Luke 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruling Galilee, his brother Philip over Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias over Abilene,

2 during the time of Annas and Caiaphas the high priests, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, out in the wilderness.

3 He went through the whole region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4 Just like it is written in the book of Isaiah: “A voice calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley will be filled, every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked will be made straight, and rough roads smooth.

6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”

7 Crowds were coming out to be baptized by him, and he told them straight, “You brood of snakes, who warned you to run from the coming judgment,

8 Show fruit that proves you have really changed. Do not start thinking you are good just because you say, ‘We got Abraham as our father.’ I am telling you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

9 The axe is already at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 The crowd asked him, “So what are we supposed to do?”

11 He answered, “If you got two coats, share with the one who has none. If you got food, do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 He said, “Do not collect more than you are supposed to.”

14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what about us,” He said, “Do not extort money or accuse people falsely, be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting, wondering in their hearts if John might be the Christ.

16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than me. I am not even worthy to untie His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with fire that never goes out.”

18 With many other words, he kept warning them and preaching the good news.

19 But when John called out Herod the ruler for taking his brother’s wife and for all the evil things he had done,

20 Herod added to it by locking John up in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. As He was praying, heaven opened,

22 and the Holy Spirit came down on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My Son, the One I love. I am fully pleased with You.”

The Genealogy of Jesus

23 Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was thought to be the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.