Luke 3:22

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "¹You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

Luke 3:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 3:22

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape
In a corporeal form, in a visible manner, and was seen with bodily eyes, at least by John the administrator; to whom this was a signal of his being the Messiah, and a fresh confirmation of it:

like a dove upon him;
either in the form of a dove, or this corporeal form, whatever it was, descended and hovered on him as a dove does:

and a voice came from heaven;
at the same time the Holy Ghost came down upon him; which said,

thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased:
and was the voice of the Father; and the whole of this was an answer of Christ's prayer; (See Gill on Matthew 3:16) (See Gill on Matthew 3:17) (See Gill on Mark 1:11).

Luke 3:22 In-Context

20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,

24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 2:7; Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17