1Now in the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was the ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was the ruler of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene,
2during the time Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, God's word came to John, son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
3He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4This is just as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!
5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The crooked ways will be made straight, and the rough roads smooth.
6And all people will see God's salvation.'"
7So John said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the coming punishment?
8Therefore, show by your actions that you have repented. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
9Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
10The crowds asked him, "What should we do then?"
11He answered them, "Anyone who has two tunics should share with the person who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."
12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
13He told them, "Don't collect more taxes than you are ordered to."
14Soldiers also asked him, "What about us? What should we do?" He told them, "Don't use violence to extort money from anyone, and don't falsely accuse anyone. Be happy with your pay."
15The people were waiting with anticipation, and everyone was wondering in their hearts if John might be the Christ.
16John answered everyone, "I baptize you with water, but someone more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to even untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
17He holds a winnowing fork in his hand and will thoroughly clean his threshing floor, gathering the wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.
18With many other encouraging words, John preached the good news to the people.
19But Herod, the ruler, was criticized by John because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the other evil things Herod had done.
20Herod then added to all his other evils by putting John in prison.
21After all the people had been baptized, Jesus was also baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up,
22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form like a dove. A voice came from the sky, saying, "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you."
23When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years old. He was thought to be the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,
24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan.
38Enos’s son, Seth’s son, Adam’s son, God’s son.