during (A)the high priesthood of Annas and (B)Caiaphas, (C)the word of God came to (D)John the son of Zechariah in (E)the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming (F)a baptism of repentance (G)for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in (H)the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

(I)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(J)‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[a]
    make his paths straight.
(K)Every valley shall be filled,
    (L)and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
(M)and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
(N)and all flesh shall see (O)the salvation of God.’”

He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, (P)“You brood of (Q)vipers! Who warned you to flee from (R)the wrath to come? Bear fruits (S)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, (T)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from (U)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. (V)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, (W)“What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, (X)“Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 (Y)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, (Z)what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, (AA)“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, (AB)what shall we do?” And he said to them, (AC)“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your (AD)wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, (AE)whether he might be (AF)the Christ, 16 (AG)John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but (AH)he who is mightier than I is coming, (AI)the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you (AJ)with the Holy Spirit and (AK)fire. 17 His (AL)winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to (AM)gather the wheat into his barn, (AN)but the chaff he will burn with (AO)unquenchable fire.”

18 So (AP)with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord
  2. Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,(A) the word of God came to John(B) son of Zechariah(C) in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(D) 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](E)

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

10 “What should we do then?”(J) 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.”(K)

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

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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