1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

4As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his roads straight.

5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.

6And all humanity will see the salvation of God.'"

7He said therefore to the crowds who went out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

10The crowds asked him, "What then must we do?" 11He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise." 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you." 14Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."

15As the people were in expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire, 17whose winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

18Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 19but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

21Now it happened, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."

23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son, as was supposed, of Joseph, of Eli, 24of Mattat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Jannai, of Joseph, 25of Mattithiah, of Amos, of Nahum, of Hesli, of Naggai, 26of Mahath, of Mattithiah, of Shimei, of Joseph, of Judah, 27of Joanan, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, of Shealtiel, of Neri, 28of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, of Er, 29of Josi, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Mattat, of Levi, 30of Simeon, of Judah, of Joseph, of Jehonan, of Eliakim, 31of Maleah, of Menan, of Mattattah, of Nathan, of David, 32of Jesse, of Obed, of Boaz, of Salmon, of Nahshon, 33of Amminadab, of Ram, of Hezron, of Perez, of Judah, 34of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nahor, 35of Serug, of Reu, of Peleg, of Eber, of Shelah, 36of Kenan, of Arpachshad, of Shem, of Noah, of Lamech, 37of Methuselah, of Hanoch, of Jared, of Mahalalel, of Kenan, 38of Enosh, of Seth, of Adam, of God.