基督的先驱

凯撒提比略在位第十五年,本丢彼拉多犹太总督,希律加利利的分封王,他的弟弟[a]菲利普以土利亚特拉克尼地区的分封王,卢萨尼亚阿比利尼的分封王, 亚纳该亚法任大祭司——那时,神的话语在旷野临到撒迦利亚的儿子约翰 他就来到约旦河周围所有的地区宣讲为罪得赦免而悔改的洗礼。 正如先知以赛亚书上所记载的话[b]

“在旷野有声音呼喊着:
‘你们当预备主的道,
当修直[c]他的路!
一切山谷将被填满,
山岭小丘将被削平;
扭曲的道将要修直,
崎岖的路将要铺平。
所有的人[d]都将看见神的救恩。’”[e]

约翰对那些出来受他洗礼的人群说:“你们这些毒蛇的子孙!谁指示你们逃避那将要来临的震怒呢? 你们应当结出果子,与悔改的心相称!你们不要自己里面一开始就说‘我们有亚伯拉罕为先祖。’我告诉你们:神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起儿女来。 现在斧子已经放在树根上,所有不结好果子的树都要被砍下来,被丢进火里。”

10 众人问他,说:“那么,我们该做什么呢?”

11 约翰回答说:“有两件衣服[f]的,当分给那没有的;有食物的,也当如此做。”

12 一些税吏也来受洗[g]。他们问约翰:“老师,我们该做什么呢?”

13 约翰对他们说:“除了给你们规定的以外,不要多收。”

14 有些当兵的[h]也问他,说:“那么我们呢?我们该做什么呢?”

约翰说:“不要敲诈任何人,也不要勒索人[i],当以自己的粮饷为满足。”

15 当时,民众都在心里对约翰有期待并猜想,或许他就是基督。 16 约翰就回答大家,说:“我用水[j]给你们施洗[k],但有一位比我更强有力的要来,我就是为他解鞋带也不配。他要用圣灵和火[l]给你们施洗。 17 他手里拿着扬谷的锨,要扬净他的打谷场,把麦子收进他的仓库,却把糠秕用不灭的火烧掉。” 18 这样,约翰又用很多别的话劝民众,向他们传福音。 19 分封王希律为了他弟弟[m]的妻子希罗迪娅的事,以及自己所做的一切恶事,受到约翰的责备。 20 希律在这一切事上又加了一件,就是把约翰关在监狱里。

耶稣受洗

21 有一次,当民众都来受洗的时候,耶稣也受了洗。他正在祷告,天开了, 22 圣灵好像鸽子,有形有体地[n]降临在他身上,并且有声音从天上传来,说:

“你是我的爱子,
我喜悦你。”

耶稣基督的家谱

23 耶稣开始传道[o]的时候,大约三十岁。照人看来,

他是约瑟的儿子,约瑟希里的儿子,
24 希里玛塔特的儿子,玛塔特利未的儿子,
利未麦基的儿子,麦基雅拿的儿子,
雅拿约瑟的儿子, 25 约瑟玛塔提亚的儿子,
玛塔提亚亚摩斯的儿子,亚摩斯拿鸿的儿子,
拿鸿以斯利的儿子,以斯利拿该的儿子,
26 拿该玛押的儿子,玛押玛塔提亚的儿子,
玛塔提亚西美的儿子,西美约瑟的儿子,
约瑟犹大的儿子, 27 犹大约亚拿的儿子,
约亚拿利撒的儿子,利撒所罗巴伯的儿子,
所罗巴伯撒拉铁的儿子,撒拉铁尼利的儿子,
28 尼利麦基的儿子,麦基亚底的儿子,
亚底哥桑的儿子,哥桑以摩当的儿子,
以摩当的儿子, 29 约细的儿子,
约细以利以谢的儿子,以利以谢约令的儿子,
约令玛塔特的儿子,玛塔特利未的儿子,
30 利未西缅的儿子,西缅犹大的儿子,
犹大约瑟的儿子,约瑟约南的儿子,
约南以利亚敬的儿子, 31 以利亚敬米利亚的儿子,
米利亚迈南的儿子,迈南玛塔达的儿子,
玛塔达拿单的儿子,拿单大卫的儿子,
32 大卫耶西的儿子,耶西俄备得的儿子,
俄备得波阿斯的儿子,波阿斯撒门的儿子,
撒门拿顺的儿子, 33 拿顺亚米拿达的儿子,
亚米拿达亚特民的儿子,亚特民[p]亚兰[q]的儿子,
亚兰希斯仑的儿子,希斯仑法勒斯的儿子,
法勒斯犹大的儿子, 34 犹大雅各的儿子,
雅各以撒的儿子,以撒亚伯拉罕的儿子,
亚伯拉罕塔拉的儿子,塔拉拿鹤的儿子,
35 拿鹤西鹿的儿子,西鹿拉吴的儿子,
拉吴法勒的儿子,法勒希伯的儿子,
希伯沙拉的儿子, 36 沙拉该南的儿子,
该南亚法撒的儿子,亚法撒的儿子,
挪亚的儿子,挪亚拉迈的儿子,
37 拉迈玛土撒拉的儿子,玛土撒拉以诺的儿子,
以诺雅列的儿子,雅列玛勒列的儿子,
玛勒列该南的儿子, 38 该南以挪士的儿子,
以挪士塞特的儿子,塞特亚当的儿子,
亚当是神的儿子。

Footnotes

  1. 路加福音 3:1 弟弟——原文直译“兄弟”。
  2. 路加福音 3:4 正如先知以赛亚书上所记载的话——原文直译“正如先知以赛亚之话语的书中所记载的那样”。
  3. 路加福音 3:4 修直——或译作“修平”。
  4. 路加福音 3:6 人——原文直译“肉体”。
  5. 路加福音 3:6 《以赛亚书》40:3-5。
  6. 路加福音 3:11 衣服——或译作“衬袍”。
  7. 路加福音 3:12 受洗——或译作“受浸”。
  8. 路加福音 3:14 当兵的——或译作“服兵役的”。
  9. 路加福音 3:14 勒索人——或译作“诬告”。
  10. 路加福音 3:16 用水——或译作“在水里”。
  11. 路加福音 3:16 施洗——或译作“施浸”。
  12. 路加福音 3:16 用圣灵和火——或译作“在圣灵和火里”。
  13. 路加福音 3:19 有古抄本附“菲利普”。
  14. 路加福音 3:22 好像鸽子,有形有体地——原文直译“形状仿佛鸽子”。
  15. 路加福音 3:23 传道——辅助词语。
  16. 路加福音 3:33 有古抄本没有“亚特民的儿子,亚特民是”。
  17. 路加福音 3:33 亚兰——有古抄本作“亚珥尼”。

Our story continues 15 years after Tiberius Caesar had begun his reign over the empire. Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod ruled Galilee, his brother Philip ruled Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruled Abilene.

More than any other Gospel writer, Luke wants to situate the story of Jesus in secular history. In particular, he gives details of the emperor, governor, and other client rulers. With a toxic mixture of cruelty and might, these authorities lord their power over the common people. Yet these high and mighty are—as Mary’s poem describes—destined to be brought down in the presence of a new kind of king and a new kind of kingdom. Jesus will exercise His authority in a radically different way—not through domination and violence, but through love, healing, compassion, and service.

John’s father Zacharias is a priest who serves in Jerusalem at the temple. Among their other duties, priests perform ritual cleansings necessary for Jewish worshipers who become ceremonially unclean—perhaps through contact with outsiders (non-Jewish people), perhaps through contact with blood or a dead body, perhaps through a physical illness. But when John appears on the scene, he hasn’t followed in his father’s footsteps. He’s not fulfilling the role of the priest, but rather of the prophet. He works far outside of Jerusalem, and he baptizes people in the Jordan River, not near the temple. It’s as if John is performing a symbolic drama: If you want to be in tune with God, the temple and its normal routines can’t help you anymore. Instead of being cleansed there, you should come out to this radical preacher and let him cleanse you in the river. And his message isn’t a polite, tame message. It’s fiery and intense! God isn’t interested in just routine religion. He wants changed lives!

In Jerusalem Annas and Caiaphas were high priests in the temple. And in those days, out in the wilderness, John (son of Zacharias) received a message from God.

John brought this divine message to all those who came to the Jordan River. He preached that people should be ritually cleansed through baptism as an expression of changed lives for the forgiveness of sins. As Isaiah the prophet had said,

A solitary voice is calling:
“Go into the wilderness;
    prepare the road for the Eternal One’s journey.
In the desert, repair and straighten
    every mile of our True God’s highway.
Every low place will be lifted
    and every high mountain,
    every hill will be humbled;
The crooked road will be straightened out
    and rough places ironed out smooth;
Then the radiant glory of the Eternal One will be revealed.
    All flesh together will take it in.”[a]

In fulfillment of those words, crowds streamed out from the villages and towns to be baptized[b] by John at the Jordan.

John the Baptist: You bunch of venomous snakes! Who told you that you could escape God’s coming wrath? Don’t just talk of turning to God; you’d better bear the authentic fruit of a changed life. Don’t take pride in your religious heritage, saying, “We have Abraham for our father!” Listen—God could turn these rocks into children of Abraham!

God wants you to bear fruit! If you don’t produce good fruit, then you’ll be chopped down like a fruitless tree and made into firewood. God’s ax is taking aim and ready to swing!

People: 10 What shall we do to perform works from changed lives?

John the Baptist: 11 The person who has two shirts must share with the person who has none. And the person with food must share with the one in need.

12 Some tax collectors were among those in the crowd seeking baptism.[c]

Tax Collectors: Teacher, what kind of fruit is God looking for from us?

John the Baptist: 13 Stop overcharging people. Only collect what you must turn over to the Romans.

Soldiers: 14 What about us? What should we do to show true change?

John the Baptist: Don’t extort money from people by throwing around your power or making false accusations, and be content with your pay.

15 John’s bold message seized public attention, and many began wondering if John might himself be the Anointed One promised by God.

John the Baptist: 16 I baptize[d] you with water, but One is coming—One far more powerful than I, One whose sandals I am not worthy to untie—who will baptize[e] you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 He is coming like a farmer at harvesttime, tools in hand to separate the wheat from the chaff. He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire, and He will gather the genuine wheat into His barn.

18 He preached with many other provocative figures of speech and so conveyed God’s message to the people—the time had come to rethink everything. 19 But John’s public preaching ended when he confronted Herod, the ruler of Galilee, for his many corrupt deeds, including taking Herodias, the ruler’s sister-in-law, as his own wife. 20 Herod responded by throwing John into prison.

21 But before John’s imprisonment, when he was still preaching and ritually cleansing through baptism[f] the people in the Jordan River, Jesus also came to him to be baptized. As Jesus prayed, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit came upon Him in a physical manifestation that resembled a dove. A voice echoed out from heaven.

Voice from Heaven: You are My Son,[g] the Son I love, and in You I take great pleasure.

What does it mean for Jesus to be baptized by John? If John’s baptism symbolizes a rejection of the religious establishment centered in the temple in Jerusalem, then Jesus’ baptism by John symbolizes that He is aligned with this radical preacher. Jesus isn’t simply coming to strengthen or even renew the centers of power. Instead, He is joining John at the margins to be part of something wild and new that God is doing. And the vivid manifestation of God’s pleasure—the dovelike appearance and the voice from heaven—suggests that even though Jesus is in a sense aligning Himself with John, John is simply the opening act and Jesus is the main attraction. The choreography between John’s work and Jesus’ work continues, but from this point on, Jesus is in the center of the story.

23 At this, the launch of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old.

He was assumed to be the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 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 Hesli, 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 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, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, 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 Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4–6 Isaiah 40:3–5
  2. 3:7 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  3. 3:12 Literally, immersion, an act to show repentance
  4. 3:16 Literally, immerse, to show repentance
  5. 3:16 Literally, immerse, to show repentance
  6. 3:21 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
  7. 3:22 Psalm 2:7

In the shenat chamesh esreh (15th year) of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governing Yehudah, when Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of the Galil, and when Philip the brother of Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and at the same time Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,

And when, during the same historical period, Anan and Caiapha were Kohanim Gedolim, then it was that the dvar Hashem came to [the kohen-navi] Yochanan Ben Zecharyah bamidbar (in the wilderness).

And Yochanan went into all the surrounding region of the Yarden preaching a tevilah of teshuva for the selichat avon,

As it has been written in the sefer divrei Yeshayah Hanavi, KOL KOREY BAMIDBAR (A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, YESHAYAH 40:3): Prepare the Derech Hashem (the Way of the L-rd). Make his paths straight!

KOL GEY YINNASE VKHOL HAR VGIVAH YISHPALU (Every valley will be filled in and every mountain and hill will be leveled off), VHAYAH HEAKOV LEMISHOR VHARKHASIM LVIKAH (The crooked will be made straight, the rough paths made into smooth roads);

VRAU CHOL BASAR ES YESHUAT ELOHEINU (and all basar will see the salvation of our G-d). [YESHAYAH 40:3-5; TEHILLIM 98:2; YESHAYAH 42:16; 52:10]

Therefore, Yochanan was saying to the multitudes coming out to have the mikveh mayim’s tevilah supervised by him, You banim of nachashim, who warned you to flee from the charon af [Hashem] habah (the coming burning wrath of Hashem)?

Therefore, produce p’ri tov l’teshuva (fruit worthy of repentance), and do not begin to presume within yourselves, saying, We have the zechut Avot (merit of the Fathers) of Avraham Avinu, for, I say to you, that Hashem is able from these avanim (stones) to raise up banim to Avraham Avinu.

And already the ax is laid at the shoresh haetzim (the root of the trees). Therefore, every etz not producing pri tov is cut down and is thrown into the Eish.

10 And the multitudes were questioning him, saying, What then should we do?

11 And in reply, Yochanan was saying to them, Let the one having two kaftans share with the one having none, and let the one having okhel (food) do likewise.

12 Now came also mochesim (tax collectors) to receive the tevilah of teshuva, and they said to him, Rabbi, what should we do?

13 And Yochanan said to them, Collect nothing more than the amount having been commanded you.

14 And chaiyalim (soldiers) as well were asking him, What should we do also? And Yochanan said to them, Extort kesef from no one, and let there be no lashon hora, and be satisfied with your loin (wages).

15 As the Am [Berit] were filled with expectation, and all were wondering in their levavot (hearts) concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he might be the Moshiach,

16 Yochanan answered everyone, saying, I give you a tevilah with a mikveh mayim, but Hu HaBah (He Who Comes, i.e., Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach) has more chozek (strength) than me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will give you a tevilah with the Ruach Hakodesh and with Eish.

17 The winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the MOTZ (chaff) he will burn up with an EISH LO TIKHBEH (fire not [ever] extinguished.

18 Therefore, with many other dvarim Yochanan was exhorting them, preaching the Besuras HaGeulah to the Am [Berit].

19 Now Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by Yochanan about Herodias, the wife of his brother, and about all reshaim (evil) which he did,

20 Herod added this above all: he locked up Yochanan in the beit hasohar (prison).

21 And it came about while all the Am [Berit] were receiving the tevilah, and when Yehoshua also had been given the tevilah and was davening, Shomayim was opened,

22 And the Ruach Hakodesh descended in demut gashmit as a yonah upon Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach; and then came a bat kol out of Shomayim, saying, ATAH BNI AHUVI ASHER BCHA CHAFATSTI

23 And Yehoshua himself was about shaloshim shanah, at the beginning of his avodas kodesh ministry, being the ben (as it was being thought of Yosef) ben Eli,

24 Ben Mattat, ben Levi, ben Malki, ben Yannai, ben Yosef,

25 Ben Mattityahu, ben Amotz, ben Nachum, ben Chesli, ben Naggai,

26 Ben Machat, ben Mattityahu, ben Shimi, ben Yosef, ben Yodah,

27 ben Yochanan, ben Reisha, ben Zerubavel, ben Shealtiel, ben Neri,

28 Ben Malki, ben Addi, ben Kosam, ben Elmadan, ben Er

29 Ben Yehoshua, ben Eliezer, ben Yorim, ben Mattat, ben Levi,

30 Ben Shimon, ben Yehudah, ben Yosef, ben Yonam, ben Elyakim,

31 Ben Malah, ben Manah, ben Mattatah, ben Natan, ben Dovid,

32 Ben Yishai, ben Oved, ben Boaz, ben Salmon, ben Nachshon,

33 ben Amminadav, ben Admin, ben Arni, ben Chetzron, ben Peretz, ben Yehudah,

34 Ben Yaakov, ben Yitzchak, ben Avraham, ben Terach, ben Nachor,

35 ben Serug, ben Reu, ben Peleg, ben Ever, ben Shelah,

36 Ben Keinan, ben Arpachshad, ben Shem, ben Noach, ben Lemekh,

37 Ben Metushelach, ben Chanoch, ben Yered, ben Mahalalel, ben Keinan,

38 Ben Enosh, ben Shet, ben Adam, ben HaElohim.

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.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, 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,

Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

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;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of 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 wages.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

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 Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,

25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,

26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,

27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, 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 Elmodam, 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 Juda, 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 Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, 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 Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,

34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,

35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,

36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,

38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.