1 N ăm thứ mười lăm đời Sê-sa Ti-be-rơ, khi Bôn-xơ Phi-lát làm quan tổng đốc xứ Giu-đê, Hê-rốt làm vua chư hầu xứ Ga-li-lê, Phi-líp em vua ấy làm vua chư hầu xứ Y-tu-rê và tỉnh Tra-cô-nít, Ly-sa-ni -a làm vua chư hầu xứ A-by-len,

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 A n-ne và Cai-phe làm thầy cả thượng phẩm, thì có lời Đức Chúa Trời truyền cho Giăng, con Xa-cha-ri, ở nơi đồng vắng.

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 G iăng bèn dạo qua hết thảy miền lân cận sông Giô-đanh, giảng dạy phép báp-tem về sự ăn năn để được tha tội,

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 n hư lời đã chép trong sách đấng tiên tri Ê-sai rằng: Có tiếng kêu la trong đồng vắng: Hãy dọn đường Chúa, ban bằng các nẻo Ngài.

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 M ọi nơi sũng thấp sẽ lấp cho đầy, Các núi các gò thì bị hạ xuống; Đường quanh quẹo thì làm cho ngay, Đường gập ghềnh thì làm cho bằng;

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 V à mọi xác thịt sẽ thấy sự cứu của Đức Chúa Trời.

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

7 V ậy, Giăng nói cùng đoàn dân đến để chịu mình làm phép báp-tem rằng: Hỡi dòng dõi rắn lục, ai đã dạy các ngươi tránh khỏi cơn thạnh nộ ngày sau?

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 T hế thì, hãy kết quả xứng đáng với sự ăn năn; và đừng tự nói rằng: A

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 C ái búa đã để kề gốc cây; hễ cây nào không sanh trái tốt thì sẽ bị đốn và chụm.

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 C húng bèn hỏi Giăng rằng: Vậy thì chúng tôi phải làm gì?

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

11 N gười đáp rằng: Ai có hai áo, hãy lấy một cái cho người không có; và ai có đồ ăn cũng nên làm như vậy.

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

12 C ũng có những người thâu thuế đến để chịu phép báp-tem; họ hỏi rằng: Thưa thầy, chúng tôi phải làm gì?

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

13 N gười nói rằng: Đừng đòi chi ngoài số luật định.

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

14 Q uân lính cũng hỏi rằng: Còn chúng tôi phải làm gì? Người nói rằng: Đừng hà hiếp, đừng phỉnh gạt ai hết, những hãy bằng lòng về lương hướng mình.

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 B ởi dân chúng vẫn trông đợi, và ai nấy đều tự hỏi trong lòng nếu Giăng phải là Đấng Christ chăng,

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 n ên Giăng cất tiếng nói cùng mọi người rằng: Phần ta làm phép báp-tem cho các ngươi bằng nước; song có một Đấng quyền phép hơn ta sẽ đến, ta không đáng mở dây giày Ngài. Chính Ngài sẽ làm phép báp-tem cho các ngươi bằng Đức Thánh Linh và bằng lửa.

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 T ay Ngài sẽ cầm nia mà giê thật sạch sân lúa mình, và thâu lúa mì vào kho; nhưng đốt trấu trong lửa chẳng hề tắt.

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 T rong khi Giăng rao truyền Tin Lành, thì cũng khuyên bảo dân chúng nhiều điều nữa.

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

19 S ong Hê-rốt, vua chư hầu, đã bị Giăng can gián về việc Hê-rô-đia vợ của em mình, cùng về các điều ác vua đã làm,

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 t hì lại thêm một điều ác nữa, là bắt Giăng bỏ tù.

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

21 V ả, khi hết thảy dân chúng đều chịu phép báp-tem, Đức Chúa Jêsus cũng chịu phép báp-tem. Ngài đương cầu nguyện thì trời mở ra,

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

22 Đ ức Thánh Linh lấy hình chim bò câu ngự xuống trên Ngài; lại có tiếng từ trên trời phán rằng: Ngươi là Con yêu dấu của ta, đẹp lòng ta mọi đường.

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 K hi Đức Chúa Jêsus khởi sự làm chức vụ mình thì Ngài có độ ba mươi tuổi. Theo ý người ta tin, thì Ngài là con Giô-sép, Giô-sép con Hê-li,

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

24 H ê-li con Mát-tát, Mát-tát con Lê-vi, Lê-vi con Mên-chi, Mên-chi con Gia-nê, Gia-nê con Giô-sép,

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 G iô-sép con Ma-ta-thia, Ma-ta-thia con A-mốt, A-mốt con Na-hum, Na-hum con E

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 N a-ghê con Ma-át, Ma-át con Ma-ta-thia, Ma-ta-thia con Sê-mê-in, Sê-mê-in con Giô-sếch, Giô-sếch con Giô-đa,

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 G iô-đa con Giô -a-nan, Giô -a-nan, con Rê-sa, Rê-sa con Xô-rô-ba-bên, Xô-rô-ba-bên con Sa-la-thi-ên, Sa-la-thi-ên con Nê-ri,

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 N ê-ri con Mên-chi, Mên-chi con A-đi, A-đi con Cô-sam, Cô-sam con E

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 Ê -rơ con Giê-su, Giê-su con Ê-li-ê-se, Ê-li-ê-se con Giô-rim, Giô-rim con Mát-thát, Mát-thát con Lê-vi,

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 L ê-vi con Si-mê-ôn, Si-mê-ôn con Giu-đa, Giu-đa con Giô-sép, Giô-sép con Giô-nam, Giô-nam con Ê-li -a-kim, Ê-li -a-kim con Mê-lê -a,

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 M ê-lê -a con Men-na, Men-na con Mát-ta-tha, Mát-ta-tha con Na-than, Na-than con Đa-vít,

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 Đ a-vít con Gie-sê, Gie-sê con Giô-bết, Giô-bết con Bô-ô, Bô-ô con Sa-la, Sa-la con Na-ách-son, Na-ách son con A-mi-na-đáp,

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 A -mi-na-đáp con A

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 G iu-đa con Gia-cốp, Gia-cốp con Y-sác, Y-sác con A

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 N a-cô con Sê-rúc, Sê-rúc con Ra-gao, Ra-gao, con Pha-léc, Pha-léc con Hê-be, Hê-be con Sa-la,

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 S a-la con Cai-nam, Cai-nam cho A-bác-sát, A-bác-sát con Sem, Sem con Nô-ê, Nô-ê con La-méc,

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 L a-méc con Ma-tu-sê-la, ma-tu-sê-la con Hê-nóc, Hê-nóc con Gia-rết, Gia-rết con Mê-lê-lê-ên, Mê-lê-lê-ên con Cai-nam,

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 C ai-nam con Ê-nót, Ê-nót con Sết, Sết con A-đam, A-đam con Đức Chúa Trời.

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