New King James Version

New Living Translation

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was rulera over Galilee; his brother Philip was rulerb over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene.

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[a]while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

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Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

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And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

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Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

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as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.

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Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!
Clear the road for him!

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Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;

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The valleys will be filled,
and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.

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And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

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And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.’”c

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John Preaches to the People

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood[b] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?

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Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

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Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

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And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

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So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

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The crowds asked, “What should we do?”

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He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

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John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

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Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

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Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

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And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

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He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

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Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not [c]intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

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“What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

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Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

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Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

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John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you withd water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.e

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His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

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And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

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John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

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But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his [d]brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

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John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee,f for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done.

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also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

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So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.

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John Baptizes Jesus

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

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The Baptism of Jesus

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,

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And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

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and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.g”

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The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

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The Ancestors of Jesus

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.

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the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,

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Heli 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.

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the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

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Joseph 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.

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the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,

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Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josech.
Josech was the son of Joda.

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the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

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Joda 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.

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the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,

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Neri 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.

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the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

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Er 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.

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the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,

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Levi 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.

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the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

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Eliakim 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.

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the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

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David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.h
Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

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the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

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Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Admin.
Admin was the son of Arni.i
Arni was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.

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the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

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Judah 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.

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the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

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Nahor 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.

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the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

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Shelah 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.

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the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

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Lamech 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.

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the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

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Kenan was the son of Enosh.j
Enosh was the son of Seth.
Seth was the son of Adam.
Adam was the son of God.

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

Luke 3

Luke 3