The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)
2 ULT during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas— the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, 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 ULT And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. BSB BSB: He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4 ULT As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,“A voice of one calling out in the wilderness,‘Make ready 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 ULT Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low, and the crooked roads will become straight, and the rough roads{ will become} 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 ULT and all flesh will see the salvation of God.’” BSB BSB: And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7 ULT So he said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him,“Offspring of vipers! Who warned 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 ULT Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves,‘We have Abraham{ as} father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 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 ULT But indeed, the ax is already set against the root of the trees. So, every tree not producing good fruit is chopped down and thrown into a 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 ULT And the crowds kept asking him, saying,“What therefore should we do?” BSB BSB: The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 ULT So answering, he said to them,“The one having two tunics must share with the one not having, and the one having food, let him do the same.” BSB BSB: John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
12 ULT Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, 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 ULT So he said to them,“Collect nothing more than{ what} you have been ordered.” BSB BSB: “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14 ULT Then soldiers also asked him, saying,“And us, what should we do?” And he said to them,“Take nothing by force, and do not accuse falsely, and be contented 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 ULT And the people were expecting and were all wondering 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 ULT John answered, saying to them all,“I indeed baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I is coming, of whom I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 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 ULT whose winnowing fork{ is} in his hand to thoroughly clear off his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 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 ULT Therefore, also exhorting many other things, he preached good news to the people. BSB BSB: With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19 ULT But Herod the tetrarch, having been rebuked by him concerning Herodias, the wife of his brother, and concerning all the evil things that 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 ULT added even this to{ them} all: He locked John up 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 ULT And it happened that when all the people were being baptized, Jesus also was baptized and,{ as} he was praying, 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 ULT and the Holy Spirit in bodily form came down on him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven,“You are my beloved Son. With 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 ULT of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Jannai, 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 ULT of Mattathias, of Amos, of Nahum, 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 ULT of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semein, of Josech, of Joda, BSB BSB: the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 ULT of Joanan, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, 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 ULT of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmadam, 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 ULT of Joshua, of Eliezer, of Jorim, 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 ULT of Simeon, of Judah, of Joseph, of Jonam, 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 ULT of Melea, of Menna, 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 ULT of Jesse, of Obed, of Boaz, of Salmon, of Nahshon, BSB BSB: the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
33 ULT of Amminadab, of Admin, of Arni, of Hezron, of Perez, of Judah, 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 ULT of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nahor, BSB BSB: the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 ULT of Serug, of Reu, of Peleg, of Eber, of Shelah, BSB BSB: the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 ULT of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Shem, of Noah, 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 ULT of Methuselah, of Enoch, of Jared, of Mahalaleel, of Cainan, BSB BSB: the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,