1 Î n anul al cincisprezecelea al domniei lui Tiberiu Cezar, pe când Ponţiu Pilat era guvernator al Iudeii, Irod era tetrarh al Galileii, Filip, fratele lui, era tetrarh al ţinutului Ituriei şi Trahonitei, iar Lisanias era tetrarh al Abilenei,

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 î n timpul marilor preoţi Ana şi Caiafa, Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu a venit la Ioan, fiul lui Zaharia, în pustie.

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 I oan s-a dus în întreaga vecinătate a Iordanului şi a început să predice botezul pocăinţei spre iertarea păcatelor,

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 şa cum este scris în cartea cuvintelor profetului Isaia: „Un glas strigă în pustie: «Pregătiţi calea Domnului, neteziţi-I cărările!

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 O rice vale va fi astupată şi orice munte şi deal va fi aplecat; căile strâmbe vor fi îndreptate, iar locurile pietroase vor fi netezite.

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 Ş i orice făptură va vedea mântuirea lui Dumnezeu!“

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

7 A tunci Ioan le-a spus mulţimilor care veneau să fie botezate de el: – Pui de vipere, cine v-a arătat cum să fugiţi de pedeapsa care vine?!

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 F aceţi roade vrednice de pocăinţa voastră! Să nu începeţi să ziceţi în voi înşivă: „Îl avem ca tată pe Avraam!“, căci vă spun că Dumnezeu poate să ridice urmaşi ai lui Avraam chiar şi din pietrele acestea!

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 T oporul este pus deja la rădăcina copacilor! Prin urmare, orice pom care nu face roade bune este tăiat şi aruncat în foc.

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 – Dar atunci ce să facem? l-au întrebat mulţimile.

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

11 E l le-a răspuns: – Cel care are două tunici să le împartă cu cel care n-are nici una, iar cel care are de mâncare să facă la fel!

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

12 A u venit şi nişte colectori de taxe să fie botezaţi şi l-au întrebat: – Învăţătorule, noi ce să facem?

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

13 E l le-a răspuns: – Să nu strângeţi mai mult decât v-a fost poruncit să luaţi!

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

14 N işte soldaţi l-au întrebat şi ei: – Dar noi ce să facem? El le-a răspuns: – Să nu stoarceţi cu forţa bani de la nimeni şi să nu aduceţi acuzaţii false împotriva nimănui; fiţi mulţumiţi cu salariile voastre!

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 P entru că poporul era în aşteptare şi toţi se întrebau în inimile lor, cu privire la Ioan, dacă nu cumva este el Cristosul,

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 I oan le-a spus tuturor: „Eu vă botez cu apă, dar vine Cel Ce este mai puternic decât mine, Căruia eu nu sunt vrednic să-I dezleg cureaua sandalelor! El vă va boteza cu Duhul Sfânt şi cu foc.

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 E l Îşi are în mână furca de treierat ca să-Şi curețe aria de treierat şi să-Şi strângă grâul în hambar; pleava însă o va arde într-un foc care nu se stinge.“

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 Ş i, prin multe alte îndemnuri, el vestea poporului Evanghelia.

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

19 Î nsă tetrarhul Irod, care era mustrat de Ioan din cauza Irodiadei, soţia fratelui său, şi din cauza tuturor lucrurilor rele pe care le săvârşise,

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 mai adăugat la ele şi pe acela că l-a închis pe Ioan în închisoare. Botezul şi genealogia lui Isus

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

21 D upă ce a fost botezat întregul popor, a fost botezat şi Isus. Şi, în timp ce se ruga, cerul a fost deschis

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

22 ş i Duhul Sfânt S-a coborât peste El în formă trupească, ca un porumbel. Şi din cer s-a auzit un glas care zicea: „Tu eşti Fiul Meu preaiubit; în Tine Îmi găsesc plăcerea!“

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 I sus avea în jur de treizeci de ani când Şi-a început lucrarea şi era, după cum se credea, fiul lui Iosif, fiul lui Eli,

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

24 f iul lui Mattat, fiul lui Levi, fiul lui Melchi, fiul lui Ianai, fiul lui Iosif,

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 f iul lui Matatia, fiul lui Amos, fiul lui Naum, fiul lui Esli, fiul lui Nagai,

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 f iul lui Maat, fiul lui Matatia, fiul lui Semein, fiul lui Ioseh, fiul lui Ioda,

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 f iul lui Iohanan, fiul lui Resa, fiul lui Zerub-Babel, fiul lui Şealtiel, fiul lui 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 f iul lui Melchi, fiul lui Addi, fiul lui Cosam, fiul lui Elmadam, fiul lui 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 f iul lui Iosua, fiul lui Eliezer, fiul lui Iorim, fiul lui Mattat, fiul lui 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 f iul lui Simeon, fiul lui Iuda, fiul lui Iosif, fiul lui Ionam, fiul lui Eliachim,

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 f iul lui Melea, fiul lui Menna, fiul lui Mattata, fiul lui Natan, fiul lui 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 f iul lui Işai, fiul lui Obed, fiul lui Boaz, fiul lui Salmon, fiul lui Nahşon,

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 f iul lui Aminadab, fiul lui Ram, fiul lui Heţron, fiul lui Pereţ, fiul lui Iuda,

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 f iul lui Iacov, fiul lui Isaac, fiul lui Avraam, fiul lui Terah, fiul lui 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 f iul lui Serug, fiul lui Reu, fiul lui Peleg, fiul lui Eber, fiul lui Şelah,

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 f iul lui Cainan, fiul lui Arpahşad, fiul lui Sem, fiul lui Noe, fiul lui Lameh,

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 f iul lui Metuselah, fiul lui Enoh, fiul lui Iared, fiul lui Mahalalel, fiul lui Chenan,

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 f iul lui Enoş, fiul lui Set, fiul lui Adam, fiul lui Dumnezeu.

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