The Ministry of John the Baptist

3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,1 when Pontius Pilate2 was governor of Judea, and Herod3 was tetrarch4 of Galilee, and his brother Philip5 was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias6 was tetrarch of Abilene, 3:2 during the high priesthood7 of Annas and Caiaphas, the word8 of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.9 3:3 He10 went into all the region around the Jordan River,11 preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.12

3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice13 of one shouting in the wilderness:14

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make15 his paths straight.

3:5 Every valley will be filled,16

and every mountain and hill will be brought low,

and the crooked will be made straight,

and the rough ways will be made smooth,

3:6 and all humanity17 will see the salvation of God.’ ”18

3:7 So John19 said to the crowds20 that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers!21 Who warned you to flee22 from the coming wrath? 3:8 Therefore produce23 fruit24 that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say25 to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’26 For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!27 3:9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees,28 and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be29 cut down and thrown into the fire.”

3:10 So30 the crowds were asking31 him, “What then should we do?” 3:11 John32 answered them,33 “The person who has two tunics34 must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 3:12 Tax collectors35 also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 3:13 He told them, “Collect no more36 than you are required to.”37 3:14 Then some soldiers38 also asked him, “And as for us—what should we do?”39 He told them, “Take money from no one by violence40 or by false accusation,41 and be content with your pay.”

3:15 While the people were filled with anticipation42 and they all wondered43 whether perhaps John44 could be the Christ,45 3:16 John answered them all,46 “I baptize you with water,47 but one more powerful than I am is coming—I am not worthy48 to untie the strap49 of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.50 3:17 His winnowing fork51 is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse,52 but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”53

3:18 And in this way,54 with many other exhortations, John55 proclaimed good news to the people. 3:19 But when John rebuked Herod56 the tetrarch57 because of Herodias, his brother’s wife,58 and because of all the evil deeds59 that he had done, 3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

3:21 Now when60 all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying,61 the heavens62 opened, 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.63 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son;64 in you I take great delight.”65

The Genealogy of Jesus

3:23 So66 Jesus, when he began his ministry,67 was about thirty years old. He was68 the son (as was supposed)69 of Joseph, the son70 of Heli, 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 3:25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 3:26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 3:27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,71 the son of Shealtiel,72 the son of Neri,73 3:28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 3:29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 3:30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,74 the son of David,75 3:32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala,76 the son of Nahshon, 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni,77 the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah,78 the son of Nahor, 3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 3:36 the son of Cainan,79 the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 3:37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,80 the son of Kenan,81 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.82

The Temptation of Jesus

4:1 Then1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River2 and was led by the Spirit3 in4 the wilderness,5 4:2 where for forty days he endured temptations6 from the devil. He7 ate nothing8 during those days, and when they were completed,9 he was famished. 4:3 The devil said to him, “If10 you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”11 4:4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man12 does not live by bread alone.’ ”13

4:5 Then14 the devil15 led him up16 to a high place17 and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. 4:6 And he18 said to him, “To you19 I will grant this whole realm20—and the glory that goes along with it,21 for it has been relinquished22 to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 4:7 So then, if23 you will worship24 me, all this will be25 yours.” 4:8 Jesus26 answered him,27 “It is written, ‘You are to worship28 the Lord29 your God and serve only him.’ ”30

4:9 Then31 the devil32 brought him to Jerusalem,33 had him stand34 on the highest point of the temple,35 and said to him, “If36 you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 4:10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’37 4:11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”38 4:12 Jesus39 answered him,40 “It is said, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”41 4:13 So42 when the devil43 had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.44