It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; 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. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Luke 3:1-3

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.
Luke 3:21-22

• The "Who, What, When, Where" of the Gospel: Luke, as an author, was writing a historical account. He wasn't just telling a story; he was documenting a real event in a specific time and place.
• Tiberius Caesar: The Roman emperor at the time. This dates the event to around AD 27 or 28.
• Pontius Pilate: The Roman governor of Judea. His cruelty and role in Jesus's crucifixion are well-documented by other historical sources.
• Herod: The ruler of Galilee, part of a dynasty that ruled over the region for generations. His family's history is intertwined with the New Testament narrative.
• Annas and Caiaphas: The high priests. The fact that Luke names both shows his careful attention to the political and religious leadership of the time.
• Judea, Galilee, Iturea, Trachonitis, Abilene: These were real, specific territories and regions in the first century. Luke isn't speaking in vague terms like "a land far away."
• Luke's meticulous use of historical details shows that the Gospel is not a myth or a fable. It's a historical record of God's entry into human history.
• Why does it matter that the Gospel is a reliable historical document?
• The Gospel is grounded in real events, we can have confidence in what it says. 
• Our faith isn't based on a fairy tale, but on the actions of God in a real place and at a real time.
• Luke says the "word of God came to John." This is the core message. 
• God spoke to a real person, John the Baptist, in a real place, the wilderness. 
• The message of repentance and salvation is for real people, too. 

Realize that your faith is grounded in the historical truth of the Gospel. It’s not just a nice story, but the good news of what God has done. Tell the good news. Please. Loudly. Proudly. Until you see His face.