Luke 3:10

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

Luke 3:10 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 3:10

And the people asked him
Not the same as in ( Luke 3:7 ) the Sadducees and Pharisees, for they seemed not to be at all affected with, and wrought upon, by the ministry of John; but rather were displeased with him, and turned their backs on him, and rejected him and his baptism; but the common people, that stood by; who hearing John speak of wrath to come, and of repentance, and fruits worthy of it, were filled with concern about these things, and inquire,

saying, what shall we do?
either to escape the wrath and vengeance coming on the nation, and also eternal ruin and destruction; and Beza says, that in two of his copies, and one of them his most ancient one it is added, "to be saved", and so in two of Stephens's; which confirms the above sense, and makes their inquiry to be the same with the jailor's, ( Acts 16:30 ) or else their meaning is, what are the things we are to do, or the fruits we are to bring forth, the duties we are to perform, in order to testify the truth and genuineness of our repentance? which latter seems most agreeable.

Luke 3:10 In-Context

8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?