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the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around 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 for the Lord,
make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked will become straight,
the rough ways made smooth,
6 and all flesh will see the salvation of God.”
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruits in keeping with 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 for Abraham for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is ready to strike the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowds were asking him.
11 John told them, “The person who has two tunics should share with someone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptised, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He said to them, “Don’t collect any more than what you are authorized to.”
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what should we do?”
He said to them, “Don’t extort money from anyone by threats or accuse people falsely; be satisfied with your wages.”
15 The people were all waiting expectantly, and all were questioning in their hearts if John might be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, “I baptise you with water, but One more powerful than I is coming, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise 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 barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So, with many other exhortations, John preached good news to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 also added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
21 When all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptised. Then while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
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, 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 Joshua, 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 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 Ram,
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 Enosh,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.