1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, aPontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 while aAnnas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to bJohn the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3aAnd he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance bfor the remission of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth;
6 And aall flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
John Preaches to the People
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, a“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits aworthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore aevery tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So the people asked him, saying, a“What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, a“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, blet him do likewise.”
12 Then atax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, a“Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not1 intimidate anyone aor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
16 John answered, saying to all, a“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will bbaptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and agather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
19aBut Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.
John Baptizes Jesus
21 When all the people were baptized, ait came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am awell pleased.”
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
23 Now Jesus Himself began Hisministryataabout thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) bthe son of Joseph, theson of Heli,
24theson of Matthat, theson of Levi, theson of Melchi, theson of Janna, theson of Joseph,
25theson of Mattathiah, theson of Amos, theson of Nahum, theson of Esli, theson of Naggai,
26theson of Maath, theson of Mattathiah, theson of Semei, theson of Joseph, theson of Judah,
27theson of Joannas, theson of Rhesa, theson of aZerubbabel, theson of Shealtiel, theson of Neri,
28theson of Melchi, theson of Addi, theson of Cosam, theson of Elmodam, theson of Er,
29theson of Jose, theson of Eliezer, theson of Jorim, theson of Matthat, theson of Levi,
30theson of Simeon, theson of Judah, theson of Joseph, theson of Jonan, theson of Eliakim,
31theson of Melea, theson of Menan, theson of Mattathah, theson of aNathan, bthe son of David,
32atheson of Jesse, theson of Obed, theson of Boaz, theson of Salmon, theson of Nahshon,
33theson of Amminadab, theson of Ram, theson of Hezron, theson of Perez, theson of Judah,
34theson of Jacob, theson of Isaac, theson of Abraham, atheson of Terah, theson of Nahor,
35theson of Serug, theson of Reu, theson of Peleg, theson of Eber, theson of Shelah,
36atheson of Cainan, theson of bArphaxad, ctheson of Shem, theson of Noah, theson of Lamech,
37theson of Methuselah, theson of Enoch, theson of Jared, theson of Mahalalel, theson of Cainan,
38theson of Enosh, theson of Seth, theson of Adam, atheson of God.
