Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Luke 3:15
The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?"
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.
Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.
King James Version (1611)
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Iohn, whether he were the Christ or not:
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Iohn, whether he were the Christ or not:
King James Version
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
English Standard Version
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
New American Standard Bible
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ,
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ,
New Century Version
Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one.
Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one.
Amplified Bible
Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,
Legacy Standard Bible
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,
Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,
Berean Standard Bible
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
Contemporary English Version
Everyone became excited and wondered, "Could John be the Messiah?"
Everyone became excited and wondered, "Could John be the Messiah?"
Complete Jewish Bible
The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
Darby Translation
But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether *he* might be the Christ,
But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether *he* might be the Christ,
Easy-to-Read Version
Everyone was hoping for the Messiah to come, and they wondered about John. They thought, "Maybe he is the Messiah."
Everyone was hoping for the Messiah to come, and they wondered about John. They thought, "Maybe he is the Messiah."
Geneva Bible (1587)
As the people waited, and all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, if he were not that Christ,
As the people waited, and all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, if he were not that Christ,
George Lamsa Translation
While the people were placing their hope on John, and all of them were thinking in their hearts, that perhaps he is the Christ;
While the people were placing their hope on John, and all of them were thinking in their hearts, that perhaps he is the Christ;
Good News Translation
People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah.
People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah.
Lexham English Bible
And while the people were waiting expectantly and all were pondering in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he might be the Christ,
And while the people were waiting expectantly and all were pondering in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he might be the Christ,
Literal Translation
But the people were expecting, and all reasoning in their hearts about John, lest perhaps he is the Christ,
But the people were expecting, and all reasoning in their hearts about John, lest perhaps he is the Christ,
American Standard Version
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
Bible in Basic English
And while the people were waiting, and all men were questioning in their hearts about John, if he was the Christ or not,
And while the people were waiting, and all men were questioning in their hearts about John, if he was the Christ or not,
Hebrew Names Version
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he was the Messiah,
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he was the Messiah,
International Standard Version
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Christ.[fn]
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Christ.[fn]
Etheridge Translation
But while the people thought concerning Juchanon, and all of them reasoned in their hearts whether he were the Meshicha,
But while the people thought concerning Juchanon, and all of them reasoned in their hearts whether he were the Meshicha,
Murdock Translation
And while the people were thinking of John, and all pondered in their heart, whether he were the Messiah;
And while the people were thinking of John, and all pondered in their heart, whether he were the Messiah;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As the people wayted, & all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, whether he were very Christe:
As the people wayted, & all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, whether he were very Christe:
English Revised Version
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
World English Bible
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And as the people were in expectation, and all mused in their hearts of John,
And as the people were in expectation, and all mused in their hearts of John,
Weymouth's New Testament
And while the people were in suspense and all were debating in their minds whether John might possibly be the Anointed One,
And while the people were in suspense and all were debating in their minds whether John might possibly be the Anointed One,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whanne al the puple gesside, and alle men thouyten in her hertis of Joon, lest perauenture he were Crist,
Whanne al the puple gesside, and alle men thouyten in her hertis of Joon, lest perauenture he were Crist,
Update Bible Version
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ;
And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ;
Webster's Bible Translation
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he was the Christ, or not;
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he was the Christ, or not;
New English Translation
While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,
While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,
New King James Version
Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
New Living Translation
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.
New Life Bible
The people were looking for something to happen. They were thinking in their hearts about John the Baptist. They wondered if he might be the Christ.
The people were looking for something to happen. They were thinking in their hearts about John the Baptist. They wondered if he might be the Christ.
New Revised Standard
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, as the people were in expectation, and all were deliberating in their hearts, concerning John, - whether by any means, he, might be, the Christ,
Now, as the people were in expectation, and all were deliberating in their hearts, concerning John, - whether by any means, he, might be, the Christ,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ:
And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ:
Revised Standard Version
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
As the people were in a doute and all men disputed in their hertes of Iohn whether he were very Christ:
As the people were in a doute and all men disputed in their hertes of Iohn whether he were very Christ:
Young's Literal Translation
And the people are looking forward, and all are reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether or not he may be the Christ;
And the people are looking forward, and all are reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether or not he may be the Christ;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan the people were in a doute, & thought all in their hertes, whether he were Christ,
But whan the people were in a doute, & thought all in their hertes, whether he were Christ,
Mace New Testament (1729)
As the people were in suspence, every man imagining in his own mind that John might be the Messiah;
As the people were in suspence, every man imagining in his own mind that John might be the Messiah;
Simplified Cowboy Version
Everyone was jabberin' back and forth, "Is this fellow the one who will save us all?"
Everyone was jabberin' back and forth, "Is this fellow the one who will save us all?"
Contextual Overview
15 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?" 16But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." 18There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
expectation: or, suspense, John 10:24
mused: or, reasoned, or debated, John 1:19-28, John 3:28, John 3:29
Reciprocal: John 1:20 - General Acts 13:25 - whom
Cross-References
Genesis 3:1
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
Genesis 3:4
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
Genesis 3:6
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
Genesis 3:8
When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.
When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."
Genesis 3:13
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
Genesis 3:14
God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
Psalms 132:11
God gave David his word, he won't back out on this promise: "One of your sons I will set on your throne; If your sons stay true to my Covenant and learn to live the way I teach them, Their sons will continue the line— always a son to sit on your throne. Yes—I, God , chose Zion, the place I wanted for my shrine; This will always be my home; this is what I want, and I'm here for good. I'll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here, and give supper to those who arrive hungry; I'll dress my priests in salvation clothes; the holy people will sing their hearts out! Oh, I'll make the place radiant for David! I'll fill it with light for my anointed! I'll dress his enemies in dirty rags, but I'll make his crown sparkle with splendor."
God gave David his word, he won't back out on this promise: "One of your sons I will set on your throne; If your sons stay true to my Covenant and learn to live the way I teach them, Their sons will continue the line— always a son to sit on your throne. Yes—I, God , chose Zion, the place I wanted for my shrine; This will always be my home; this is what I want, and I'm here for good. I'll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here, and give supper to those who arrive hungry; I'll dress my priests in salvation clothes; the holy people will sing their hearts out! Oh, I'll make the place radiant for David! I'll fill it with light for my anointed! I'll dress his enemies in dirty rags, but I'll make his crown sparkle with splendor."
Matthew 3:7
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And as the people were in expectation, of the coming of the Messiah; Daniel's seventy weeks being now accomplished, the sceptre being departed from Judah, and the Romans having the government in their hands, from whom they hoped for a deliverance by Christ;
and all men mused in their hearts of John; whether he were the Christ, or no; about which they had many reasonings and debates: some doubting of it, others ready to believe it, from his extraordinary birth, the singular holiness of his life, the power and efficacy of his doctrine, the new ordinance he administered, the restoration of religion by him, the freedom he took in reproving the vices of men, and the apt answers he gave to the questions now put to him. And that the Messiah was born, though he was not, as yet, made manifest, they might conclude, not only from the fulfilment of several prophecies, but from the song of Zacharias, the declaration of Simeon and Anna in the temple, and of the wise men that came from the east; and John appearing in such an unusual manner, they were ready to hope that he was the person; though they did not consider that he was of the tribe of Levi, and not of Judah; from which latter the Messiah was to spring; but this might be unattended to by them, and Satan might have an hand in it to hide the true Messiah from them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
In expectation - Expecting the Messiah. Margin, “suspense.” That is, they were not certain whether John was not himself the Messiah. They confidently “expected” his appearing, and there minds were in “suspense,” or they were in a state of doubt whether he had not already come, and whether John was not the Messiah.
Mused in their hearts of John - Thought of his character, his preaching, and his success, and anxiously inquired whether he did not do the things which were expected of the Messiah.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Luke 3:15. Whether he were the Christ — So general was the reformation which was produced by the Baptist's preaching that the people were ready to consider him as the promised Messiah. Thus John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, and reformed all things; showed the people, the tax-gatherers, and the soldiers, their respective duties, and persuaded them to put away the evil of their doings. Matthew 17:11; Matthew 17:11.
