Luke 3:1-20 It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee. Herod’s brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee. Herod’s brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. ² This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. ³ John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: »The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. ⁵ »Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ »All flesh shall see the salvation of God.« (Isaiah 40:3-6) ⁷ He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: »You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ »Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. ⁹ »The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire.« ¹⁰ The people asked him: »What must we do?« ¹¹ He answered: »He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise.« ¹² Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: »Teacher, what must we do?« ¹³ He told them: »Collect no more than that which is prescribed.« ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him: »What must we do?« And he said: »Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.« ¹⁵ Many people were expecting the Messiah. They reasoned in their hearts concerning John: »Perhaps he was the Messiah.« ¹⁶ John answered, saying to them: »I baptize you with water. He is coming who is mightier than I. I am not worthy to untie his shoelaces. He will baptize you in Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹⁷ »His winnowing fork is in his hand ready to thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.« ¹⁸ He preached good news to the people by offering many encouraging words. ¹⁹ John reproved Herod the tetrarch for all the evil things he had done for he took his brother Herodias’ wife. ²⁰ He added this also to them all. He locked up John in prison.