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.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius 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 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.

while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

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.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

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!

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the L ord; Make His paths straight.

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.

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

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” John Preaches to the People

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?

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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.

Therefore bear fruits worthy 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 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.”

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

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.”

He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

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

Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

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

And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

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.”

Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

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.

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

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.

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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

And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

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.

But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

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

also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison. John Baptizes Jesus

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

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

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

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 well pleased.” The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

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.

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

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.

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,

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.

the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of 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.

the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,

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.

the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of 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.

the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of 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.

the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of 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.

the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,

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.

the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

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.

the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

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.

the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

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.

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

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.

the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

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.

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

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.

the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of 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.

the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.