施洗者約翰的傳道

凱撒提庇留執政第十五年,本丟·彼拉多任猶太總督,希律做加利利的分封王,他的弟弟腓力做以土利亞和特拉可尼兩地的分封王,呂撒聶做亞比利尼的分封王, 亞那和該亞法當大祭司。當時,撒迦利亞的兒子約翰住在曠野,上帝向他說話。 他就到約旦河附近宣講悔改的洗禮,使人的罪得到赦免。 這正應驗了以賽亞先知書上的話:「在曠野有人大聲呼喊,

『預備主的道,
修直祂的路。
一切山谷將被填滿,
大山小丘將被削平,
彎曲的道路要被修直,
崎嶇的路徑要被鋪平。
世人都要看見上帝的救恩。』」

約翰對前來接受他洗禮的人群說:「你們這些毒蛇的後代!誰指示你們逃避那將臨的烈怒呢? 你們要結出與悔改相稱的果子。不要心裡說,『我們是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』我告訴你們,上帝可以從這些石頭中興起亞伯拉罕的子孫。 現在斧頭已經放在樹根上了,不結好果子的樹都要被砍下丟在火裡。」

10 眾人問道:「那麼,我們該怎麼辦呢?」

11 約翰回答說:「有兩件衣服的,應當分一件給沒有的;食物充裕的,應當分些給饑餓的。」

12 有些稅吏也來受洗,並問約翰:「老師,我們該怎麼辦呢?」

13 約翰說:「除了規定的稅以外,一分錢也不可多收。」

14 有些軍人問:「我們該怎麼辦呢?」約翰說:「不可敲詐勒索,自己有糧餉就當知足。」

15 當時的百姓正期待著基督的來臨,大家心裡都在猜想,也許約翰就是基督。 16 約翰對眾人說:「我是用水給你們施洗,但有一位能力比我更大的快來了,我就是給祂解鞋帶也不配。祂要用聖靈和火給你們施洗。 17 祂手裡拿著簸箕,要清理祂的麥場,把麥子收進倉庫,用不滅的火燒盡糠秕。」 18 約翰向眾人傳福音,講了許多勸勉的話。

19 分封王希律娶了自己弟弟的妻子希羅底,又做了許多惡事,因而受到約翰的指責, 20 可是他卻惡上加惡,將約翰關進監牢裡。

耶穌受洗

21 眾人都受了洗,耶穌也接受了洗禮。祂正在禱告的時候,天開了, 22 聖靈像鴿子一樣降在祂身上,又有聲音從天上傳來:「你是我的愛子,我甚喜悅你。」

耶穌的家譜

23 耶穌開始傳道的時候,年紀約三十歲,照人的看法,

祂是約瑟的兒子,

約瑟是希里的兒子,

24 希里是瑪塔的兒子,

瑪塔是利未的兒子,

利未是麥基的兒子,

麥基是雅拿的兒子,

雅拿是約瑟的兒子,

25 約瑟是瑪他提亞的兒子,

瑪他提亞是亞摩斯的兒子,

亞摩斯是拿鴻的兒子,

拿鴻是以斯利的兒子,

以斯利是拿該的兒子,

26 拿該是瑪押的兒子,

瑪押是瑪他提亞的兒子,

瑪他提亞是西美的兒子,

西美是約瑟的兒子,

約瑟是猶大的兒子,

猶大是約亞拿的兒子,

27 約亞拿是利撒的兒子,

利撒是所羅巴伯的兒子,

所羅巴伯是撒拉鐵的兒子,

撒拉鐵是尼利的兒子,

尼利是麥基的兒子,

28 麥基是亞底的兒子,

亞底是哥桑的兒子,

哥桑是以摩當的兒子,

以摩當是珥的兒子,

珥是約細的兒子,

29 約細是以利以謝的兒子,

以利以謝是約令的兒子,

約令是瑪塔的兒子,

瑪塔是利未的兒子,

30 利未是西緬的兒子,

西緬是猶大的兒子,

猶大是約瑟的兒子,

約瑟是約南的兒子,

約南是以利亞敬的兒子,

31 以利亞敬是米利亞的兒子,

米利亞是邁南的兒子,

邁南是瑪達他的兒子,

瑪達他是拿單的兒子,

拿單是大衛的兒子,

32 大衛是耶西的兒子,

耶西是俄備得的兒子,

俄備得是波阿斯的兒子,

波阿斯是撒門的兒子,

撒門是拿順的兒子,

33 拿順是亞米拿達的兒子,

亞米拿達是蘭的兒子,

蘭是希斯崙的兒子,

希斯崙是法勒斯的兒子,

法勒斯是猶大的兒子,

34 猶大是雅各的兒子,

雅各是以撒的兒子,

以撒是亞伯拉罕的兒子,

亞伯拉罕是他拉的兒子,

他拉是拿鹤的兒子,

35 拿鹤是西鹿的兒子,

西鹿是拉吳的兒子,

拉吳是法勒的兒子,

法勒是希伯的兒子,

希伯是沙拉的兒子,

36 沙拉是該南的兒子,

該南是亞法撒的兒子,

亞法撒是閃的兒子,

閃是挪亞的兒子,

挪亞是拉麥的兒子,

37 拉麥是瑪土撒拉的兒子,

瑪土撒拉是以諾的兒子,

以諾是雅列的兒子,

雅列是瑪勒列的兒子,

瑪勒列是蓋南的兒子,

蓋南是以挪士的兒子,

38 以挪士是塞特的兒子,

塞特是亞當的兒子,

亞當是上帝的兒子。

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)(B)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate(C) was governor of Judea, Herod(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,(E) the word of God came to John(F) son of Zechariah(G) in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(H) As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a](I)

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!(J) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(K) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(L) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(M)

10 “What should we do then?”(N) the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(O)

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized.(P) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”(Q) he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely(R)—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(S) might possibly be the Messiah.(T) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water.(U) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.(V) 17 His winnowing fork(W) 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 unquenchable fire.”(X) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod(Y) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.(Z)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus(AA)(AB)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,(AC) heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him(AD) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(AE) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(AF)

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.(AG) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,(AH)

the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, the son of Melki,

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 Josek, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,

the son of Zerubbabel,(AI) the son of Shealtiel,

the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki,

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,(AJ)

the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse,

the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,

the son of Salmon,[d] the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,[e]

the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,(AK)

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,(AL)

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,(AM) the son of Shem,

the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,(AN)

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan,(AO) 38 the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5
  2. Luke 3:16 Or in
  3. Luke 3:16 Or in
  4. Luke 3:32 Some early manuscripts Sala
  5. Luke 3:33 Some manuscripts Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni; other manuscripts vary widely.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, (B)Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [a]while (C)Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to (D)John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. (E)And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (F)for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

(G)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And (H)all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John Preaches to the People(I)

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, (J)“Brood[b] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits (K)worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore (L)every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 So the people asked him, saying, (M)“What shall we do then?”

11 He answered and said to them, (N)“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, (O)let him do likewise.”

12 Then (P)tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13 And he said to them, (Q)“Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

So he said to them, “Do not [c]intimidate anyone (R)or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, (S)“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will (T)baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and (U)gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. 19 (V)But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his [d]brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

John Baptizes Jesus(W)

21 When all the people were baptized, (X)it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am (Y)well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ(Z)

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at (AA)about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) (AB)the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of (AC)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 Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Jose, 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 Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of (AD)Nathan, (AE)the son of David, 32 (AF)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 Ram, 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, (AG)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 (AH)the son of Cainan, the son of (AI)Arphaxad, (AJ)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, (AK)the son of God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:2 NU, M in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas
  2. Luke 3:7 Offspring
  3. Luke 3:14 Lit. shake down for money
  4. Luke 3:19 NU brother’s wife

In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of God [[a]concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] came to John son of Zachariah in the wilderness (desert).

And he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance ([b]of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert]: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His beaten paths straight.

Every valley and ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made smooth;

And all mankind shall see (behold and [c]understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death [d]decreed by God).(A)

So he said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, You offspring of vipers! Who [e]secretly warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance [that is, [f]conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for Abraham.

Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

10 And the multitudes asked him, Then what shall we do?

11 And he replied to them, He who has two tunics (undergarments), let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do it the same way.

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?

13 And he said to them, Exact and collect no more than the fixed amount appointed you.

14 Those serving as soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he replied to them, Never demand or enforce [g]by terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully, and always be satisfied with your rations (supplies) and with your allowance (wages).

15 As the people were in suspense and waiting expectantly, and everybody reasoned and questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether he perhaps might be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

16 John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

17 His winnowing shovel (fork) is in His hand to thoroughly clear and cleanse His [threshing] floor and to gather the wheat and store it in His granary, but the chaff He will burn with fire that cannot be extinguished.

18 So with many other [various] appeals and admonitions he preached the good news (the Gospel) to the people.

19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been [repeatedly] told about his fault and reproved with rebuke [h]producing conviction by [John] for [having] Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the wicked things that Herod had done,

20 Added this to them all—that he shut up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened

22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!(B)

23 Jesus Himself, when He began [His ministry], was about thirty years of age, being the Son, as was supposed, 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 Jesus, 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 (Sala), the son of Nahshon,

33 The son of Aminadab, 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 Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

38 The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.(C)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:2 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Luke 3:3 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  3. Luke 3:6 James Gray and George Adams, Bible Commentary.
  4. Luke 3:6 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  5. Luke 3:7 Literal translation.
  6. Luke 3:8 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  7. Luke 3:14 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  8. Luke 3:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.