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Luke 3

3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In the fifteenth year that Tiberius Caesar ruled—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was the ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis, Lysanias was ruler of Abilene— 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3He went into all the countryside around the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins so that God would forgive them. 4John was, as it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet,
“A messenger calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill will be made level,
the crooked roads will become straight,
the rough ways will become smooth,
6and all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”
7John said to the crowds who were coming to him to be baptized, “You’re like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape from God’s coming anger? 8Live in a way that shows you’ve turned away from your sins, and don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones. 9The ax is already poised at the root of the trees, and all the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10“Then what should we do?” asked the crowd.
11John answered, “Anyone who has extra clothes should share them with those who have none, and anyone who has extra food should do the same.”
12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13“Don’t collect any more than you’re supposed to,” John told them.
14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
John replied, “Don’t force people to give you money, don’t bring false charges against anybody, and be content with your pay.”
15The people all believed that something great was about to happen. They were wondering in their hearts whether John was the Messiah. 16But John said to everyone, “I’m baptizing you with water, but someone is coming who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17He has already picked up his pitchfork so he can toss the straw away from his threshing floor. He’s going to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.” 18John said many other things to warn the people and to announce the good news to them.
19But John criticized Herod, the ruler of Galilee, because he had married Herodias, who had been his own brother’s wife. John also spoke strongly to Herod about many other wrong things that he’d done. 20But Herod added another sin to all the others by locking John up in prison.
The Baptism and Family Line of Jesus
21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. Right afterwards, as he was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit came to rest on him in the form of a dove. A voice spoke from heaven and said, “You are my beloved Son. I’m very pleased with you.”
23Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was considered to be the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
24Heli 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.
25Joseph 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.
26Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josek.
Josek was the son of Joda.
27Joda 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.
28Neri 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.
29Er 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.
30Levi 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.
31Eliakim 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.
32David 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.
33Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Ram.
Ram was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
34Judah 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.
35Nahor 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.
36Shelah 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.
37Lamech 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.
38Kenan was the son of Enosh.
Enosh was the son of Seth.
Seth was the son of Adam.
Adam was the son of God.

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