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. |
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. |
6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'" |
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 them. |
14 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. |
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with 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, the son of Heli, |
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, |
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, |
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, |
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, |
28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, |
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, |
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, |
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, |
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, |
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, |
34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, |
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, |
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, |
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, |
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. |