The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)
1 DBY Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias 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 DBY in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came upon 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 DBY And he came into all the district round the 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 DBY as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 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 DBY Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked places shall become a straight path , and the rough places smooth ways, 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 DBY and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. BSB BSB: And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7 DBY He said therefore to the crowds which went out to be baptised by him, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath? 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 DBY Produce therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I say unto 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 DBY And already also the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut 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 DBY And the crowds asked him saying, What should we do then? BSB BSB: The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 DBY And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, 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 DBY And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do? BSB BSB: Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 DBY And he said to them, Take no more money than what is appointed to you. BSB BSB: “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14 DBY And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying, And we, what should we do? And he said to them, Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay. 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 DBY But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ, BSB BSB: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
16 DBY John answered all, saying, I indeed baptise you with water, but the mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not fit to unloose; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and 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 DBY whose winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing-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 DBY Exhorting then many other things also he announced his glad tidings to the people. BSB BSB: With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19 DBY But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him as to Herodias, the wife of his brother, and as to all the wicked things 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 DBY added this also to all the rest , 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 DBY And it came to pass, all the people having been baptised, and Jesus having been baptised and praying, that 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 DBY and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight. 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 DBY of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Janna, 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 DBY of Mattathias, of Amos, of Naoum, of Esli, of Naggai, BSB BSB: the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 DBY of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semei, of Joseph, 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 DBY of Joannes, of Resa, of Zorobabel, of Salathiel, 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 DBY of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, 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 DBY of Joses, of Eliezer, of Joreim, of Matthat, 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 DBY of Simeon, of Juda, of Joseph, of Jonan, 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 DBY of Meleas, of Menan, of Mattatha, of Nathan, 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 DBY of Jesse, of Obed, of Booz, of Salmon, 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 DBY of Aminadab, of Aram, of Esrom, of Phares, 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 DBY of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, 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 DBY of Seruch, of Ragau, of Phalek, of Eber, 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 DBY of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Sem, of Noe, 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 DBY of Methusala, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan, BSB BSB: the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,