1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene-- |
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. |
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. |
4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
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5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
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6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "1 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5 |
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. |
9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." |
10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. |
11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." |
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" |
13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told |
14 them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." |
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.2 3:15 Or Messiah |
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with3 3:16 Or in water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. |
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." |
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. |
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, |
20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. |
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened |
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." |
23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
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24 the son of Heli, the son of Matthat,
the son of Levi, the son of Melki,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos,
the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,
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26 the son of Naggai, the son of Maath,
the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,
the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
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27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,
the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,
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28 the son of Neri, the son of Melki,
the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,
the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,
the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,
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30 the son of Levi, the son of Simeon,
the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,
the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
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31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna,
the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
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32 the son of David, the son of Jesse,
the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Salmon,4 3:32 Some early manuscripts Sala the son of Nahshon,
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33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,5 3:33 Some manuscripts Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni; other manuscripts vary widely.
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,
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34 the son of Judah, the son of Jacob,
the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
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35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu,
the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,
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36 the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan,
the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,
the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
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37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,
the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,
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38 the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God. |
