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

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

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

4 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 .

5 Every valley shall be filled in , and every mountain and hill made low . The crooked ways shall be made straight , and the rough ways smooth .

6 And all humanity will see God’s salvation .’”

7 Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him , “ You brood of vipers , who warned you to flee from the coming wrath ?

8 Produce fruit , then , in keeping with repentance . And do not begin to say to yourselves , ‘ We have Abraham as our father .’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham .

9 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees , and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire .”

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

11 John replied , “ Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none , and whoever has food should do the same .”

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

13 “ Collect no more than you are authorized ,” he answered .

14 Then some soldiers asked him , “ And what should we do ?” “ Do not take money by force or false accusation ,” he said . “ Be content with your wages .”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ .

16 John answered all of them : “ I baptize you with water , but One more powerful than I will come , the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire .

17 His winnowing fork 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 .”

18 With these and many other exhortations , John proclaimed the good news to the people .

19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done ,

20 Herod added this to them all : He locked John up in prison .

 21When all the people were being baptized , Jesus was baptized too . And as He was praying , heaven was opened ,

22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove . And a voice came from heaven : “ You are My beloved Son ; in You I am well pleased .”

 23Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry . He was regarded as the son of Joseph , the son of Heli ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32 the son of Jesse , the son of Obed , the son of Boaz , the son of Sala , the son of Nahshon ,

33 the son of Amminadab , the son of Admin , the son of Arni , the son of Hezron , the son of Perez , the son of Judah ,

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

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

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

37 the son of Methuselah , the son of Enoch , the son of Jared , the son of Mahalalel , the son of Cainan ,

38 the son of Enosh , the son of Seth , the son of Adam , the son of God .