν λαὸνphrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive — Jesus baptized among, and after, all the people
καὶ Ἰησοῦ βαπτισθέντος καὶ προσευχομένουparticipial — genitive absolute — the baptism itself tucked into a participle; the praying is Luke's addition
ἀνεῳχθῆναι τὸν οὐρανὸνcontent — first infinitive of the chain — the subject of ἐγένετο
22
καὶ καταβῆναι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον σωματικῷ εἴδει ὡς περιστερὰν ἐπ’ αὐτόν,content — second infinitive — σωματικῷ εἴδει, Luke's insistence on the visible
καὶ φωνὴν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ γενέσθαι·content — third infinitive — the bat qol
Σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός,content — Ps 2:7a — D and Old Latin read the full Ps 2:7 ('today I have begotten you'), noted not adopted
ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα.content — Isa 42:1 — the servant fused with the Son
The genealogy — from Joseph, as was supposed, back to Adam, the son of God 3:23–38
v. 23 — the frame: about thirty, son (as was supposed) of Joseph
23
Καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Ἰησοῦς ἀρχόμενος ὡσεὶ ἐτῶν τριάκοντα,independent — ἀρχόμενος — beginning his ministry; David's age at accession (2 Sam 5:4)
ὢν υἱός, ὡς ἐνομίζετο, Ἰωσήφ,participial — ὡς ἐνομίζετο — Luke's guard on the virgin birth (1:34–35); the whole chain hangs on this υἱός
τοῦ Ἠλὶphrase modifier — the chain begins — Ἠλί, not Matthew's Jacob (Mt 1:16): the famous divergence
vv. 24–38 — the unbroken chain of genitives, ascending the generations
24
τοῦ Μαθθὰτ τοῦ Λευὶ τοῦ Μελχὶ τοῦ Ἰανναὶ τοῦ Ἰωσὴφphrase modifier — coordinate genitive links — the post-exilic names, otherwise unknown
25
τοῦ Ματταθίου τοῦ Ἀμὼς τοῦ Ναοὺμ τοῦ Ἑσλὶ τοῦ Ναγγαὶphrase modifier — prophets' names among the ancestors — Amos, Nahum
26
τοῦ Μάαθ τοῦ Ματταθίου τοῦ Σεμεῒν τοῦ Ἰωσὴχ τοῦ Ἰωδὰphrase modifier — names without OT parallel — Luke's source runs where no list survives
27
τοῦ Ἰωανὰν τοῦ Ῥησὰ τοῦ Ζοροβαβὲλ τοῦ Σαλαθιὴλ τοῦ Νηρὶphrase modifier — the exilic hinge — Zerubbabel and Shealtiel (cf. Mt 1:12); Neri, not Jeconiah
28
τοῦ Μελχὶ τοῦ Ἀδδὶ τοῦ Κωσὰμ τοῦ Ἐλμαδὰμ τοῦ Ἢρphrase modifier — descending toward David's line through Nathan
29
τοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ἐλιέζερ τοῦ Ἰωρὶμ τοῦ Μαθθὰτ τοῦ Λευὶphrase modifier — a Ἰησοῦς among the ancestors — 'Joshua,' the name shared
30
τοῦ Συμεὼν τοῦ Ἰούδα τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ Ἰωνὰμ τοῦ Ἐλιακὶμphrase modifier — patriarchal names recycled — Simeon, Judah, Joseph
31
τοῦ Μελεὰ τοῦ Μεννὰ τοῦ Ματταθὰ τοῦ Ναθὰμ τοῦ Δαυὶδphrase modifier — τοῦ Ναθὰμ τοῦ Δαυίδ — through Nathan, not Solomon (against Mt 1:6): the Davidic crux
32
τοῦ Ἰεσσαὶ τοῦ Ἰωβὴδ τοῦ Βόος τοῦ Σαλὰ τοῦ Ναασσὼνphrase modifier — Ruth 4:18–22 — Jesse, Obed, Boaz; the spellings (Βόος/Βόες, Ἰωβήδ/Ὠβήδ) vary by edition
33
τοῦ Ἀμιναδὰβ τοῦ Ἀδμὶν τοῦ Ἀρνὶ τοῦ Ἑσρὼμ τοῦ Φάρες τοῦ Ἰούδαphrase modifier — the tangled pair Ἀδμίν/Ἀρνί — some witnesses read only Ἀράμ; Hezron, Perez, Judah (Gen 46:12)
34
τοῦ Ἰακὼβ τοῦ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ τοῦ Θάρα τοῦ Ναχὼρphrase modifier — the patriarchs — and past Abraham, where Matthew stops, into Genesis 11
35
τοῦ Σεροὺχ τοῦ Ῥαγαὺ τοῦ Φάλεκ τοῦ Ἕβερ τοῦ Σαλὰphrase modifier — the Shemites — Serug to Shelah (Gen 11:12–23)
36
τοῦ Καϊνὰμ τοῦ Ἀρφαξὰδ τοῦ Σὴμ τοῦ Νῶε τοῦ Λάμεχphrase modifier — the second Cainan — Καϊνάμ from LXX Gen 11:12–13, against the Hebrew: Luke follows the Greek Bible
37
τοῦ Μαθουσαλὰ τοῦ Ἑνὼχ τοῦ Ἰάρετ τοῦ Μαλελεὴλ τοῦ Καϊνὰμphrase modifier — the antediluvians — Methuselah to Cainan (Gen 5)
38
τοῦ Ἐνὼς τοῦ Σὴθ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τοῦ θεοῦ.phrase modifier — τοῦ θεοῦ — Adam, son of God: the climax frames v. 22, the new Adam in solidarity with all humanity
Analysis. Luke 3 opens with the most elaborate dating in the New Testament, and the layout shows it as one long forward-leaning period: the ἐν ἔτει frame and its cascade of five genitive absolutes (one emperor, one governor, three tetrarchs) plus the ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως phrase all hang anchorless above the single main verb of vv. 1–2 — ἐγένετο ῥῆμα θεοῦ, the prophetic-call formula, landing on John in the wilderness. Against that opening the chapter alternates three shapes. First the citation catena under γέγραπται, which Luke alone extends through Isa 40:5 so that the quotation ends on πᾶσα σάρξ and the σωτήριον of God — the Gospel's universal keynote. Then the flush-left dialogue frames of vv. 7–18: John's viper-speech hanging blue beneath the iterative Ἔλεγεν, the three τί ποιήσωμεν exchanges (crowds, tax collectors, soldiers) each a question-frame and an answer-frame with concrete ethics beneath, and the messianic disclaimer whose winnowing-fork relative carries two purpose infinitives before the chaff burns. The Herod notice (vv. 19–20) is one preposed participial period resolving on προσέθηκεν — Luke closing John's story out of sequence before Jesus' baptism is told. The baptism itself (vv. 21–22) is an ἐγένετο frame governing a chain of infinitives — heaven opened, the Spirit descended, a voice came — with the Ps 2:7/Isa 42:1 address under φωνήν; the Western reading of Codex Bezae ('today I have begotten you,' the full Ps 2:7) is noted in the tag, not adopted. Finally the genealogy: after the frame ὢν υἱός, ὡς ἐνομίζετο, Ἰωσήφ (Luke's guard on the virgin birth), the whole ancestry is laid as one unbroken column of verbless coordinate τοῦ-genitive lines, verse by verse, descending the page as the line ascends the generations — through Nathan not Solomon to David, past Abraham, through the LXX's second Cainan, to Ἀδὰμ τοῦ θεοῦ: 'Adam, the son of God,' the climax that frames the divine sonship of v. 22 with the sonship of all humanity. Cruxes flagged in tags rather than hidden: the singular ἀρχιερέως covering both Annas and Caiaphas; Ἠλί against Matthew's Jacob; the Ἀδμίν/Ἀρνί tangle of v. 33.