Luke 3

1 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governing Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, [a] 2 in the time of the chief priest Annas and of Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. [b] 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of a change of mind for the forgiveness of sins, [c] 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

7 So he said to the crowds coming out to be immersed by him, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath that is coming? 8 So produce fruits worthy of a change of mind, and do not begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able out of these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 And already the axe is laid at the root of the trees; so every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” 11 And he answered and said to them, “The one who has two tunics is to share with the one who has none, and the one who has food is to do the same.” [e]

12 Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what has been appointed to you.” 14 And soldiers were asking him too, saying, “And what should we do?” And he said to them, “Do not shake anyone down, and do not bring a false charge against anyone; and be content with your pay.” [f]

15 Now while the people were waiting, and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Christ, † 16 John answered them all, saying, “I immerse you with water; but the one stronger than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not fit to untie. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other urgings as well he brought the people good news. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, corrected by him about Herodias his brother’s wife and about all the evil things Herod had done, [g] 20 added this on top of them all: he shut John up in prison.

21 Now it happened, when all the people had been immersed, and Jesus too had been immersed and was praying, that heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my Son, the beloved; in you I have taken delight.” [h]

23 And Jesus himself, when he began, was about thirty years old, being the son — as was supposed — of Joseph, son of Heli, [i] 24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, 25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, 26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, 27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, 29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, [j] 30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, 31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,

32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, [k] 33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, [l] 34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,

35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, 36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, [m] 37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Kenan, [n] 38 son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. [o] †