Iturea

With you I am well pleased." A reading from the Book of Luke.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom, and in the grace of God and men.

And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea, and one of the four rulers, Herod in Galilee, and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers in Iturea and in the district of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, one of the four rulers in Abilene, in the chief priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John the son of Zacharias in the desert.

And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near.

So I'll re- read starting in Luke three verse one.

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch, tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness." So, uh, what do you think? Do you think Luke was being accurate when he said he's going to give an orderly account? Luke is clearly a detailed person and wants his readers to be aware that all these events are real, not fictional or fantastical, and happened at a specific time and place in history.

Perhaps the Holy Spirit did let him know that his narrative would end up being circulated far and wide for a long period of time, or perhaps God used Eli for his pur- purposes like he can use each of ours and our gifts for his purposes as well.

I was particularly struck by that truth in our discussions about God using different personalities and different gifts after Rick's teaching on Thursday.

And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom and in the grace of God and men.

And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea, and one of the four rulers, Herod in Galilee, and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers in Iturea and in the district of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, one of the four rulers in Abilene, in the chief priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John the son of Zacharias in the desert.

And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near.

Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee.

His brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis.

Lysanias was ruler over Abilene.

Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests.

And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom, and in the grace of God and men.

And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea, and one of the four rulers, Herod in Galilee, and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers in Iturea and in the district of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, one of the four rulers in Abilene, in the chief priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John the son of Zacharias in the desert.

And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near." This is he that was spoken of in Isaiah the prophet, the voice which crieth in the desert, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make straight in the plain paths for our God.

And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom, and in the grace of God and men.

And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea, and one of the four rulers Herod in Galilee, and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers in Iturea and in the district of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, one of the four rulers in Abilene, in the chief priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John the son of Zacharias in the desert.

And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near.

And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom, and in the grace of God and men.

And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea, and one of the four rulers, Herod in Galilee, and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers in Iturea and in the district of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, one of the four rulers in Abilene, in the chief priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John, the son of Zacharias, in the desert.

And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near." This is he that was spoken of in Isaiah the prophet, the voice which crieth in the desert, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make straight in the plain paths for our God.