Luke 3:1-8 ▼

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.