Luke 3 — FBV

3Verse 1By now Tiberias had been Caesar for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod was ruler⁺of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanius was ruler of Abiline.^{Verse 2}Annas and Caiphas were the current high priests. This was the time when the word of God came to John, Zechariah's son, who was living in the desert.^{Verse 3}He went throughout the whole Jordan region, announcing to everyone that they needed to be baptized to show they had repented and their sins had been forgiven.^{Verse 4}As Isaiah the prophet wrote: “A voice was heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.^{Verse 5}Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. Crooked ways will be straightened, and rough roads will be smoothed.^{Verse 6}Every human being will see God's salvation.’”^{+Verse 7}John addressed the crowds that came to him to be baptized. “You viper's brood! Who warned you to flee from the coming judgment?” he asked.^{Verse 8}“Demonstrate that you have truly repented.⁺Don't try to justify yourselves by saying, ‘We're Abraham's descendants.’ Let me tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these stones.^{Verse 9}The ax is set to begin chopping at the base of the trees. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”^{Verse 10}“So what should we do?” the crowds asked him.^{Verse 11}“If you have two coats, then share with someone who doesn't have one. If you have food, then share with those who don't,” he told them.^{Verse 12}Some tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher, what should we do?” they also asked.^{Verse 13}“Don't collect any more tax than you're meant to,” he replied.^{Verse 14}“What about us?” some soldiers asked. “What should we do?” “Don't demand money with threats of violence. Don't make accusations that are untrue. Be satisfied with your wages,” he replied.^{Verse 15}The people were waiting expectantly, and wondered whether John himself might be the Messiah.^{Verse 16}John replied and explained to everybody: “Yes, I am baptizing you in water. But the one who is coming is more important than me, and I'm not worthy to undo his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.^{Verse 17}His winnowing fork is in his hand and he's ready to separate the wheat from the chaff on his threshing floor. He'll gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with fire that can't be extinguished.”^{Verse 18}John gave many warnings like this as he announced the good news to the people.^{Verse 19}But when John reprimanded Herod the ruler for marrying Herodias, Herod's brother's wife, and for all the evil things he'd done,^{Verse 20}Herod added to his crimes by having John thrown into jail.^{Verse 21}Now it happened that after everyone had been baptized, Jesus was baptized as well. As he was praying, heaven was opened,^{Verse 22}and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, taking the form of a dove. A voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my son, the one I love. I am truly pleased with you.”^{Verse 23}Jesus was around thirty when he began his public ministry. People presumed he was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli,^{Verse 24}the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,^{Verse 25}the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,^{Verse 26}the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,^{Verse 27}the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,^{Verse 28}the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,^{Verse 29}the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,^{Verse 30}the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,^{Verse 31}the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,^{Verse 32}the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,^{Verse 33}the son of Amminadab, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,^{Verse 34}the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,^{Verse 35}the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,^{Verse 36}the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,^{Verse 37}the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,^{Verse 38}the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.