3:2 came unto John. This call to John the Baptist came about sixteen to eighteen years after the events associated with the previous verses. Tiberius had succeeded Augustus as emperor (Luke 3:1) and continued in power through all the rest of the events described in the four gospels. In showing that John’s ministry was in fulfillment of prophecy, Luke quotes (in Luke 3:4-5) more of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 40:3-4) than any of the other three writers, though all refer to it. John was obviously a preacher with great courage (Luke 3:7-14), no matter who was present.