John Preaches to the People(A)

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, (B)“Brood[a] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits (C)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 (D)every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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

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

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

13 And he said to them, (I)“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 [b]intimidate anyone (J)or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:7 Offspring
  2. Luke 3:14 Lit. shake down for money

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

10 “What should we do then?”(E) 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.”(F)

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

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

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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.

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