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 Cesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, 2and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of God came unto John the Son of Zacharias in the wilderness: 3and he went into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance in order to the remission of sins;

4as it is written in the book of Esaias the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:

5every valley shall be raised, and every mountain and hill shall be lowered, and the crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth:

6and all men shall see the salvation of God."

7Therefore said he to the multitudes that came to be baptised by him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits becoming penitents, and do not say within yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father," for I tell you that God can of these stones raise up children to Abraham. 9And now the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which doth not yield good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.

10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11And he saith unto them, Let him that hath two coats, give one to him that hath none, and let him that hath food do the like. 12And there came publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13And He said unto them, Exact no more than what is appointed you. 14And the soldiers also asked him, saying, And what shall we do? and He said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your pay.

15Now as the people were in suspense, and were all thinking in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christ or not, 16John answered and said to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but a mightier than I is coming, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie: He will baptize you with the holy Spirit, and with fire; 17whose fan is in his hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather the wheat into his granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire.

18And many other things by way of exhortation did he preach unto the people. 19But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the wicked things which Herod did, 20added this likewise to all the rest, that he shut up John in prison.

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

21Now, when all the people were baptized, and Jesus was baptized and praying, 22the heaven was opened, and the holy Spirit descended in a corporeal form, like a dove upon Him, and there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

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

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