1 T iberius 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.

Or nell'anno quindicesimo del regno di Tiberio Cesare, mentre Ponzio Pilato era governatore della Giudea. Erode tetrarca della Galilea, suo fratello Filippo tetrarca dell'Iturea e della regione della Traconitide e Lisania tetrarca dell'Abilene,

2 A nnas 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.

sotto i sommi sacerdoti Anna e Caiafa, la parola di Dio fu indirizzata a Giovanni, figlio di Zaccaria, nel deserto.

3 H e 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.

Egli allora percorse tutta la regione nei dintorni del Giordano, predicando un battesimo di ravvedimento per il perdono dei peccati,

4 T he 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!

come sta scritto nel libro delle parole del profeta Isaia, che dice: «Ecco la voce di uno che grida nel deserto: Preparate la via del Signore, raddrizzate i suoi sentieri.

5 E very 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.

Ogni valle sia colmata e ogni monte e colle sia abbassato; i luoghi tortuosi siano raddrizzati e le vie scabrose appianate

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

e ogni carne vedrà la salvezza di Dio».

7 J ohn 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?

Egli dunque diceva alle folle che andavano per essere da lui battezzate: «Razza di vipere, chi vi ha insegnato a fuggire dall'ira a venire?

8 D o 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.

Fate dunque frutti degni del ravvedimento e non cominciate a dire dentro di voi: "Noi abbiamo Abrahamo per padre", perché io vi dico che Dio può suscitare dei figli ad Abrahamo anche da queste pietre.

9 E ven 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.”

E già la scure è posta alla radice degli alberi; ogni albero quindi che non produce buon frutto sarà tagliato e gettato nel fuoco».

10 T he people asked him, “Then what should we do?”

Or le folle lo interrogavano, dicendo: «Che faremo noi dunque?».

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

Allora egli, rispondendo, disse loro: «Chi ha due tuniche ne faccia parte a chi non ne ha, e chi ha da mangiare faccia altrettanto».

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

Or vennero anche dei pubblicani per essere battezzati e gli chiesero: «Maestro, che dobbiamo fare.».

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

Ed egli disse loro: «Non riscuotete nulla di piú di quanto vi è stato ordinato».

14 A lso 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.”

Anche i soldati lo interrogarono dicendo: «E noi, che dobbiamo fare?». Ed egli disse loro: «Non fate estorsioni ad alcuno, non accusate falsamente alcuno e contentatevi della vostra paga».

15 T he 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.

Ora il popolo era in attesa, e tutti si chiedevano in cuor loro se Giovanni fosse lui il Cristo,

16 B ut 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.

Giovanni rispose, dicendo a tutti: «lo vi battezzo con acqua; ma viene colui che è piú forte di me, al quale io non sono neppure degno di sciogliere il legaccio dei sandali; egli vi battezzerà con lo Spirito Santo e col fuoco.

17 H e 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

Egli ha in mano il suo ventilabro, per pulire interamente la sua aia e raccogliere il grano nel suo granaio; ma brucerà la pula con fuoco inestinguibile».

18 J ohn spoke much more as he preached the Good News to the people.

Cosí egli evangelizzava il popolo, esortandolo in molti altri modi.

19 H e 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.

Ora Erode, il tetrarca, essendo stato da lui ripreso a causa di Erodiade, moglie di suo fratello Filippo, e per tutte le malvagità che egli aveva commesso,

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

aggiunse a tutte le altre anche questa, cioè di rinchiudere Giovanni in prigione.

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

Ora, come tutto il popolo era battezzato, anche Gesú fu battezzato, e mentre stava pregando, il cielo si aprí

22 T he 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

e lo Spirito Santo scese sopra di lui in forma corporea come di colomba; e dal cielo venne una voce, che diceva: «Tu sei il mio amato Figlio, in te mi sono compiaciuto!».

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

E Gesú aveva circa trent'anni e lo si credeva figlio di Giuseppe, figlio di Eli;

24 H eli 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.

figlio di Matthat, figlio di Levi, figlio di Melchi, figlio di Ianna, figlio di Giuseppe;

25 J oseph 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.

figlio di Mattathia, figlio di Amos, figlio di Naum, figlio di Esli, figlio di Naggai;

26 N aggai 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.

figlio di Maath, figlio di Mattathia, figlio di Semei, figlio di Giuseppe, figlio di Giuda

27 J uda 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.

figlio di Ioanna, figlio di Resa, figlio di Zorobabel, figlio di Salathiel, figlio di Neri.

28 N eri 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.

figlio di Melchi, figlio di Addi, figlio di Cosam, figlio di Elmodam figlio di Er;

29 E r 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.

figlio di Iose, figlio di Eliezer, figlio di Iorim, figlio di Matthat, figlio di Levi;

30 L evi 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.

figlio di Simeone, figlio di Giuda, figlio di Giuseppe, figlio di Ionan, figlio di Ellakim;

31 E liakim 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.

figlio di Melea, figlio di Mena figlio di Mattatha, figlio di Natan, figlio di Davide

32 D avid 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.

figlio di Iesse, figlio di Obed, figlio di Booz, figlio di Salmon, figlio di Naasson;

33 N ahshon 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.

figlio di Aminadab, figlio di Aram, figlio di Esrom, figlio di Fares, figlio di Giuda.

34 J udah 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.

figlio di Giacobbe, figlio di Isacco, figlio di Abrahamo, figlio di Tara, figlio di Nacor;

35 N ahor 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.

figlio di Seruk, figlio di Ragau, figlio di Pelek, figlio di Eber, figlio di Sela

36 S helah 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.

figlio di Cainan, figlio di Arfacsad, figlio di Sem, figlio di Noè, figlio di Lamek;

37 L amech 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.

figlio di Mathusala, figlio di Enok, figlio di Iared, figlio di Mahalaleel, figlio di Cainan;

38 C ainan was the son of Enos. Enos was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.

figlio di Enos, figlio di Set, figlio di Adamo, di Dio.