Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 3:16

"And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;" — Matthew 3:16 (ASV)

“As soon as” not only suggests that Jesus left the water immediately after his baptism but that the Spirit’s witness was equally prompt. “He saw” most naturally refers to Jesus, not John, because Jesus is the focus of interest. But the voice was for John and possibly others, and it was stated in the third person.

“Heaven... opened” calls to mind OT visions (e.g. Isaiah 66:1; Ezekiel 1:1). “The Spirit of God descending like a dove” simile could mean either that the manner of the Spirit’s descent was like a dove’s or that the Spirit appeared in a dove’s form. Already in the OT, God promised that the Spirit would descend on his chosen Servant (Isaiah 42:1; see next comment).