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Luke 3

New International Reader’s Version



1 Tiberius Caesar had been ruling for 15 years. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis. Lysanias was ruler of Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time God’s word came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3 He went into all the countryside around the River Jordan. There he preached that people should be baptised and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. 4 Here is what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet. It says, ‘A messenger is calling out in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The crooked roads will become straight. The rough ways will become smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.” ’ (Isa 40:3) 7 John spoke to the crowds coming to be baptised by him. He said, ‘You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger? 8 Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins. And don’t start saying to yourselves, “Abraham is our father.” I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones. 9 The axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.’ 10 ‘Then what should we do?’ the crowd asked. 11 John answered, ‘Anyone who has extra clothes should share with the one who has none. And anyone who has extra food should do the same.’ 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptised. ‘Teacher’, they asked, ‘what should we do?’ 13 ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ John told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ John replied, ‘Don’t force people to give you money. Don’t bring false charges against people. Be happy with your pay.’ 15 The people were waiting. They were expecting something. They were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, ‘I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I am will come. I’m not good enough to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His pitchfork is in his hand to toss the straw away from his threshing-floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn. But he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.’ 18 John said many other things to warn the people. He also announced the good news to them. 19 But John found fault with Herod, the ruler of Galilee, because of his marriage to Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother. John also spoke strongly to Herod about all the other evil things he had done. 20 So Herod locked John up in prison. Herod added this sin to all his others. 



21 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened. 22 The Holy Spirit came to rest on him in the form of a dove. A voice came from heaven. It said, ‘You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.’ 23 Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his special work for God and others. It was thought that he was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli. 24 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. 25 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. 26 Naggai was the son of Maath. Maath was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Semein. Semein was the son of Josek. Josek was the son of Joda. 27 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. 28 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. 29 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. 30 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. 31 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. 32 David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon. 33 Nahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Ram. Ram was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah. 34 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. 35 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. 36 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. 37 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. 38 Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God. 

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Luke 3

English Standard Version



1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, (Mt 14:1; Mt 27:2; Mr 6:14; Lu 2:1; Lu 2:2; Lu 3:19; Lu 8:3; Lu 9:7; Lu 9:9; Lu 13:31; Lu 23:7; Ac 4:27; Ac 13:1) 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (Jos 15:61; Jud 1:16; Mt 3:1; Mt 26:3; Mr 1:2; Lu 1:80; Joh 1:6; Joh 18:13; Joh 18:24; Ac 4:6) 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mt 26:28; Lu 1:77; Ac 2:38) 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[1] make his paths straight. (Isa 40:3; Lu 1:76; Lu 4:17; Joh 1:23; Ac 8:28) 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, (Isa 42:16; Isa 45:2; Isa 49:11; Isa 57:14; Zec 4:7) 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Ps 98:2; Isa 52:10; Lu 1:69; Lu 1:71; Lu 1:77; Lu 2:30; Ac 28:28; Tit 2:11) 7 He said therefore 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? (Ps 140:3; Mt 12:34; Mt 23:33; Ro 5:9; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; 1Th 1:10) 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (Lu 4:3; Joh 8:39; Ac 26:20) 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Mt 7:19; Lu 13:7; Lu 13:9; Joh 15:2; Joh 15:6) 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” (Ac 2:37; Ac 16:30; Ac 22:10) 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics[2] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Isa 58:7; Da 4:27; Lu 18:22; Eph 4:28; Jas 2:15; 1Jo 3:17) 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” (Mt 21:32; Lu 3:10; Lu 7:29) 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” (Lu 19:8) 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (Lu 3:10; Lu 3:13; 1Co 9:7) 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, (Mt 1:17; Joh 1:19) 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Isa 5:27; Mal 3:2; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:26; Joh 1:27; Joh 1:33; Joh 3:30; Ac 1:5; Ac 2:3; Ac 11:16; Ac 13:25) 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Isa 30:24; Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30; Mr 9:43; Mr 9:48) 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. (Joh 20:30; Joh 21:25) 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, (Mt 14:3; Mr 6:17; Lu 3:1) 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. (Joh 3:24) 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, (Mt 3:13; Mr 1:9; Joh 1:32; Ac 7:56) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[3] with you I am well pleased.”[4] (Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; Lu 4:18; Lu 4:21; Lu 9:35; Joh 12:28; Ac 10:38; Eph 1:6; Col 1:13; 2Pe 1:17; 1Jo 5:9) 



23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, (Nu 4:3; Mt 1:1; Mt 4:17; Mt 13:55; Lu 4:22; Joh 1:45; Joh 6:42; Ac 1:1; Ac 1:22) 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,[5] the son of Neri, (Ezr 3:2; Mt 1:12) 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, (2Sa 5:14; 1Ch 3:5; 1Ch 14:4; Zec 12:12) 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, (Ru 4:18; 1Sa 16:1; 1Sa 17:12; 1Ch 2:1) 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, (Ge 5:3; Ge 11:10; Ge 21:3; Ge 25:26; Ge 29:35; 1Ch 1:1; 1Ch 1:24) 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. 

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