NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being
tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the
region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and
Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of
Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he
came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance
for the remission of sins;
4 As it is
written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.
5 Every
valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and
the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made
smooth;
6 And all
flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 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?
8 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.
9 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.
15 And as
the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John,
whether he were the Christ, or not;
16 John
answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but
one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to
unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
17 Whose fan is
in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat
into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
18 And many
other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
19 But Herod
the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife,
and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 Added yet
this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when
all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being
baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the
Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came
from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being
(as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
24 Which was the
son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son
of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of
Joseph,
25 Which was the
son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son
of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
26 Which was the
son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the
son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son
of Juda,
27 Which was the
son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son
of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son
of Neri,
28 Which was the
son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son
of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of
Er,
29 Which was the
son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son
of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of
Levi,
30 Which
was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the
son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son
of Eliakim,
31 Which was the
son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son
of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of
David,
32 Which was the
son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son
of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of
Naasson,
33 Which was the
son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son
of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of
Juda,
34 Which was the
son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son
of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of
Nachor,
35 Which was the
son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son
of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of
Sala,
36 Which was the
son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son
of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
37 Which was the
son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son
of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of
Cainan,
38 Which was the
son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son
of Adam, which was the son of God.