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1.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--
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2.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
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3.
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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4.
As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
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5.
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
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6.
And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"
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7.
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?
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8.
Produce fruit 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.
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9.
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
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10.
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
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11.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
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12.
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
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13.
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
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14.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."
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15.
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
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16.
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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17.
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."
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18.
And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
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19.
But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
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20.
Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
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21.
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
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22.
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
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23.
Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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24.
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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25.
the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
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26.
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
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27.
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
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28.
the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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29.
the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
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30.
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
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31.
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
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32.
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
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33.
the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
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34.
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
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35.
the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
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36.
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
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37.
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
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38.
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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