John Prepares the Way
NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene;
2 During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zachariah in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the pardon of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see Gods salvation.”
7 Then he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him: “O offspring of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as our father’: for I say to you: That God is able of these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
9 And now also, the axe is set to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.”
10 And the people asked him, saying: “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them: “He that has two coats, let him share with him that has none; and he that has meal, let him do likewise.”
12 Then came also tax collectors to be baptized, and said to him: “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them: “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”
14 And the soldiers likewise asked of him, saying: “And what shall we do?” And he said to them: “Extort no man, nor accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he be the Christ, or not;
16 John answered, saying to them all: “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
17 Whose winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 And many other things in his exhortation proclaimed he to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him concerning Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had wrought:
20 Added yet this upon them all: that he locked up John in prison.
The Baptism of Christ
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”
Jesus Bloodline Through Mary
23 And Jesus Himself being about thirty years of age, being as was supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Eli,
24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Jannai, which was the son of Joseph,
25 Which was the son of Mattathiah, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Nahum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Naggai,
26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathiah, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Judah,
27 Which was the son of Joanan, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zerubbabel, which was the son of Shealtiel, which was the son of Neri,
28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmadam, which was the son of Er,
29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Judah, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Mainan, which was the son of Mattathah, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Boaz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Nahshon,
33 Which was the son of Amminadab, which was the son of Ram, which was the son of Hezron, which was the son of Perez, which was the son of Judah,
34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Terah, which was the son of Nahor,
35 Which was the son of Serug, which was the son of Reu, which was the son of Peleg, which was the son of Eber, which was the son of Salah,
36 Which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Shem, which was the son of Noah, which was the son of Lamech,
37 Which was the son of Methusalah, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Mahalalel, which was the son of Kainan,
38 Which was the son of Enosh, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.