| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, | 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, |
| 2while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. | 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. |
| 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, | 3He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, |
| 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. | 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! |
| 5Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; | 5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, |
| 6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” | 6and everyone will see the salvation of God. |
| 7Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | 7He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. | 8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. |
| 9And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” | 9The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." |
| 10So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” | 10"What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him. |
| 11He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” | 11He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same." |
| 12Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” | 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" |
| 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” | 13He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized." |
| 14Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” | 14Some soldiers also questioned him, "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." |
| 15Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, | 15Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. |
| 16John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | 16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
| 17His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” | 17His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out." |
| 18And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. | 18Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. |
| 19But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, | 19But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the evil things he had done, |
| 20also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison. | 20Herod added this to everything else--he locked up John in prison. |
| 21When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. | 21When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, |
| 22And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” | 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased." |
| 23Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, | 23As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli, |
| 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, | 24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, |
| 25the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, | 25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, |
| 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, | 26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, |
| 27the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, | 27son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, |
| 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, | 28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, |
| 29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, | 29son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, |
| 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, | 30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, |
| 31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, | 31son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, |
| 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, | 32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, |
| 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, | 33son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, |
| 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, | 34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, |
| 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, | 35son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, |
| 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, | 36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, |
| 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, | 37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan, |
| 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. | 38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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