施洗者约翰的传道

凯撒提庇留执政第十五年,本丢·彼拉多任犹太总督,希律做加利利的分封王,他的弟弟腓力做以土利亚和特拉可尼两地的分封王,吕撒聂做亚比利尼的分封王, 亚那和该亚法当大祭司。当时,撒迦利亚的儿子约翰住在旷野,上帝向他说话。 他就到约旦河附近宣讲悔改的洗礼,使人的罪得到赦免。 这正应验了以赛亚先知书上的话:“在旷野有人大声呼喊,

“‘预备主的道,
修直祂的路。
一切山谷将被填满,
大山小丘将被削平,
弯曲的道路要被修直,
崎岖的路径要被铺平。
世人都要看见上帝的救恩。’”

约翰对前来接受他洗礼的人群说:“你们这些毒蛇的后代!谁指示你们逃避那将临的烈怒呢? 你们要结出与悔改相称的果子。不要心里说,‘我们是亚伯拉罕的子孙。’我告诉你们,上帝可以从这些石头中兴起亚伯拉罕的子孙。 现在斧头已经放在树根上了,不结好果子的树都要被砍下丢在火里。”

10 众人问道:“那么,我们该怎么办呢?”

11 约翰回答说:“有两件衣服的,应当分一件给没有的;食物充裕的,应当分些给饥饿的。”

12 有些税吏也来受洗,并问约翰:“老师,我们该怎么办呢?”

13 约翰说:“除了规定的税以外,一分钱也不可多收。”

14 有些军人问:“我们该怎么办呢?”约翰说:“不可敲诈勒索,自己有粮饷就当知足。”

15 当时的百姓正期待着基督的来临,大家心里都在猜想,也许约翰就是基督。 16 约翰对众人说:“我是用水给你们施洗,但有一位能力比我更大的快来了,我就是给祂解鞋带也不配。祂要用圣灵和火给你们施洗。 17 祂手里拿着簸箕,要清理祂的麦场,把麦子收进仓库,用不灭的火烧尽糠秕。” 18 约翰向众人传福音,讲了许多劝勉的话。

19 分封王希律娶了自己弟弟的妻子希罗底,又做了许多恶事,因而受到约翰的指责, 20 可是他却恶上加恶,将约翰关进监牢里。

耶稣受洗

21 众人都受了洗,耶稣也接受了洗礼。祂正在祷告的时候,天开了, 22 圣灵像鸽子一样降在祂身上,又有声音从天上传来:“你是我的爱子,我甚喜悦你。”

耶稣的家谱

23 耶稣开始传道的时候,年纪约三十岁,照人的看法,

祂是约瑟的儿子,

约瑟是希里的儿子,

24 希里是玛塔的儿子,

玛塔是利未的儿子,

利未是麦基的儿子,

麦基是雅拿的儿子,

雅拿是约瑟的儿子,

25 约瑟是玛他提亚的儿子,

玛他提亚是亚摩斯的儿子,

亚摩斯是拿鸿的儿子,

拿鸿是以斯利的儿子,

以斯利是拿该的儿子,

26 拿该是玛押的儿子,

玛押是玛他提亚的儿子,

玛他提亚是西美的儿子,

西美是约瑟的儿子,

约瑟是犹大的儿子,

犹大是约亚拿的儿子,

27 约亚拿是利撒的儿子,

利撒是所罗巴伯的儿子,

所罗巴伯是撒拉铁的儿子,

撒拉铁是尼利的儿子,

尼利是麦基的儿子,

28 麦基是亚底的儿子,

亚底是哥桑的儿子,

哥桑是以摩当的儿子,

以摩当是珥的儿子,

珥是约细的儿子,

29 约细是以利以谢的儿子,

以利以谢是约令的儿子,

约令是玛塔的儿子,

玛塔是利未的儿子,

30 利未是西缅的儿子,

西缅是犹大的儿子,

犹大是约瑟的儿子,

约瑟是约南的儿子,

约南是以利亚敬的儿子,

31 以利亚敬是米利亚的儿子,

米利亚是迈南的儿子,

迈南是玛达他的儿子,

玛达他是拿单的儿子,

拿单是大卫的儿子,

32 大卫是耶西的儿子,

耶西是俄备得的儿子,

俄备得是波阿斯的儿子,

波阿斯是撒门的儿子,

撒门是拿顺的儿子,

33 拿顺是亚米拿达的儿子,

亚米拿达是兰的儿子,

兰是希斯仑的儿子,

希斯仑是法勒斯的儿子,

法勒斯是犹大的儿子,

34 犹大是雅各的儿子,

雅各是以撒的儿子,

以撒是亚伯拉罕的儿子,

亚伯拉罕是他拉的儿子,

他拉是拿鹤的儿子,

35 拿鹤是西鹿的儿子,

西鹿是拉吴的儿子,

拉吴是法勒的儿子,

法勒是希伯的儿子,

希伯是沙拉的儿子,

36 沙拉是该南的儿子,

该南是亚法撒的儿子,

亚法撒是闪的儿子,

闪是挪亚的儿子,

挪亚是拉麦的儿子,

37 拉麦是玛土撒拉的儿子,

玛土撒拉是以诺的儿子,

以诺是雅列的儿子,

雅列是玛勒列的儿子,

玛勒列是该南的儿子,

该南是以挪士的儿子,

38 以挪士是塞特的儿子,

塞特是亚当的儿子,

亚当是上帝的儿子。

The Preaching of John(A)

It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar [C the Roman emperor, ad 14–37]. ·These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, [L …when Pontius Pilate was] the ·ruler [or governor; C his official title was “prefect”; Pilate governed from ad 26–36] of Judea; Herod [C Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great], the ·ruler [L tetrarch; C the title meant “ruler of a fourth,” but came to be used of any minor ruler] of Galilee; Philip [C another son of Herod the Great], the ·ruler [L tetrarch] of Iturea and Traconitis; and Lysanias, the ·ruler [L tetrarch] of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests [C Annas was the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, the official high priest]. At this time, ·the word of [a message from] God came to John son of Zechariah in the ·desert [wilderness]. He went all over the ·area [country; region] around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of ·changed hearts and lives [repentance] for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the ·book of [L book of the words/oracles of] Isaiah the prophet:

“This is a voice of one
    who ·calls out [shouts; cries out] in the ·desert [wilderness]:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make ·the road straight [a clear path] for him.
Every ·valley [ravine; wadi] should be filled in,
    and every mountain and hill should be made ·flat [level; low].
·Roads with turns [L Curved/T Crooked places] should be made straight,
    and rough ·roads [paths; ways] should be made smooth.
And all ·people [humanity; T flesh] will ·know about [L see] the salvation of God [Is. 40:3–5]!’”

[L So; Therefore] To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, “You ·are all snakes [T brood/offspring of vipers]! Who warned you to ·run [slither; L flee] away from God’s coming ·punishment [wrath; retribution]? ·Do the things [L Produce the fruit] ·that show you really have changed your hearts and lives [that prove your repentance; L of repentance]. Don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father [C a claim to be God’s special people, since their ancestor Abraham was chosen and blessed by God; Gen. 12:1–3].’ [L For] I tell you that God could ·make [L raise up] children for Abraham from these rocks. The ax ·is now ready to cut down [L already lies at the root of] the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire [C a metaphor for judgment against those who disobey God].”

10 The ·people [crowd] asked John, “Then what should we do?”

11 John answered, “If you have two ·shirts [tunics], share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also [Is. 58:7].”

12 Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized [C tax collectors were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion]. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 John said to them, “Don’t take more taxes from people than ·you have been ordered to take [is prescribed/authorized].”

14 The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”

John said to them, “Don’t ·force people to give you [extort] money, and don’t ·lie about them [make false accusations]. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”

15 Since the people were ·hoping [waiting expectantly] for the ·Christ [Messiah] to come, they [L all] wondered if John might be the ·one [L Christ; Messiah].

16 John answered everyone, “I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is ·greater [more powerful; mightier] than I am. I am not ·good enough [fit; qualified] to untie [L the thong/strap of] his sandals [C a task of a servant or slave]. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 ·He will come ready [L The winnowing fork is in his hand] to ·clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff [L clear his threshing floor]. He will put ·the good part of the grain [L the grain/wheat] into his ·barn [storehouse], but he will burn the chaff with ·a fire that cannot be put out [never-ending/unquenchable fire; C a metaphor for judgment, when Jesus will separate the righteous from the wicked].” 18 And John continued to preach the ·Good News [Gospel], saying many other things to ·encourage [exhort] the people.

19 But John ·spoke against [criticized; rebuked] Herod [C Antipas], the ·governor [L tetrarch; 3:1], ·because of his sin with [L concerning] Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother [C Herod had divorced his wife and illicitly married the wife of his brother Philip; Lev. 18:16], and because of the many other evil things Herod did. 20 So Herod ·did something even worse [L added this to all his sins]: He ·put [locked; shut up] John in prison.

Jesus Is Baptized by John(B)

21 When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. [L And] While Jesus was praying, heaven opened 22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in ·the form of [L bodily appearance like] a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Gen. 22:2; Ps. 2:7], ·and I am very pleased with you [in whom I take great delight [Is. 42:1].”

The Family History of Jesus(C)

23 When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph’s son [C they were unaware of the virginal conception].

Joseph was the son of Heli [C “son” in Hebrew can mean “descendant,” so there may be gaps in the genealogy].
24 Heli was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Jannai.
Jannai was the son of Joseph.
25 Joseph was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Nahum.
Nahum was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Naggai.
26 Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josech.
Josech was the son of Joda.
27 Joda was the son of Joanan.
Joanan was the son of Rhesa.
Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the son of Neri.
28 Neri was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Addi.
Addi was the son of Cosam.
Cosam was the son of Elmadam.
Elmadam was the son of Er.
29 Er was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Eliezer.
Eliezer was the son of Jorim.
Jorim was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
30 Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
31 Eliakim was the son of Melea.
Melea was the son of Menna.
Menna was the son of Mattatha.
Mattatha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
32 David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.[a]
Salmon was the son of Nahshon.
33 Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Admin.
Admin was the son of Arni.[b]
Arni was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
34 Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Terah.
Terah was the son of Nahor.
35 Nahor was the son of Serug.
Serug was the son of Reu.
Reu was the son of Peleg.
Peleg was the son of Eber.
Eber was the son of Shelah.
36 Shelah was the son of Cainan.
Cainan was the son of Arphaxad.
Arphaxad was the son of Shem.
Shem was the son of Noah.
Noah was the son of Lamech.
37 Lamech was the son of Methuselah.
Methuselah was the son of Enoch.
Enoch was the son of Jared.
Jared was the son of Mahalalel.
Mahalalel was the son of Kenan.
38 Kenan was the son of Enosh.
Enosh was the son of Seth.
Seth was the son of Adam.
Adam was the son of God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:32 Salmon Some Greek copies read “Sala.”
  2. Luke 3:33 Admin…Arni Some Greek copies omit Admin and Arni from the genealogy; others include the names Ram (or Aram) and/or Joram.

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.

The Messiah’s Herald

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,(A) Herod was tetrarch[a] of Galilee,(B) his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas(C) and Caiaphas,(D) God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.(E) He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan,(F) proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,(G) as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be made low;[b]
the crooked will become straight,
the rough ways smooth,
and everyone will see the salvation of God.[c](H)

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptised by him, ‘Brood of vipers!(I) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(J) Therefore produce fruit(K) consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,”(L) for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The axe is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’(M)

10 ‘What then should we do? ’(N) the crowds were asking him.

11 He replied to them, ‘The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.’(O)

12 Tax collectors(P) also came to be baptised, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do? ’(Q)

13 He told them, ‘Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorised.’

14 Some soldiers also questioned him, ‘What should we do? ’

He said to them, ‘Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’

15 Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.(R) 16 John answered them all,(S) ‘I baptise you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptise you with[d] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing shovel(T) is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and gather the wheat into his barn,(U) but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.’(V) 18 Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch(W) because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things he had done,(X) 20 Herod added this to everything else – he locked up John in prison.(Y)

The Baptism of Jesus

21 When all the people were baptised,(Z) Jesus also was baptised. As he was praying,(AA) heaven opened,(AB) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.’(AC)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the

son of Joseph,(AD) son of Heli,

24 son of Matthat, son of Levi,

son of Melchi, son of Jannai,

son of Joseph, 25 son of Mattathias,

son of Amos, son of Nahum,

son of Esli, son of Naggai,

26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias,

son of Semein, son of Josech,

son of Joda, 27 son of Joanan,

son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel,(AE)

son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

28 son of Melchi, son of Addi,

son of Cosam, son of Elmadam,

son of Er, 29 son of Joshua,

son of Eliezer, son of Jorim,

son of Matthat, son of Levi,

30 son of Simeon, son of Judah,

son of Joseph, son of Jonam,

son of Eliakim, 31 son of Melea,

son of Menna, son of Mattatha,

son of Nathan, son of David,

32 son of Jesse,(AF) son of Obed,(AG)

son of Boaz, son of Salmon,[e]

son of Nahshon, 33 son of Amminadab,

son of Ram,[f] son of Hezron,

son of Perez,(AH) son of Judah,

34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac,

son of Abraham,(AI) son of Terah,

son of Nahor, 35 son of Serug,

son of Reu, son of Peleg,(AJ)

son of Eber, son of Shelah,

36 son of Cainan,[g] son of Arphaxad,

son of Shem, son of Noah,(AK)

son of Lamech, 37 son of Methuselah,

son of Enoch,(AL) son of Jared,

son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan,

38 son of Enos, son of Seth,

son of Adam, son of God.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Or ruler
  2. 3:5 Lit be humbled
  3. 3:4–6 Is 40:3–5
  4. 3:16 Or in
  5. 3:32 Other mss read Sala
  6. 3:33 Other mss read Amminadab, son of Aram, son of Joram; other mss read Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni
  7. 3:36 Some mss omit son of Cainan