Chapter 3
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar , Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea , and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee , and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis , and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas , the word of God came to John , the son of Zacharias , in the wilderness .
3 He came into all the region around the Jordan , preaching the baptism of repentance for remission 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 , ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord . Make his paths straight .
5 Every valley will be filled . Every mountain and hill will be brought low . The crooked will become straight , and the rough ways smooth .
6 All flesh will see God ’s salvation .’"
7 He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptised by him , " You offspring of vipers , who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ?
8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance , and don’ t begin to say amongst yourselves , ‘ We have Abraham for our father ;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones !
9 Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees . Every tree therefore that doesn’ t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire ."
10 The multitudes asked him , " What then must we do ?"
11 He answered them , " He who has two coats , let him give to him who has none . He who has food , let him do likewise ."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptised, and they said to him , " Teacher , what must we do ?"
13 He said to them , " Collect no more than that which is appointed to you ."
14 Soldiers also asked him , saying , " What about us ? What must we do ?" He said to them , "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages ."
15 As the people were in expectation , and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John , whether perhaps he was the Christ ,
16 John answered them all , " I indeed baptise you with water , but he comes who is mightier than I , the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptise you in the Holy Spirit and fire .
17 His winnowing fan is in his hand , and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire ."
18 Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people ,
19 but Herod the tetrarch , being reproved by him for Herodias , his brother’s wife , and for all the evil things which Herod had done ,
20 added this also to them all , that he shut up John in prison .
21 Now when all the people were baptised, Jesus also had been baptised and was praying . The sky was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him ; and a voice came out of the sky , saying " You are my beloved Son . In you I am well pleased ."
23 Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old , 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 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 Joseph , the son of Judah ,
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 Elmodam , the son of Er ,
29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer , 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 Jonan , the son of Eliakim ,
31 the son of Melea , the son of Menan , 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 Aram, 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 .