Luke 3:1–16

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28

¹It was the fifteenth year in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod ruled Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. ²It was at the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests that God spoke to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. ³John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told people about a baptism of repentance^afor the forgiveness of sins. ⁴As the prophet Isaiah wrote in his book, 

“A voice cries out in the desert: 

‘Prepare the way for the Lord! 

Make his paths straight! 

⁵Every valley will be filled. 

Every mountain and hill will be leveled. 

The crooked ways will be made straight. 

The rough roads will be made smooth. 

⁶All people will see the salvation that God gives.’ ” 

⁷Crowds of people were coming to be baptized by John. He would say to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? ⁸Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ⁹The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.” 

¹⁰The crowds asked him, “What should we do?” 

¹¹He answered them, “Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who doesn’t have any. Whoever has food should share it too.” 

¹²Some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 

¹³He told them, “Don’t collect more money than you are ordered to collect.” 

¹⁴Some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” 

He told them, “Be satisfied with your pay, and never use threats or blackmail to get money from anyone.” 

¹⁵People’s hopes were rising as they all wondered whether John was the Messiah. ¹⁶John replied to all of them, “I baptize you with water. But the one who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.