The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)
1 RV 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 the region of Ituraea and 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 RV in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto 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 RV And he came into all the region round about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto 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 RV as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye 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 RV Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways 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 RV And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. BSB BSB: And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7 RV He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who 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 RV Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto 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 RV And even now is the axe also laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth 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 RV And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? BSB BSB: The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 RV And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath 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 RV And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Master, what must we do? BSB BSB: Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 RV And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. BSB BSB: “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
14 RV And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither exact anything wrongfully; 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 RV And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; BSB BSB: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
16 RV John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet 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 RV whose fan is in his hand, throughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up 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 RV With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people; BSB BSB: With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19 RV but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother’s wife, and for all the evil 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 RV 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 RV Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been 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 RV and the Holy Ghost 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 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 RV the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, 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 RV the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son 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 RV the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son 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 RV the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, 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 RV the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, 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 RV the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, 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 RV the son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, 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 RV the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, 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 RV the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son 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 RV the son of Amminadab, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son 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 RV the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son 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 RV the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son 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 RV the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, 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 RV the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, 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,