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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 the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high 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, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
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 his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low.
The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth,
6 and all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”
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? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 He answered them, “Whoever has two tunics should share with someone who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “Collect no more than you have been instructed to.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone or make false accusations, and be content with your wages.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly, and all were wondering in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 With many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, whom John rebuked because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things Herod had done, 20 added this to them all: he locked John in prison.
21 When all the people had been baptized, Jesus too was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. 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 the son, as people supposed, 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 Jobel, 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 Mahalalel, son of Cainan, 38 son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.