Luke 3

 

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, (the four territories were divided as follows) Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abilene,

 

2 Annas and Caiaphas were 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 (as the sign) of repentance (that your hearts were turned back to the Lord) for the remission (the sending away) of sins;

 

4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare (your heart for) the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.

 

5 Every valley (of the meek) shall be filled (with His glory and exalted), and every mountain and hill (that exalts itself) 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 (in glorified flesh).

 

7 Then he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers (a generation of offspring that has continued since the entry of the serpent's death and will remain until its removal on the last day of death in the earth, of those who are trusting on the wisdom of the serpent, the poison of asps), who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come (against the way which brings death)?

 

8 (If you have truly repented) bring forth therefore the fruits fitting (of the due reward) of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves (with pride and confidence in your flesh), We have Abraham as our father: for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham (not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit).

 

9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees (which root is death): therefore every tree that (springs from that root and) does not bring forth good fruit (which can only come from abiding in Christ, the true vine, the tree of life) is cut down and cast into the fire (with death and the grave).

 

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

 

11 He answered and said to them, He that has two coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise (freely you have received, freely give).

 

12 Then came also the tax collectors to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?

 

13 And he said to them, Collect no more than that which is instructed you.

 

14 And those in the (police) service likewise demanded of him, saying, And what must we do? And he said to them, Do no violence to any man (as to extort money), neither accuse any falsely (to deceive), but be content with your wages.

 

15 And as the people were in anticipation, and all men wondered in their hearts of John, whether he was the Christ, or not;

 

16 John answered, saying to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes (after me), the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose (but instead I need Him to serve me): He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire (that purifies like gold with His divinity):

 

17 Whose winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor (of death’s impurities), and will gather the wheat into his barn (His body); but the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire (from without).

 

18 And many other things in his exhortation did he preach to the people.

 

19 But Herod the tetrarch, (after) being reproved by John for (having) 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 was also baptized (into our death), and praying (to the Father), the heavens were opened (fulfilling the words of the prophet Malachi, that when the tithe, the provision of God, Christ, would be brought into the storehouse, that He would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive),

 

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, in the manner of a dove, on Him, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.

 

23 And Jesus Himself (the Lord from heaven, the second Adam) 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 first Adam) the son of God (made from the dust of the earth).