a division of 
All rights reserved©| Matthew 3:1-12 | Mark 1:2-8 | Luke 3:1-20 | John 1:19-28 |
| 1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."F22 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you withF23 water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you withF24 the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." | 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,F3 "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,F4 who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' " 4 John the baptizer appearedF5 in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you withF6 water; but he will baptize you withF7 the Holy Spirit." |
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius
Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was rulerF23 of Galilee,
and his brother Philip rulerF24 of the region of Ituraea and
Trachonitis, and Lysanias rulerF25 of Abilene, 2 during the
high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son
of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the
Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The
voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain
and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and
the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of
God.' " 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him,
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We
have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones
to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root
of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then
should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must
share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher,
what should we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount
prescribed for you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we
do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false
accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,F26 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with F27 the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler,F28 who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison. |
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny
it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah."F7 21 And they asked
him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?"
He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have
an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He
said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight
the way of the Lord,' " as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been
sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing
if you are neither the Messiah, F8 nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
26 John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom
you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to
untie the thong of his sandal." 28 This took place in Bethany across the
Jordan where John was baptizing.
|
| FOOTNOTES:
F22: Or [is at hand] F23: Or [in] F24: Or [in] |
FOOTNOTES:
F3: Other ancient authorities read [in the prophets] F4: Gk [before your face] F5: Other ancient authorities read [John was baptizing] F6: Or [in] F7: Or [in] |
FOOTNOTES:
F23: Gk [tetrarch] F24: Gk [tetrarch] F25: Gk [tetrarch] F26: Or [the Christ] F27: Or [in] F28: Gk [tetrarch] |
FOOTNOTES:
F7: Or [the Christ] F8: Or [the Christ] |
a division of
All rights reserved©