Luke 3:20 - added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

Generated Verse: Luke 3:20

What does "Luke 3:20" mean?


Luke 3:20, "added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison," refers to an action taken by Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. Let's break down what it means:

"added this also to them all": This implies that Herod Antipas had already committed other wrongs or sins. Luke is highlighting that imprisoning John the Baptist was just another addition to his list of misdeeds.
"that he shut up John in prison": This is the specific action being described. Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist. The other gospels (Matthew and Mark) provide more detail: John had been publicly criticizing Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. This was a violation of Jewish law, and John fearlessly called Herod out for it.

In essence, the verse means that in addition to all his other wrongdoings, Herod Antipas further sinned by imprisoning John the Baptist because John condemned Herod's unlawful marriage.

The significance of this verse lies in several areas:

Sets the stage for John's eventual execution: John's imprisonment is the first step towards his eventual beheading, which is described later in the Gospels.
Highlights Herod's moral failings: It paints a picture of Herod as a ruler who is willing to abuse his power to silence those who challenge him, even a respected prophet like John.
Emphasizes John's courage and integrity: John remained true to his beliefs and openly criticized Herod, even knowing the potential consequences.

In summary, Luke 3:20 is a concise statement about the imprisonment of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas, emphasizing Herod's ongoing wickedness and setting the scene for future events.

What categories does "Luke 3:20" have?