Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 3:2

2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

The Evangelist having given us an account, both of the Birth of Iohn the Baptist, and of our Saviour, and of all the Prophesies preceeding and attending them both, leaving the History of our Saviour a little, cometh to give us an account of the History of Iohn [illegible: 1 word] Baptist, his entrance upon his publick Ministry, and fulfilling of it. Iohn the Baptist had Six Months Seniority of our Saviour, and probably did appear so long before him to the World, as a publick Minister, the time of his beginning was in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of Tiberius Cesar. Tiberius Cesar was he who next succeeded Augustus (for all the Roman Emperors after Iulius Cesar, were called Cesars, as all the Kings of Egypt were called Pharaohs) he was as wicked a Prince as most who ruled the Roman Empire. Herod the Great (in whose time Christ was Born) was some time since dead, Archelaus began to Rule in his stead as a King, but the Romans changing the Government from a Monarchy to a Tetrarchy (that is, a Government of four) Archelaus, had only the Government of Iudea, Herod Antipas (another Son of Herod the Great) had the Government of Galilee under the Title of Tetrarch, and Philip another Son of his, had the Government of I[illegible: 1 letter]urea, and Trachonitis, under the same Title of Tetrarch. And one Lysanids had the Government of Abilene (all four Strangers) So as at this time the Jews were all under the Government of Forreiners, the Scepter or Government was wholly departed from Iuda. Archelaus was soon after sent into France, and Pontius Pilate made Procurator or Governour of Iudea and Samaria. Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests. By the Law of God, the eldest Son of the Family of Aaron was to be the High Priest. How there c[illegible: 1 letter]me to be at this time two High Priests, is not agreed amongst Interpreters. Those who are curious in this Inquiry, may see what Mr. Pool hath Collected for their satisfaction, in his Synopsis; we must know, that at this time the Jews were under the Power of the Romans, and all things amongst them were out of order. Some say the Iews had liberty to chuse their High Priest, but then their Conquerors would turn him out, and sell the place to another. Others say that the High Priest had his Deputy, who also obtained the same Title. Others think, that as they had made the High Priesthood an Office, to which they chose one Annually, (which was by Gods Law an Office for Life) so the High Priest of the former year, still retained his Title for another year. We are at no certainty in these things. It is certain that at this time there were two that bare the Title of the High Priest, upon what account we cannot tell. It appeareth from Iohn 18.13. that the same Men three or four years after bare this Title▪ of High Priest, whether chosen again or no we know not. But this was the time, when The Word of God came unto John the Son of Zacharias in the Wilderness. The same Iohn, of which we heard before, The Word of the Lord came to him, commanding him out to Preach the Gospel. It is a Phrase which is often used in the Old Testament, to signify the Influence of the Spirit of God upon the Prophets▪ quickning them to their Work. And signifyeth to us, That no Man ought to take this Honour unto himself, until he be called of God, nor to speak in the Name of the Lord until first the Word of God cometh to him.

Marginal references: Joh. 11.49.51. Acts 4.6.