Luke 3:1-13 ▼

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Emporer), while Pontius Pilate (armed with a spear) was governor of Judea (land of praise), Herod (heroic) tetrarch of Galilee (circuit), his brother Philip (friend of horses) tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word {rhēma} of God {Theou} came to John (YHWH is gracious) son of Zechariah (YHWH remembers) in the wilderness (solitary place).

3 He went into all the region around the Jordan (flowing down), preaching a baptism (submersion) of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

4 as it is written in the book (papyrus roll) of the words of Isaiah (YHWH saves) the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness (solitary place), ‘Prepare the way for the Lord {Kyriou}, make straight paths for Him.

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

6 And all humanity will see God’s {Theou} salvation \And all flesh will see God’s salvation/.’”

7 Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized (submerged) by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you⁺ to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham (father of many) as our father {Patera}. For I tell you⁺ that out of these stones God {Theos} can raise up children for Abraham.

9 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

10 The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?

11 John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized (submerged). “Teacher {Didaskale}, they asked, “what should we do?

13 “Collect no more than you⁺ are authorized, he answered.