Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
a. NASB 1995: Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]
b. NKJV: Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]
c. Classic Amplified: In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
d. Peshitta Eastern Text: IN the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, during the governorship of Pontius Pilate in Judaea, when Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius tetrarch of Abilene, [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]
e. ESV: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]
f. Unless otherwise stated, all Greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible
g. Comments are welcome.
1. “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee…”
a. Now [Strong: 1161 δέ dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]
b. in [Strong: 1722 ἐν en, en; a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:—about, after, against, + almost, × altogether, among, × as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), × mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, × outwardly, one, × quickly, × shortly, (speedi-)ly, × that, × there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
c. fifteenth [Strong: 4003 πεντεκαιδέκατος pentekaidékatos, pen-tek-ahee-dek'-at-os; from G4002 and G2532 and G1182; five and tenth:—fifteenth.]
d. year [Strong: 2094 ἔτος étos, et'-os; apparently a primary word; a year:—year.]
e. [of] the [Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
f. reign [Strong: 2231 ἡγεμονία hēgemonía, hayg-em-on-ee'-ah; from G2232; government, i.e. (in time) official term:—reign.]
g. [of] Tiberius [Strong: 5086 Τιβέριος Tibérios, tib-er'-ee-os; of Latin origin; probably pertaining to the river Tiberis or Tiber; Tiberius, a Roman emperor:—Tiberius.
h. Caesar [Strong: 2541 Καῖσαρ Kaîsar, kah'-ee-sar; of Latin origin; Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor:—Cæsar.]
i. Pontius [Strong: 4194 Πόντιος Póntios, pon'-tee-os; of Latin origin; apparently bridged; Pontius, a Roman:—Pontius.]
j. Pilate [Strong: 4091 Πιλᾶτος Pilâtos, pil-at'-os; of Latin origin; close-pressed, i.e. firm; Pilatus, a Roman:—Pilate.]
k. [being] governor [Strong: 2230 ἡγεμονεύω hēgemoneúō, hayg-em-on-yoo'-o; from G2232; to act as ruler:—be governor.]
l. [Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
m. [of] Judea [Strong: 2449 Ἰουδαία Ioudaía, ee-oo-dah'-yah; feminine of G2453 (with G1093 implied); the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa), a region of Palestine:—Judæa.]
n. and [Strong: 2532 καί kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
o. Herod [Strong: 2264 Ἡρώδης Hērṓdēs, hay-ro'-dace; compound of ἥρως hḗrōs (a "hero") and G1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:—Herod.]
p. [being] tetrarch [Strong: 5075 τετραρχέω tetrarchéō, tet-rar-kheh'-o; from G5076; to be a tetrarch:—(be) tetrarch.]
q. [Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
r. [of] Galilee [Strong: 1056 Γαλιλαία Galilaía, gal-il-ah'-yah; of Hebrew origin (H1551); Galilæa (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine:—Galilee.]
2. “...and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,”
a. and [Strong: 1161 δέ dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]
b. his [Strong: 846 αὐτός autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]
c. [Strong: 3588. [tou] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tou] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
d. brother [Strong: 80 ἀδελφός adelphós, ad-el-fos'; from G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphýs (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1):—brother.]
e. Philip [Strong: 5376 Φίλιππος Phílippos, fil'-ip-pos; from G5384 and G2462; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites:—Philip.]
f. tetrarch [Strong: 5075 τετραρχέω tetrarchéō, tet-rar-kheh'-o; from G5076; to be a tetrarch:—(be) tetrarch.]
g. [Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
h. [of] Ituraea [Strong: 2484 Ἰτουραΐα Itouraḯa, ee-too-rah'-yah; of Hebrew origin (H3195); Ituræa (i.e. Jetur), a region of Palestine:—Ituræa.]
i. and [Strong: 2532 καί kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
j. [of the] region [Strong: 5561 χώρα chṓra, kho'-rah; feminine of a derivative of the base of G5490 through the idea of empty expanse; room, i.e. a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants):—coast, county, fields, ground, land, region.]
k. Trachonitis [Strong: 5139 Τραχωνῖτις Trachōnîtis, trakh-o-nee'-tis; from a derivative of G5138; rough district; Trachonitis, a region of Syria:—Trachonitis.]
l. and [Strong: 2532 καί kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
m. Lysanias [Strong: 3078 Λυσανίας Lysanías, loo-san-ee'-as; from G3080 and ἀνία anía (trouble); grief-dispelling; Lysanias, a governor of Abilene:—Lysanias.]
n. [the] tetrarch [Strong: 5075 τετραρχέω tetrarchéō, tet-rar-kheh'-o; from G5076; to be a tetrarch:—(be) tetrarch.]
o. [Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]
p. [of] Abilene [Strong: 9 Ἀβιληνή Abilēnē, ab-ee-lay-nay'; of foreign origin [compare H58]; Abilene, a region of Syria:—Abilene.]
1). Bible Hub: Tiberius Caesar: Imperial Anchor Reign: 19 Aug AD 14 – 16 Mar AD 37. “Fifteenth year” = AD 28-29 (inclusive dating) or AD 27-28 (non-inclusive), giving John’s appearance c. AD 28. Corroboration: A coin of Tiberius minted at Antioch (RPC 4189) names him “Divi Augusti Filius,” matching Luke’s era. The synchronism also harmonizes with Daniel 9’s seventy weeks, placing Messiah’s appearance “after the sixty-two sevens” (Daniel 9:26) during the fourth kingdom.
2). Bible Hub: Pontius Pilate: Roman Prefect of Judea; Tenure: AD 26-36 (Josephus, Ant. 18.89). Archaeological evidence: The 1961 Caesarea Maritima inscription (“…Pontius Pilate Prefect of Judea…”) confirms both his title and historicity. The prefect’s presence confines Luke 3 to no earlier than AD 26 and no later than AD 36. Coupled with Tiberius’s year 15, the range zeroes in on AD 28-29. Tacitus (Ann. 15.44) links Pilate to Jesus’ crucifixion, independently affirming Luke’s framework.
3). Bible Hub: Herod Antipas: Tetrarch of Galilee; Reign: 4 BC – AD 39 (Josephus, Ant. 17.188-9). Coins: “Herod Tetrarch” bronzes from Tiberias depict a reed bundle, matching Jesus’ description of John (Luke 7:24). Antipas’s role explains the Galilean setting of much of Jesus’ ministry and foreshadows the arrest of John (Luke 3:19-20; Mark 6:17-18).
4). Bible Hub: Philip the Tetrarch: Ituraea and Trachonitis Dates: 4 BC – AD 34. Built Caesarea Philippi (Paneas) and Julias; coins show Augustus and Tiberius, substantiating Luke’s overlap. His death in AD 34 provides an upper boundary, aligning with Jesus’ probable crucifixion in AD 30 or 33.
5). Bible Hub: Lysanias: Tetrarch of Abilene, An inscription from Abila (IGLS 9185), dated to Tiberius’s reign, names “Lysanias the tetrarch,” ending critics’ claim of a chronological error (they had confused him with an earlier Lysanias executed in 36 BC). The find, exposed during French excavations (1938), demonstrates Luke’s precision in lesser-known jurisdictions.
