Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

1It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene.

2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

2Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

3He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

3Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

4as 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!

4Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!

5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

5The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.

6and everyone will see the salvation of God.

6And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”

7He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

7When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?

8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

9Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.""

9Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

10What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him.

10The crowds asked, “What should we do?”

11He 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."

11John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

12Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized."

13He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

14Some soldiers also questioned him: "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages."

14“What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

15Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah.

15Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

16John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

17His winnowing shovel is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with a fire that never goes out."

17He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

18Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people.

18John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

19But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done,

19John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done.

20added this to everything else--he locked John up in prison.

20So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others. The Baptism of Jesus

21When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened,

21One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,

22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You!

22and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy. ” The Ancestors of Jesus

23As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,

23Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli.

24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,

24Heli 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.

25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,

25Joseph 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.

26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,

26Naggai 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.

27son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

27Joda 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.

28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,

28Neri 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.

29son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,

29Er 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.

30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,

30Levi 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.

31son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,

31Eliakim 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.

32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,

32David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

33son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,

33Nahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Admin. Admin was the son of Arni. Arni was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.

34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,

34Judah 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.

35son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,

35Nahor 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.

36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,

36Shelah 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.

37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,

37Lamech 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.

38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

38Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.