1 Y EN el año quince del imperio de Tiberio César, siendo gobernador de Judea Poncio Pilato, y Herodes tetrarca de Galilea, y su hermano Felipe tetrarca de Iturea y de la provincia de Traconite, y Lisanias tetrarca de Abilinia,

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 S iendo sumos sacerdotes Anás y Caifás, vino palabra del Señor sobre Juan, hijo de Zacarías, en el desierto.

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 Y él vino por toda la tierra al rededor del Jordán predicando el bautismo del arrepentimiento para la remisión de pecados;

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 C omo está escrito en el libro de las palabras del profeta Isaías que dice: Voz del que clama en el desierto: Aparejad el camino del Señor, Haced derechas sus sendas.

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 T odo valle se henchirá, Y bajaráse todo monte y collado; Y los caminos torcidos serán enderezados, Y los caminos ásperos allanados;

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 Y verá toda carne la salvación de Dios.

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

7 Y decía á las gentes que salían para ser bautizadas de él: ­Oh generación de víboras, quién os enseñó á huir de la ira que vendrá?

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 H aced, pues, frutos dignos de arrepentimiento, y no comencéis á decir en vosotros mismos: Tenemos á Abraham por padre: porque os digo que puede Dios, aun de estas piedras, levantar hijos á 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 Y ya también el hacha está puesta á la raíz de los árboles: todo árbol pues que no hace buen fruto, es cortado, y echado en el fuego.

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 Y las gentes le preguntaban, diciendo: ¿Pues qué haremos?

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

11 Y respondiendo, les dijo: El que tiene dos túnicas, dé al que no tiene; y el que tiene qué comer, haga lo mismo.

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

12 Y vinieron también publicanos para ser bautizados, y le dijeron: Maestro, ¿qué haremos?

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

13 Y él les dijo: No exijáis más de lo que os está ordenado.

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

14 Y le preguntaron también los soldados, diciendo: Y nosotros, ¿qué haremos? Y les dice: No hagáis extorsión á nadie, ni calumniéis; y contentaos con vuestras pagas.

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 Y estando el pueblo esperando, y pensando todos de Juan en sus corazones, si él fuese el Cristo,

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 R espondió Juan, diciendo á todos: Yo, á la verdad, os bautizo en agua; mas viene quien es más poderoso que yo, de quien no soy digno de desatar la correa de sus zapatos: él os bautizará en Espíritu Santo y fuego;

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 C uyo bieldo está en su mano, y limpiará su era, y juntará el trigo en su alfolí, y la paja quemará en fuego que nunca se apagará.

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 Y amonestando, otras muchas cosas también anunciaba al pueblo.

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

19 E ntonces Herodes el tetrarca, siendo reprendido por él á causa de Herodías, mujer de Felipe su hermano, y de todas las maldades que había hecho Herodes,

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 ñadió también esto sobre todo, que encerró á Juan en la cárcel.

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

21 Y aconteció que, como todo el pueblo se bautizaba, también Jesús fué bautizado; y orando, el cielo se abrió,

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

22 Y descendió el Espíritu Santo sobre él en forma corporal, como paloma, y fué hecha una voz del cielo que decía: Tú eres mi Hijo amado, en ti me he complacido.

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 Y el mismo Jesús comenzaba á ser como de treinta años, hijo de José, como se creía; que fué hijo de Elí,

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

24 Q ue fué de Mathat, que fué de Leví, que fué Melchî, que fué de Janna, que fué de José,

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 Q ue fué de Mattathías, que fué de Amós, que fué de Nahum, que fué de Esli,

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 Q ue fué de Naggai, que fué de Maat, que fué de Matthathías, que fué de Semei, que fué de José, que fué de Judá,

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 Q ue fué de Joanna, que fué de Rhesa, que fué de Zorobabel, que fué de Salathiel,

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 Q ue fué de Neri, que fué de Melchî, que fué de Abdi, que fué de Cosam, que fué de Elmodam, que fué de 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 Q ue fué de Josué, que fué de Eliezer, que fué de Joreim, que fué de Mathat,

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 Q ue fué de Leví, que fué de Simeón, que fué de Judá, que fué de José, que fué de Jonán, que fué de Eliachîm,

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 Q ue fué de Melea, que fué de Mainán, que fué de Mattatha, que fué de Nathán,

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 Q ue fué de David, que fué de Jessé, que fué de Obed, que fué de Booz, que fué de Salmón, que fué de Naassón,

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 Q ue fué de Aminadab, que fué de Aram, que fué de Esrom, que fué de Phares,

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 Q ue fué de Judá, que fué de Jacob, que fué de Isaac, que fué de Abraham, que fué de Thara, que fué de Nachôr,

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 Q ue fué de Saruch, que fué de Ragau, que fué de Phalec, que fué de Heber,

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 Q ue fué de Sala, que fué de Cainán, Arphaxad, que fué de Sem, que fué de Noé, que fué de 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 Q ue fué de Mathusala, que fué de Enoch, que fué de Jared, que fué de Maleleel,

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 Q ue fué de Cainán, que fué de Enós, que fué de Seth, que fué de Adam, que fué de Dios.

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