Luke 1:18
Context1:18 Zechariah 1 said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? 2 For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” 3
Luke 3:19
Context3:19 But when John rebuked Herod 4 the tetrarch 5 because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, 6 and because of all the evil deeds 7 that he had done,
Luke 8:3
Context8:3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza 8 (Herod’s 9 household manager), 10 Susanna, and many others who provided for them 11 out of their own resources.
Luke 16:18
Context16:18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries 12 someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
1 tn Grk “And Zechariah.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
2 tn Grk “How will I know this?”
3 tn Grk “is advanced in days” (an idiom for old age).
4 sn Herod refers here to Herod Antipas. See the note on Herod Antipas in 3:1.
5 sn See the note on tetrarch in 3:1.
6 tc Several
sn This marriage to his brother’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left previous marriages to enter into this union.
7 tn Or “immoralities.”
8 sn Cuza is also spelled “Chuza” in many English translations.
9 sn Herod’s refers here to Herod Antipas. See the note on Herod Antipas in 3:1.
10 tn Here ἐπίτροπος (epitropo") is understood as referring to the majordomo or manager of Herod’s household (BDAG 385 s.v. ἐπίτροπος 1). However, as BDAG notes, the office may be political in nature and would then be translated something like “governor” or “procurator.” Note that in either case the gospel was reaching into the highest levels of society.
11 tc Many
12 sn The examples of marriage and divorce show that the ethical standards of the new era are still faithful to promises made in the presence of God. To contribute to the breakup of a marriage, which involved a vow before God, is to commit adultery. This works whether one gets a divorce or marries a person who is divorced, thus finalizing the breakup of the marriage. Jesus’ point concerns the need for fidelity and ethical integrity in the new era.