1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, Philip, his brother, tetrarch of Iturea, and the province of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene; 2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3And he went through all the country along the Jordan, publishing the immersion of reformation for the remission of sins. 4«As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah,» 'The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Prepare a way for the Lord, make for him a straight passage.' 5Let every valley be filled, every mountain and hill be leveled; let the crooked roads be made straight, and the rough ways smooth, 6«that all flesh may see the salvation of God.» 7Then said he to the multitudes, who flocked out to be immersed by him, Offspring of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance? 8Produce, then, the proper fruits of reformation; and say not within yourselves, We have Abraham for a father; for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise children to Abraham. 9And even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, which produces not good fruit, is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 10Upon this, the multitude asked him, What must we do then? 11He answered, Let him who has two coats, impart to him who has none; and let him who has victuals do the same. 12There came also publicans to be immersed, who said, Rabbi, what must we do? 13He answered, Exact no more than what is appointed you. 14Soldiers likewise asked him, And what must we do? He answered, Injure no man, either by violence, or false accusation, and be content with your allowance. 15As the people were in suspense concerning John, every man imagining within himself that he might be the Messiah, 16John addressed them all, saying, I, indeed, immerse in water; but one mightier than I comes, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to untie; he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire; 17his winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain; he will gather the wheat into his granary, and consume the chaff in unquenchable fire. 18And with many other exhortations, he published the good tidings to the people. 19But Herod, the tetrarch, having been reproved by him, on account of Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the crimes which Herod had committed, 20added this to the number, that he confined John in prison. 21Now when John immersed all the people, Jesus was likewise immersed; and while he prayed, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my Son, the beloved; in thee I delight. 23Now Jesus was himself about thirty years in subjection, being (as was supposed) a son of Joseph, son of Heli, 24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Janna, son of Joseph, 25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, 26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Shimei, son of Joseph, son of Judah, 27son of Joanna, son of Reza, son of Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel, son of Neri, 28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmodam, son of Er, 29son of Joses, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, 30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonan, son of Eliakim, 31son of Meleah, son of Mainan, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, 32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, 33son of Aminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Pharez, son of Judah, 34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, 35son of Serug, son of Ragau, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Salah, 36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, 37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mehalaleel, son of Cainan, 38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.