1 I n the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

Tiberius Caesar had been ruler for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was ruler of the country of Judea. Herod was the ruler of the country of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of the countries of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of the country of Abilene.

2 I n the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God '> concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] came to John son of Zachariah in the wilderness (desert).

Annas and Caiaphas were the head religious leaders. The Word of God came to John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias. John was in the desert.

3 A nd he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance ( of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin.

He went into all the country around the Jordan River. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them, and they would be forgiven.

4 A s it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His beaten paths straight.

The early preacher Isaiah wrote these words: “His voice calls out in the desert. ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!

5 E very valley and ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made smooth;

Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought down. The turns in the road will be made straight and the rough places will be made smooth.

6 A nd all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death decreed by God).

And all men will see God saving people from the punishment of their sins.’”

7 S o he said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, You offspring of vipers! Who secretly warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

John said to the people who came to be baptized by him, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from the anger of God that is coming?

8 B ear fruits that are deserving and consistent with repentance '> conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for Abraham.

Do something to let me see that you have turned from your sins. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.

9 E ven now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

Even now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 A nd the multitudes asked him, Then what shall we do?

The people asked him, “Then what should we do?”

11 A nd he replied to them, He who has two tunics (undergarments), let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do it the same way.

He answered them, “If you have two coats, give one to him who has none. If you have food, you must share some.”

12 E ven tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?

Tax-gatherers came to be baptized also. They asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”

13 A nd he said to them, Exact and collect no more than the fixed amount appointed you.

He said to them, “Do not take more money from people than you should.”

14 T hose serving as soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he replied to them, Never demand or enforce by terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully, and always be satisfied with your rations (supplies) and with your allowance (wages).

Also soldiers asked him, “What are we to do?” He answered them, “Take no money from anyone by using your own strength. Do not lie about anyone. Be happy with the pay you get.”

15 A s the people were in suspense and waiting expectantly, and everybody reasoned and questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether he perhaps might be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

The people were looking for something to happen. They were thinking in their hearts about John the Baptist. They wondered if he might be the Christ.

16 J ohn answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

But John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water. There is One coming Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

17 H is winnowing shovel (fork) is in His hand to thoroughly clear and cleanse His floor and to gather the wheat and store it in His granary, but the chaff He will burn with fire that cannot be extinguished.

He comes ready to clean the grain. He will gather the grain and clean it all. He will put the clean grain into a building. But He will burn that which is no good with a fire that cannot be put out.” John the Baptist Is Put in Prison

18 S o with many other appeals and admonitions he preached the good news (the Gospel) to the people.

John spoke much more as he preached the Good News to the people.

19 B ut Herod the tetrarch, who had been told about his fault and reproved with rebuke producing conviction by for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the wicked things that Herod had done,

He had also spoken sharp words to Herod the ruler because of Herodias. She was his brother Philip’s wife. And John spoke to Herod about all the wrongs he had done.

20 A dded this to them all—that he shut up John in prison.

To all these, Herod added another sin by putting John in prison. The Baptism of Jesus

21 N ow when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized also. As He prayed, the heaven opened.

22 A nd the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!

The Holy Spirit came down on Him in a body like a dove. A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.” The Family of Jesus through Mary

23 J esus Himself, when He began, was about thirty years of age, being the Son, as was supposed, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His work. People thought Jesus was the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.

24 T he son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Heli was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Jannai. Jannai was the son of Joseph.

25 T he son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Joseph was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Amos. Amos was the son of Nahum. Nahum was the son of Esli. Esli was the son of Naggai.

26 T he son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

Naggai was the son of Maath. Maath was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Semein. Semein was the son of Josech. Josech was the son of Juda.

27 T he son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

Juda was the son of Johanan. Johanan was the son of Rhesa. Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the son of Salathiel. Salathiel was the son of Neri.

28 T he son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

Neri was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Addi. Addi was the son of Cosam. Cosam was the son of Elmadam. Elmadam was the son of Er.

29 T he son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

Er was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Eliezer. Eliezer was the son of Jorim. Jorim was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi.

30 T he son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

Levi was the son of Simeon. Simeon was the son of Judah. Judah was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Janam. Janam was the son of Eliakim.

31 T he son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

Eliakim was the son of Melea. Melea was the son of Menna. Menna was the son of Mattatha. Mattatha was the son of Nathan. Nathan was the son of David.

32 T he son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon (Sala), the son of Nahshon,

David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

33 T he son of Aminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

Nahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Admin. Admin was the son of Ram. Ram was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.

34 T he son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Judah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham. Abraham was the son of Terah. Terah was the son of Nahor.

35 T he son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Nahor was the son of Serug. Serug was the son of Ragau. Ragau was the son of Peleg. Peleg was the son of Eber. Eber was the son of Shelah.

36 T he son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Shelah was the son of Cainan. Cainan was the son of Arphaxad. Arphaxad was the son of Shem. Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech.

37 T he son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

Lamech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalaleel. Mahaleel was the son of Cainan.

38 T he son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Cainan was the son of Enos. Enos was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.