[1] In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his
brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and
Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, [2] in the high-priesthood of Annas and
Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the
wilderness; [3] and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [4] As it is written
in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in
the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [5]
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought
low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be
made smooth; [6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." [7] He said
therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood
of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruits
that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, `We have
Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to
raise up children to Abraham. [9] Even now the axe is laid to the root of
the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire." [10] And the multitudes asked him, "What then
shall we do?" [11] And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him
share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
[12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher,
what shall we do?" [13] And he said to them, "Collect no more than is
appointed you." [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?"
And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be
content with your wages." [15] As the people were in expectation, and all
men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the
Christ, [16] John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who
is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to
untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [17] His
winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather
the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire." [18] So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the
people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for
Hero'di-as, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had
done, [20] added this to them all, that he shut up John in prison. [21] Now
when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized
and was praying, the heaven was opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended
upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art
my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." [23] Jesus, when he began his
ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of
Joseph, the son of Heli, [24] the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son
of Melchi, the son of Jan'na-i, the son of Joseph, [25] the son of
Mattathi'as, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of
Nag'ga-i, [26] the son of Ma'ath, the son of Mattathi'as, the son of
Sem'e-in, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, [27] the son of Jo-an'an, the
son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub'babel, the son of She-al'ti-el, the son of
Neri, [28] the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of
Elma'dam, the son of Er, [29] the son of Joshua, the son of Elie'zer, the
son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, [30] the son of Simeon,
the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eli'akim,
[31] the son of Me'le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat'tatha, the son of
Nathan, the son of David, [32] the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son
of Bo'az, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, [33] the son of Ammin'adab,
the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the
son of Judah, [34] the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, [35] the son of Serug, the son of Re'u,
the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, [36] the son of
Ca-i'nan, the son of Arphax'ad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son
of Lamech, [37] the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,
the son of Maha'lale-el, the son of Ca-i'nan, [38] the son of Enos, the son
of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
