1   In the fifteenth year of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, when Herod was prince of Galilee, his brother Philip prince of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias prince 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   And he went all over the Jordan valley proclaiming a baptism in token of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4   as it is written in the book of the prophecies of Isaiah:

The coming of Christ

  ‘A voice crying aloud in the wilderness,
  “Prepare a way for the Lord;
  clear a straight path for him.
   5   Every ravine shall be filled in,
  and every mountain and hill levelled;
  the corners shall be straightened,
  and the rugged ways made smooth;
   6   and all mankind shall see God's deliverance.”’

7   Crowds of people came out to be baptized by him, and he said to them: ‘You vipers' brood! Who warned you to escape from the coming retribution? 8   Then prove your repentance by the fruit it bears; and do not begin saying to yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father.” I tell you that God can make children for Abraham out of these stones here. 9   Already the axe is laid to the roots of the trees; and every tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.’

10    11   The people asked him, ‘Then what are we to do?’ He replied, ‘The man with two shirts must share with him who has none, and anyone who has food must do the same.’ 12   Among those who came to be baptized were tax-gatherers, and they said to him, ‘Master, what are we to do?’ 13   He told them, ‘Exact no more than the assessment.’ 14   Soldiers on service also asked him, ‘And what of us?’ To them he said, ‘No bullying; no blackmail; make do with your pay!’

15   The people were on the tiptoe of expectation, all wondering about John, 16   whether perhaps he was the Messiah, but he spoke out and said to them all: ‘I baptize you with water; but there is one to come who is mightier than I. I am not fit to unfasten his shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17   His shovel is ready in his hand, to winnow his threshing-floor and gather the wheat into his granary; but he will burn the chaff on a fire that can never go out.’

18   In this and many other ways he made his appeal to the people and announced the good news. 19   But Prince Herod, when he was rebuked by him over the affair of his brother's wife Herodias and for his other misdeeds, 20   crowned them all by shutting John up in prison.

21   During a general baptism of the people, when Jesus too had been baptized and was praying, 22   heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove; and there came a voice

The coming of Christ from heaven, ‘Thou art my Son, my Beloved; ^note on thee my favour rests.’ ^note

23   When Jesus began his work he was about thirty years old, the son, 24   as people thought, of Joseph, son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, 25   son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathiah, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, 26   son of Mattathiah, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, 27   son of Johanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, 28   son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, 29   son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, 30   son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Symeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, 31   son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, 32   son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, 33   son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, ^note son of Arni, ^note 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 Arpachshad, son of Shem, son of Noah, 37   son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, 38   son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

Previous section

Next section