The Mission of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)

1NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius C‘sar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene: 2when Annas and Caiaphas were high-priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness; 3and he came into all the country on the confines of Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, saying, ?The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths strait:

5every valley shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be levelled, and the crooked ways made strait, and the rough roads smooth:

6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.?

7He said, therefore, to the multitudes who came out to be baptised by him, Ye broods of vipers, who hath warned you to fly from the approaching wrath? 8Produce then fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say in yourselves, We have a father, even Abraham; for I say unto you, That God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9But now is the ax laid even to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that produceth not good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.

10And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then shall we do? 11And he answering said to them, He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do in like manner. 12Then came also the farmers of the taxes to be baptised, and they said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13He said unto them, Exact nothing more than is appointed for you. 14And the military men also asked him, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Extort nothing by force; nor turn informers; and be content with your pay.

15Now when the people were in expectation, and many reasoned in their hearts respecting John, whether he were the Messiah, 16John addressed himself to them all, saying, I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; 17whose winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, and collect the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18Thus in many and various discourses exhorting them, he preached the glad tidings of the gospel to the people. 19Now Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him, on account of Herodias his brother Philip?s wife, and for all the other wicked actions which he had done, 20added this also to all the rest, and shut up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; John 1:29–34)

21Now it came to pass, at the time when John was baptising all the people, that Jesus also was baptised, and as he prayed, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily form, like a dove, upon him, and a voice came from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

The Genealogy of Jesus
(Matthew 1:1–17)

23And Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry, being (as was supposed the son of Joseph) of Heli, 24of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Janna, of Joseph, 25of Mattathias, of Amos, of Naum, of Esli, of Nagge, 26of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semei, of Joseph, of Juda, 27of Joanna, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, of Salathiel, of Neri, 28of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, of Er, 29of Jose, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi, 30of Simeon, of Judah, of Joseph, of Jonan, of Eliakim, 31of Melea, of Menan, of Mattatha, of Nathan, of David, 32of Jesse, of Obed, of Booz, of Salmon, of Naasson, 33of Aminadab, of Aram, of Esrom, of Phares, of Judah, 34of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nachor, 35of Saruch, of Ragau, of Phalec, of Heber, of Sala, 36of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Sem, of Noe, of Lamech, 37of Methusaleh, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan, 38of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, the son of God.