New Living Translation

New International Version

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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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar — when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene —

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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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during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

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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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He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

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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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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.

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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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Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.

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

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And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”a

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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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John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

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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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Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

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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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The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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The crowds asked, “What should we do?”

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“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

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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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John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

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

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

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

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“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

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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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Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.”

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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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The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

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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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John answered them all, “I baptize you withb water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you withc the Holy Spirit and 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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His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

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

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And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

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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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But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,

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

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Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

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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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The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened

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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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and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

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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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Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
the son of Heli,

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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 Matthat,
the son of Levi, the son of Melki,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

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

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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 Maath,
the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,
the son of Josek, the son of Joda,

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

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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 Melki,
the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,
the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

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

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

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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 Melea, the son of Menna,
the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

Parallel

New Living Translation

New International Version

Luke 3

Luke 3