3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar–when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene–
3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
3:4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
3:5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
3:6 And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
3:7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
3:9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
3:10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
3:11 John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
3:13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
3:14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely–be content with your pay.”
3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
3:16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
3:18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
3:19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
3:21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
3:23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
3:25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
3:26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
3:27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
3:28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
3:29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
3:30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
3:32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
3:36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
3:37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
3:2 During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zachariah in the wilderness.
3:3 And he came into all the region surrounding the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins,
3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths.
3:5 Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked places shall become a straight way, and the rough ways smooth.
3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
3:7 He said therefore to the crowds going out to be baptized by him, Offspring of vipers, who prompted you to flee from the coming wrath?
3:8 Produce then fruits worthy of your repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I tell you that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
3:9 And already also the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
3:10 And the crowds asked him, saying, What then shall we do?
3:11 And he answered and said to them, He who has two tunics, let him share with the one who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.
3:12 And tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
3:13 And he said to them, Exact nothing more than what you have been ordered to.
3:14 And some serving in the military also questioned him, saying, And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, Extort nothing from anyone by force, nor take anything by false accusation, and be content with your wages.
3:15 Now while the people were in expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might possibly be the Christ,
3:16 John answered and said to all, I baptize you in water, but He who is stronger than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He Himself will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
3:17 Whose winnowing fan is in His hand to thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.
3:18 So, exhorting them with many other things also, he announced the gospel to the people.
3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, because he was reproved by him concerning Herodias, his brother s wife, and concerning all the evil things which Herod did,
3:20 Added this also above all: he shut John up in prison.
3:21 Now when all the people were baptized and as Jesus was baptized and was praying, heaven was opened,
3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form as a dove upon Him. And a voice came out of heaven: You are My Son, the Beloved; in You I have found My delight.
3:23 And He, Jesus, when He began to minister, was about thirty years old, being, so it was thought, the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
3:24 The son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
3:25 The son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
3:26 The son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
3:27 The son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri,
3:28 The son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
3:29 The son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
3:30 The son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
3:31 The son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
3:32 The son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
3:33 The son of Aminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah,
3:34 The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
3:35 The son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Sala,
3:36 The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
3:37 The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Maleleel, the son of Cainan,
3:38 The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.