The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)
1 AKJV Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, BSB BSB: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 AKJV Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. BSB BSB: during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 AKJV And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; BSB BSB: He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4 AKJV As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. BSB BSB: as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
5 AKJV Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; BSB BSB: Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
6 AKJV And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. BSB BSB: And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7 AKJV Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? BSB BSB: Then 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?
8 AKJV Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. BSB BSB: Produce fruit, then, 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.
9 AKJV And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. BSB BSB: The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 AKJV And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? BSB BSB: The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 AKJV He answers and says to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise. BSB BSB: John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
12 AKJV Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do? BSB BSB: Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 AKJV And he said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. BSB BSB: “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14 AKJV And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. BSB BSB: Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
15 AKJV And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; BSB BSB: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
16 AKJV John answered, saying to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: BSB BSB: John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 AKJV Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. BSB BSB: 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.”
18 AKJV And many other things in his exhortation preached he to the people. BSB BSB: With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19 AKJV But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, BSB BSB: But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
20 AKJV Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. BSB BSB: Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; John 1:29–34)
21 AKJV Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, BSB BSB: When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
22 AKJV And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove on him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased. BSB BSB: and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
The Genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:1–17)
24 AKJV Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, BSB BSB: the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 AKJV Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, BSB BSB: the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 AKJV Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, BSB BSB: the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 AKJV Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, BSB BSB: the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 AKJV Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, BSB BSB: the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 AKJV Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, BSB BSB: the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 AKJV Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, BSB BSB: the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 AKJV Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, BSB BSB: the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 AKJV Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, BSB BSB: the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
33 AKJV Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, BSB BSB: 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 AKJV Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, BSB BSB: the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 AKJV Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, BSB BSB: the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 AKJV Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, BSB BSB: the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 AKJV Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, BSB BSB: the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,