The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-28)

1Now 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, 2in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;

4as 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.

5Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;

6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7He 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? 8Bring 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. 9And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? 11And 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. 12And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? 13And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

15And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; 16John 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 in the Holy Spirit and in fire: 17whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

18With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people; 19but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34)

21Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22and 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 am well pleased.

The Genealogy of Jesus

(Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17)

23And Jesus himself, when he began to teach , was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the'son of Heli, 24the'son of Matthat, the'son of Levi, the'son of Melchi, the'son of Jannai, the'son of Joseph, 25the'son of Mattathias, the'son of Amos, the'son of Nahum, the'son of Esli, the'son of Naggai, 26the'son of Maath, the'son of Mattathias, the'son of Semein, the'son of Josech, the'son of Joda, 27the'son of Joanan, the'son of Rhesa, the'son of Zerubbabel, the'son of Shealtiel, the'son of Neri, 28the'son of Melchi, the'son of Addi, the'son of Cosam, the'son of Elmadam, the'son of Er, 29the'son of Jesus, the'son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the'son of Matthat, the'son of Levi, 30the'son of Symeon, the'son of Judas, the'son of Joseph, the'son of Jonam, the'son of Eliakim, 31the'son of Melea, the'son of Menna, the'son of Mattatha, the'son of Nathan, the'son of David, 32the'son of Jesse, the'son of Obed, the'son of Boaz, the'son of Salmon, the'son of Nahshon, 33the'son of Amminadab, the'son of Arni, the'son of Hezron, the'son of Perez, the'son of Judah, 34the'son of Jacob, the'son of Isaac, the'son of Abraham, the'son of Terah, the'son of Nahor, 35the'son of Serug, the'son of Reu, the'son of Peleg, the'son of Eber, the'son of Shelah, 36the'son of Cainan, the'son of Arphaxad, the'son of Shem, the'son of Noah, the'son of Lamech, 37the'son of Methuselah, the'son of Enoch, the'son of Jared, the'son of Mahalaleel, the'son of Cainan, 38the'son of Enos, the'son of Seth, the'son of Adam, the'son of God.