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1

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

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

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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 all mankind will see God's salvation.’ ”

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

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John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
 

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

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

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

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John answered them all, “I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with 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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And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, 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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the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, 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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the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, 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 Kenan,
 

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