1It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.
2Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At that time the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4This is what is written in the book of the words of the prophet Esaias: "The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"
5Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made smooth.
6"And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
7So he said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You family of snakes, who warned you to run from the anger that is coming?"
8So bring out fruits that show your repentance. Do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father.' For I tell you, God is able to raise up children for Abraham out of these stones.
9"And even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. So every tree that does not bring out good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
10The people asked him, "What shall we do then?"
11He answered them, "Whoever has two coats, let him share with the one who has none. And whoever has food, let him do the same."
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what shall we do?"
13He said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."
14The soldiers also asked him, "And what shall we do?" He said to them, "Do violence to no one, and do not accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your wages."
15The people were waiting and wondering, and everyone was asking in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Christ.
16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is mightier than I am is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his shoes. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
17"His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor completely. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that cannot be put out."
18And he preached many other things to the people, urging them on.
19But Herod the tetrarch was rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and because of all the evil things Herod had done.
21Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And while he was praying, heaven was opened,
22and the Holy Spirit came down on him in a bodily form like a dove. A voice came from heaven, saying, "You are my beloved Son. I am well pleased with you."
23Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began. He was, as people supposed, the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,
24who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,
25who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Naum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Nagge,
26who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Juda,
27who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri,
28who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,
29who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,
30who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Juda, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,
31who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,
32who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Booz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Naasson,
33who was the son of Aminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Esrom, who was the son of Phares, who was the son of Juda,
34who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Thara, who was the son of Nachor,
35who was the son of Saruch, who was the son of Ragau, who was the son of Phalec, who was the son of Heber, who was the son of Sala,
36who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Sem, who was the son of Noe, who was the son of Lamech,
37who was the son of Mathusala, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who was the son of Cainan,