[1] Now in the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius
Pilate being ruler of Judaea, and Herod being king of Galilee, his brother
Philip king of the country of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias king of
Abilene, [2] When Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of the
Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the waste land. [3] And he came
into all the country round about Jordan, preaching baptism as a sign of
forgiveness of sin for those whose hearts were changed. [4] As it says in
the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the
waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight. [5]
Every valley will be lifted up, and all the mountains and hills made low,
and the twisted will be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; [6] And
all flesh will see the salvation of God. [7] So he said to the people who
went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you
going in flight from the wrath to come? [8] Make clear by your acts that
your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have
Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones
to make children of Abraham. [9] And even now the axe is put to the root of
the trees; and every tree which does not have good fruit will be cut down
and put into the fire. [10] And the people put questions to him, saying,
What have we to do? [11] And he made answer and said to them, He who has
two coats, let him give to him who has not even one; and he who has food,
let him do the same. [12] Then tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said
to him, Master, what have we to do? [13] And he said to them, Do not make
an attempt to get more money than the right amount. [14] And men of the
army put questions to him, saying, And what have we to do? And he said to
them, Do no violent acts to any man, and do not take anything without
right, and let your payment be enough for you. [15] And while the people
were waiting, and all men were questioning in their hearts about John, if
he was the Christ or not, [16] John made answer, saying to them all, Truly,
I give you baptism with water, but one is coming who is greater than I,
whose shoes I am not good enough to undo: he will give you baptism with the
Holy Spirit, and with fire: [17] In whose hand is the instrument with which
he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but
the waste will be burned in the fire which will never be put out. [18] And
so comforting them with these and other words, he gave the good news to the
people; [19] But Herod the king, because John had made a protest on account
of Herodias, his brother's wife, and other evil things which Herod had
done, [20] Did this most evil thing of all, and had John shut up in prison.
[21] Now it came about that when all the people had been given baptism,
Jesus, having had baptism with them, was in prayer, when, the heaven being
open, [22] The Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice
came from heaven, saying, You are my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well
pleased. [23] And Jesus at this time was about thirty years old, being the
son (as it seemed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, [24] The son of Matthat, the
son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, [25]
The son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,
the son of Naggai, [26] The son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of
Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, [27] The son of Joanan, the son
of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
[28] The son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of
Elmadam, the son of Er, [29] The son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son
of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, [30] The son of Symeon, the
son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, [31]
The son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David, [32] The son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, [33] The son of Amminadab, 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 Reu, the son of Peleg, the
son of Eber, the son of Shelah, [36] The son of Cainan, the son of
Arphaxad, 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 Mahalaleel,
the son of Cainan, [38] The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.
