The Mission of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:1–12;Mark 1:1–8;John 1:19–28)
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis,2and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of God came unto John the Son of Zacharias in the wilderness:3and he went into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance in order to the remission of sins;
4as it is written in the book of Esaias the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepareye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:
5every valley shall be raised, and every mountain and hill shall be lowered, and the crookedways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth:
6and all men shall see the salvation of God."
7Therefore said he to the multitudes that came to be baptised by him,O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8Bring forth therefore fruits becoming penitents, and do not say within yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father," for I tell you that God can of these stones raise up children to Abraham.9And now the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which doth not yield good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.
10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?11And he saith unto them, Let him that hath two coats, giveone to him that hath none, and let him that hath food do the like.12And there came publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?13And He said unto them, Exact no more thanwhat is appointed you.14And the soldiers also asked him, saying, And what shall we do? and He said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuseany falsely, and be content with your pay.
15Now as the people were in suspense, and were all thinking in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christor not,16John answered and said tothem all, I indeed baptize you with water; but a mightier than I is coming, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie: He will baptize you with the holy Spirit, and with fire;17whose fan is in his hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather the wheat into his granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire.
18And many otherthings by way of exhortation did he preach unto the people.19But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the wickedthings which Herod did,20added this likewise to allthe rest, that he shut up John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13–17;Mark 1:9–11;John 1:29–34)
21Now, when all the people were baptized, and Jesus was baptized and praying,22the heaven was opened, and the holy Spirit descended in a corporeal form, like a dove upon Him, and there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.
The Genealogy of Jesus
(Matthew 1:1–17)
23And Jesus wasthen about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed)the son of Joseph, theson of Heli,24theson of Matthat, theson of Levi, theson of Melchi,25theson of Janna, theson of Joseph, theson of Mattathias, theson of Amos, theson of Naum, theson of Esli,26theson of Naggai, theson of Maath, theson of Mattathias, theson of Semei, theson of Joseph, theson of Juda,27theson of Joanna, theson of Rhesa, theson of Zorobabel, theson of Salathiel, theson of Neri, theson of Melchi,28theson of Addi, theson of Kosam, theson of Elmodam,29theson of Er, theson of Joses, theson of Eliezer, theson of Jorim, theson of Matthat, theson of Levi,30theson of Simeon, theson of Juda, theson of Joseph, theson of Jonan, theson of Eliakim,31theson of Melea, theson of Menan, theson of Mattatha,32theson of Nathan, theson of David, theson of Jesse, theson of Obed, theson of Booz, theson of Salmon,33theson of Naasson, theson of Aminadab, theson of Aram, theson of Esrom, theson of Phares,34theson of Juda, theson of Jacob, theson of Isaac, theson of Abraham, theson of Thara, theson of Nachor,35theson of Saruch, theson of Ragau, theson of Phalec, theson of Heber, theson of Sala, theson of Cainan,36theson of Arphaxad, theson of Sem, theson of Noe,37theson of Lamech, theson of Mathusala, theson of Enoch, theson of Jared, theson of Maleleel, theson of Cainan,38theson of Enos, theson of Seth, theson of Adam, theson of GOD.
