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He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.(A)
Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
    and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”(B)

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(C) Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.(D) Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(E)

10 And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?”(F) 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”(G) 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”(H) 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”(I) 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”(J)

15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a](K) 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.(L) 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(M)

18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,(N) 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

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Footnotes

  1. 3.15 Or the Christ
  2. 3.16 Or in

He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(A) 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](B)

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!(C) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(D) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(E) 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.”(F)

10 “What should we do then?”(G) 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.”(H)

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

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”(J) 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(K)—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(L) might possibly be the Messiah.(M) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water.(N) 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.(O) 17 His winnowing fork(P) 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.”(Q) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod(R) 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.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5
  2. Luke 3:16 Or in
  3. Luke 3:16 Or in