John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In the fifteenth year of the reign of aTiberius Caesar, bPontius Pilate cbeing governor of Judea, and dHerod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during athe high priesthood of Annas and bCaiaphas, cthe word of God came to dJohn the son of Zechariah in ethe wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming aa baptism of repentance bfor the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in athe book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
b“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
c‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
5 aEvery valley shall be filled,
band every mountain and hill shall be made low,
cand the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 aand all flesh shall see bthe salvation of God.’”
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, a“You brood of bvipers! Who warned you to flee from cthe wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits ain keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, b‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from cthese stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. aEvery tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, a“What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, a“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 aTax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, bwhat shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, a“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, awhat shall we do?” And he said to them, b“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your cwages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, awhether he might be bthe Christ, 16 aJohn answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but bhe who is mightier than I is coming, cthe strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you dwith the Holy Spirit and efire. 17 His awinnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to bgather the wheat into his barn, cbut the chaff he will burn with dunquenchable fire.”
18 So awith many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But aHerod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that ahe locked up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when aJesus also had been baptized and was praying, bthe heavens were opened, 22 and athe Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and ba voice came from heaven, c“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
23 Jesus, awhen he began his ministry, was about bthirty years of age, being cthe son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, 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, athe son of Zerubbabel, the son bof Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, 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 aNathan, the son of David, 32 athe son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 athe son of Jacob, bthe son of Isaac, cthe son of Abraham, dthe 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 Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.