Luke

John the Baptist

It was the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius’s reign: Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee; his brother Philip governed Iturea and Trachonitis; and Lysanias was in charge of Abilene.

Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests when the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

John announced a baptism for repentant people to receive forgiveness of sins, and he traveled throughout the entire country along the Jordan River.

t was exactly as written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: 

Listen to this voice 

crying out in the desert: 

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, 

make his path straight! 

The valleys will be filled, 

and the mountains and hills lowered. 

Everything crooked 

will be made straight, 

and the rough paths 

will be made smooth; 

 and every human 

will see the salvation of God!

John told the crowds who came out to be baptized by him: 

“You brood of vipers! How will you escape when divine punishment comes? 

Produce now the fruits of a genuine change of heart, and do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘We have Abraham for our ancestor!’ For I tell you, God can make children of Abraham from these stones. 

The ax is already at the root of the tree, and every tree that fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The people asked him: 

“What are we to do?” 

And John answered: 

“If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none; and if you have food, do the same.” 

Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him: 

“Master, what must we do?” 

John told them: 

“Collect no more than your fixed rate.” 

Then some soldiers asked John: 

“What about us? What are we to do?” 

He answered: 

“Don’t take anything by force or threaten the people by falsely accusing them. Be satisfied with your pay.”

The people wondered about John’s identity, asking: 

“Could he be the Messiah?” 

Then John responded: 

“I baptize you with water, but the one coming after me will do much more: he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal.” 

He comes with a winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and gather the grain into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

With these and many other words, John announced the Good News to the people.

But Herod the ruler, who had been reproached by him because Herod was living with Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for his evil deeds. 

Then Herod added another crime to all the rest he had committed: he put John in prison.

Now, with everyone who came to be baptized, Jesus also was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened,

and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice from heaven was heard: 

“You are my Son in whom I am well pleased.”

When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph, whose ancestors included: 

Heli, 

Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph, 

Matthathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, 

Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, 

Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, 

Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er,

Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi, 

Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim,

Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David,

Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahson,

Amminadab, Adnim, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah,

Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, 

Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah, 

Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, 

Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Malaleel, Cainan,

Enos, Seth, and Adam—who was from God.