Luke 3
1 It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governing Judea; Herod was tetrarch of Galilee; Philip, his brother, was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis; and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.
2 During the time of the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
3 He went throughout the whole region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled in, and every mountain and hill brought low; what is crooked will be made straight, and the rough roads will be made smooth.
6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”
7 So he would say to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: “You brood of vipers! Who showed you how to escape the coming wrath?
8 Then produce fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin saying among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
9 The ax is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 The crowds asked him, “What should we do, then?”
11 He replied, “Anyone who has two tunics should share with someone who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He told them, “Collect no more than what has been assigned to you.”
14 Some soldiers also asked him, “And what should we do?” He told them, “Do not extort anyone or make false accusations, and be content with your wages.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly, and everyone was wondering in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Christ.
16 John answered them all: “I baptize you with water, but one who is stronger than I is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor completely and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 With many other appeals, he announced the good news to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, whom John had rebuked because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things Herod had done,
20 added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too; and while he was praying, heaven opened.
22 The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”
23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was, as people supposed, the son of Joseph, son of Heli,
24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon,
33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,
34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,
36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,
38 son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
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