Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Luke 3
John the Baptist
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
He went throughout the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked will become straight,
and the rough ways smooth,
and all flesh will see God’s salvation.’”
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ because I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
He answered, “Whoever has two tunics must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.”
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
He told them, “Collect no more than what has been assigned to you.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And what should we do?” He told them, “Do not extort money from anyone or make false accusations. Be content with your wages.”
The people were waiting expectantly, and everyone was wondering in their hearts whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one stronger than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
With many other exhortations he announced good news to the people.
But Herod the tetrarch, after being confronted by John concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things Herod had done,
added this to them all: he locked John in prison.
When all the people had been baptized, Jesus was also baptized. As he was praying, heaven was opened,
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. A voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”
Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was, as people supposed, son of Joseph, of Heli,
of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Jannai, of Joseph,
of Mattathias, of Amos, of Nahum, of Esli, of Naggai,
of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semein, of Josech, of Joda,
of Joanan, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, of Shealtiel, of Neri,
of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmadam, of Er,
of Joshua, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi,
of Simeon, of Judah, of Joseph, of Jonam, of Eliakim,
of Melea, of Menna, of Mattatha, of Nathan, of David,
of Jesse, of Obed, of Boaz, of Sala, of Nahshon,
of Amminadab, of Admin, of Arni, of Hezron, of Perez, of Judah,
of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nahor,
of Serug, of Reu, of Peleg, of Eber, of Shelah,
of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Shem, of Noah, of Lamech,
of Methuselah, of Enoch, of Jared, of Mahalaleel, of Cainan,
of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, of God.