Luke 3:22

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with 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 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

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

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli,

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Or [my beloved Son]
• [b]. Other ancient authorities read [You are my Son, today I have begotten you]