The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)
1 WBS Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye 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 WBS 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 WBS And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. BSB BSB: And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
7 WBS Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who hath 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 WBS Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for 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 WBS And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which 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 WBS And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? BSB BSB: The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 WBS He answereth and saith to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS And the soldiers likewise asked 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 WBS And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he was 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 WBS John answered, saying to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: 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 WBS Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather the wheat into his granary; 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 WBS And many other things in his exhortation he preached to the people. BSB BSB: With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
19 WBS But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, 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 WBS Who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Naum, who was the son of Esli, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Booz, who was the son of Salmon, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Aminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Esrom, who was the son of Phares, who was 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 WBS Who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was 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 WBS Who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Heber, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who 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 WBS Who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who 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,
38 WBS Who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God. BSB BSB: the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.