Luke 3

1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar — when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene,

2During the time when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests — the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

3John went into all the country around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4This fulfilled what was written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: A voice is calling out in the desert: Prepare the way for the Lord. Make His paths straight.

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

6And everyone will see God's salvation.

7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee from the coming anger?

8Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts. And do not begin to say to yourselves: We have Abraham as our father. I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.

9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

10The people asked him: Then what should we do?

11John answered them: Anyone who has two coats should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.

12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what should we do?

13He told them: Do not collect any more than you are required to.

14Then some soldiers asked him: And what should we do? He told them: Do not take money from anyone by force or false accusation. Be content with your pay.

15The people were waiting expectantly, and everyone wondered in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

16John answered them all: I baptize you with water, but someone more powerful than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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

18With many other words John appealed to the people, preaching the good news to them.

19But when John rebuked Herod the ruler because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the other evil things Herod had done,

20Herod added this to everything else: he locked John up in prison.

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

22And the Holy Spirit came down on Him in bodily form like a dove. A voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with You.

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

24The son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

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

26The son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda,

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

28The son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

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

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

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

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

33The son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

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

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

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

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

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