Luke 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3It 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.G1161G1722G4003G2094G2231G5086G2541G4194G4091G2230G2449G2532G2264G5075G1056G1161G846G80G5376G5075G2484G2532G5561G5139G2532G3078G5075G92Annas 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.G452G2532G2533G1909G749G4487G2316G1096G1909G2491G5207G2197G1722G20483Then 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.G2532G2064G1519G3956G4066G2446G2784G908G3341G1519G859G2664Isaiah 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!G5613G1125G1722G976G3056G2268G4396G3004G5456G994G1722G2048G2090G3598G2962G4160G846G5147G21175The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.G3956G5327G2071G4137G2532G3956G3735G2532G1015G5013G2532G4646G1519G2117G2532G5138G3598G1519G30066And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'"

G2532G3956G4561G3700G4992G23167When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God's coming wrath?G3767G3004G3793G1607G907G5259G846G1081G2191G5101G5263G5213G5343G575G3709G31958Prove 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.G4160G3767G2590G514G3341G2532G756G3361G3004G1722G1438G2192G11G3962G1063G3004G5213G3754G2316G1410G1537G5130G3037G1453G5043G119Even 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."G1161G2235G2532G513G2749G4314G4491G1186G3956G1186G3767G4160G3361G4160G2570G2590G1581G2532G906G1519G444210The crowds asked, "What should we do?"G2532G3793G1905G846G3004G5101G4160G376711John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."G611G1161G3004G846G2192G1417G5509G3330G2192G3361G2532G2192G1033G4160G366812Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"G1161G2064G2532G5057G907G2532G2036G4314G846G1320G5101G416013He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires."G1161G2036G4314G846G4238G3367G4119G3844G1299G521314"What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay."G1161G4754G2532G1905G846G3004G2532G5101G2249G4160G2532G2036G4314G846G1286G3367G3366G4811G2532G714G5216G380015Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.G1161G2992G4328G2532G3956G1260G1722G846G2588G4012G2491G3379G846G1498G5547G337916John 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.G2491G611G3004G537G1473G3303G907G5209G5204G1161G2478G3450G2064G2438G3739G846G5266G1510G3756G2425G3089G846G907G5209G1722G40G4151G2532G444217He 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."G3739G4425G1722G846G5495G2532G1245G846G257G2532G4863G4621G1519G846G596G1161G892G2618G4442G76218John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.G2532G3767G4183G2087G4183G3303G3870G2097G299219John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee

, for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife, and for many other wrongs he had done.G1161G2264G5076G1651G5259G846G4012G2266G846G80G5376G1135G2532G4012G3956G4190G3739G2264G416020So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.G4369G2532G5124G1909G3956G2532G2623G2491G1722G5438

The Baptism of Jesus

21One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,G1161G537G2992G1722G907G1096G2424G2532G907G2532G4336G3772G45522and 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

."G2532G40G4151G2597G4984G1491G5616G4058G1909G846G2532G5456G1096G1537G3772G3004G4771G1488G3450G27G5207G1722G4671G2106

The Ancestors of Jesus

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.G2532G2424G846G756G2258G5616G5144G2094G5607G5613G3543G5207G2501G224224Heli 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.G3158G3017G3197G2388G250125Joseph 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.G3161G301G3486G2069G347726Naggai 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.G3092G3161G4584G2501G245527Joda 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.G2490G4488G2216G4528G351828Neri 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.G3197G78G2973G1678G226229Er 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.G2499G1663G2497G3158G301730Levi 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.G4826G2455G2501G2494G166231Eliakim 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.G3190G3104G3160G3481G113832David 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.G2421G5601G1003G4533G347633Nahshon 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.G284G689G2074G5329G245534Judah 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.G2384G2464G11G2291G349335Nahor 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.G4562G4466G5317G1443G452736Shelah 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.G2536G742G4590G3575G298437Lamech 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.G3103G1802G2391G3121G253638Kenan was the son of Enosh

. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.G1800G4589G76G2316