'In1the fifteenth4year2of the5reign6of Tiberius7Caesar,8Pontius10Pilate11being governor9of Judea,13and14Herod18being tetrarch15of Galilee,17and20his23brother22Philip19tetrarch24of the25region29of Ituraea26and27Trachonitis,28and30Lysanias31tetrarch34of Abilene,33 during1the high priesthood2of Annas3and4Caiaphas,5the word7of God8came6to9John10the11son13of Zechariah12in14the15wilderness.16 And1he went2into3all4the5region around6the7Jordan,8proclaiming9a baptism10of repentance11for12the forgiveness13of sins.14 As1it is written2in3the book4of the words5of Isaiah6the7prophet,8“The voice9of one crying10in11the12wilderness:13‘Prepare14the15way16of the Lord,17make19his22paths21straight.18 Every1valley2shall be filled,3and4every5mountain6and7hill8shall be made low,9and10the12crooked13shall become1114straight,15and16the17rough places18[shall become]19level21ways,20 and1all3flesh4shall see2the5salvation6of God.’”8 He said1therefore2to the3crowds5that came out4to be baptized6by7him,8“You brood9of vipers!10Who11warned12you13to flee14from15the16wrath18to come?17 Bear1fruits3in keeping with4repentance.6And7donot8begin9to say10[to]11yourselves,12‘We have14Abraham16as [our] father.’13For18I tell17you,19God23is able21from24these27stones26to raise up28children29for Abraham.31 Even2now1the4axe5is laid11to6the7root8of the9trees.10Every12tree14therefore13that does16not15bear16good18fruit17is cut down19and20thrown23into21the fire.”22 And1the4crowds5asked2him,3“What7then8shall we do?”9 And2he answered1them,4“Whoever has56two7tunics8is to share9with him10who has12none,11and13whoever has1415food16is to do18likewise.”17 Tax collectors4also3came1to be baptized5and6said7to8him,9“Teacher,10what11shall we do?”12 And2he1said3to4them,5“Collect12no6more7than8you11are authorized to do.”10 Soldiers5also4asked1him,3“And9we,10what7shall we do?”8And11he said12to them,13“Donot14extort money from15anyone14by threats15or16by false accusation,17and18be content with19your22wages.”21 As1the3people4were in expectation,1and5all7were questioning6in8their11hearts10concerning12John,14whether15he16might be17the18Christ,19 John5answered1them all,3saying,2“I6baptize9you10with water,8but12he13who ismightier than14I15is coming,11the21strap22of24whose25sandals24I am18not17worthy19to untie.20He26will baptize28you27with29theHoly31Spirit30and32fire.33 His1winnowing fork3isin4his7hand,6to clear8his11threshing floor10and12to gather13the14wheat15into16his19barn,18but21the20chaff22he will burn23with unquenchable25fire.”24 So3with many1other5exhortations6he preached good news7to the8people.9 But2Herod3the4tetrarch,5who had been reproved6by7him8for9Herodias,10his15brother’s14wife,12and16for17all18theevil things21that19Herod23had done,20 added1this3to4them all,5that6he locked up7John9in10prison.11 Now2when34all6the7people8were baptized,5and9when11Jesus10alsohad been baptized11and12was praying,13the15heavens16were opened,14 and1the3Holy6Spirit4descended2on11him12in bodily7form,8like9a dove;10and13a voice14came17from15heaven,16“You18are19my22beloved24Son;21with25you26I am well pleased.”27 Jesus,4when5he2began [his ministry],5was3about6thirty8years [of age],7being9the son10(as11was supposed)12of Joseph,13the [son] of14Heli,15 the [son] of1Matthat,2the [son] of3Levi,4the [son] of5Melchi,6the [son] of7Jannai,8the [son] of9Joseph,10 the [son] of1Mattathias,2the [son] of3Amos,4the [son] of5Nahum,6the son of7Esli,8the [son] of9Naggai,10 the [son] of1Maath,2the [son] of3Mattathias,4the [son] of5Semein,6the [son] of7Josech,8the [son] of9Joda,10 the [son] of1Joanan,2the [son] of3Rhesa,4the [son] of5Zerubbabel,6the [son] of7Shealtiel,8the [son] of9Neri,10 the [son] of1Melchi,2the [son] of3Addi,4the [son] of5Cosam,6the [son] of7Elmadam,8the [son] of9Er,10 the [son] of1Joshua,2the [son] of3Eliezer,4the [son] of5Jorim,6the [son] of7Matthat,8the [son] of9Levi,10 the [son] of1Simeon,2the [son] of3Judah,4the [son] of5Joseph,6the [son] of7Jonam,8the [son] of9Eliakim,10 the [son] of1Melea,2the [son] of3Menna,4the [son] of5Mattatha,6the [son] of7Nathan,8the [son] of9David,10 the [son] of1Jesse,2the [son] of3Obed,4the [son] of5Boaz,6the [son] of7Sala,8the [son] of9Nahshon,10 the [son] of1Amminadab,2the [son] of3Admin,4the [son] of5Arni,6the [son] of7Hezron,8the [son] of9Perez,10the [son] of11Judah,12 the [son] of1Jacob,2the [son] of3Isaac,4the [son] of5Abraham,6the [son] of7Terah,8the [son] of9Nahor,10 the [son] of1Serug,2the [son] of3Reu,4the [son] of5Peleg,6the [son] of7Eber,8the [son] of9Shelah,10 the [son] of1Cainan,2the [son] of3Arphaxad,4the [son] of5Shem,6the [son] of7Noah,8the son of9Lamech,10 the [son] of1Methuselah,2the [son] of3Enoch,4the [son] of5Jared,6the [son] of7Mahalaleel,8the [son] of9Cainan,10 the [son] of1Enos,2the [son] of3Seth,4the [son] of5Adam,6the [son] of7God.8