 1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. Then the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And John went+ into all the country around+ Jordan proclaiming+ the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah who said: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight. Matthew 3:3 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth. 6 All flesh will see the salvation of God. 7 Then he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him: O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance and do not begin to say within 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. 9 Now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is to be cut+ down and cast into the fire. 10 Then the people asked him saying: What shall we do then? 11 He answered saying to them: If anyone has two coats, let them give+ to one who has none. And those who have food+, let them do likewise. 12 Then worldly+ people also came to be baptized and said to him: Master, what shall we do? 13 He said to them: Exact no more than what is appointed to you. 14 The soldiers also+ asked+ him saying: And what shall we do? He said to them: Do violence to no one. Do not accuse anyone falsely. And be content with your wages. 15 Since+ all the people were in expectation, everyone+ reasoned+ in their hearts about+ John, wondering whether he might+ be the Christ or not. 16 John answered saying to them all: I indeed baptize you with water, but one is coming who is mightier than I, the straps+ of whose sandals+ I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His barn+, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. 18 And John proclaimed+ many other things in his exhortation to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, having been reproved by John because+ of Herodias his brother Philip's wife whom Herod stole and married and for all the evils 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 Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily shape like a dove and a voice came from heaven saying: You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased. 23 Then Jesus Himself began His ministry when He was about thirty years of age. It was supposed that He was the son of Joseph who was the descendant of Heli 24 of Matthat of Levi of Melchi of Janna of Joseph 25 of Mattathiah of Amos of Nahum of Esli of Naggai 26 of Maath of Mattathiah of Semei of Joseph of Judah 27 of Johanan of Rhesa of Zerubbabel of Shealtiel of Neri 28 of Melchi of Addi of Cosam of Elmodam of Er 29 of Jose of Eliezer of Jorim of Matthat of Levi 30 of Simeon of Judah of Joseph of Jonan of Eliakim 31 of Melea of Menan of Mattatha of Nathan of David 32 of Jesse of Obed of Boaz of Salmon of Nahshon 33 of Amminadab of Ram of Hezron of Perez of Judah Genesis 49:10 34 of Jacob of Isaac of Abraham of Terah of Nahor Genesis 17:19 35 of Saruch of Ragau of Phalec of Heber of Sala 36 of Cainan of Arphaxad of Sem of Noah of Lamech 37 of Methuselah of Enoch of Jared of Mahalaleel of Cainan 38 of Enos of Seth of Adam of God.
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