The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3.1-12Mark 1.1-8John 1.19-28)1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, 2 and Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.” 4 As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:
“Someone is shouting in the desert:
‘Get the road ready for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!
5 Every valley must be filled up,
every hill and mountain leveled off.
The winding roads must be made straight,
and the rough paths made smooth.
6 The whole human race will see God's salvation!’”
7 Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. “You snakes!” he said to them. “Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! 9 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.”
10 The people asked him, “What are we to do, then?”
11 He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
12 Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
13 “Don't collect more than is legal,” he told them.
14 Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?”
He said to them, “Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.”
15 People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah. 16 So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 He has his winnowing shovel with him, to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
18 In many different ways John preached the Good News to the people and urged them to change their ways. 19 But John reprimanded Governor Herod, because he had married Herodias, his brother's wife, and had done many other evil things. 20 Then Herod did an even worse thing by putting John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3.13-17Mark 1.9-11)21 After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”
The Ancestors of Jesus
(Matthew 1.1-17)23 When Jesus began his work, he was about thirty years old. He was the son, so people thought, of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 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 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
1 Bet ķeizara Tiberija piecpadsmitajā valdības gadā, kad Poncijs Pilāts bija zemes valdītājs Jūdejā un Hērods valdnieks Galilejā, un Filips, viņa brālis, valdnieks Iturejā un Trahonijā, un Lizanijs valdnieks Abilenē, 2 augsto priesteru Annas un Kajafas laikā, Dieva vārds nāca pār Jāni, Caharijas dēlu, tuksnesī. 3 Un viņš sāka staigāt pa visu Jordānas apgabalu, sludinādams grēku nožēlošanas kristību uz grēku piedošanu, 4 kā ir rakstīts pravieša Jesajas grāmatā: saucēja balss tuksnesī: sataisait Tā Kunga ceļu, darait līdzenas Viņa tekas! 5 Katrai ielejai jātop pildītai un katram kalnam un pakalnam nolīdzinātam, kas līks, tam jātop taisnam un, kas celmains, - par staigājamu ceļu. 6 Un visai miesai būs redzēt Tā Kunga pestīšanu. 7 Ļaužu pulkiem, kas nāca pie viņa kristīties, viņš sacīja: "Jūs odžu dzimums, kas jums norādījis, kā izbēgsit nākamai dusmībai? 8 Tad nu nesiet patiesus atgriešanās augļus un nesāciet pie sevis sacīt: mums ir Ābrahāms par tēvu! - Jo es jums saku: Dievs spēj no šiem akmeņiem radīt Ābrahāmam bērnus! 9 Jau cirvis pielikts kokiem pie saknes: katru koku, kas nenesīs labus augļus, nocirtīs un iemetīs ugunī." 10 Un ļaudis viņu jautāja: "Ko tad mums būs darīt?" 11 Bet viņš tiem atbildēja, sacīdams: "Kam divi svārki, tas lai dod tam, kam nav, un, kam ir pārtika, lai dara tāpat." 12 Bet arī muitnieki nāca kristīties un to jautāja: "Mācītāj, ko mums būs darīt?" 13 Tad viņš teica: "Neņemiet vairāk, kā jums nolikts." 14 Bet arī kareivji to jautāja: "Ko tad mums būs darīt?" Un viņš tiem atbildēja: "Neaplaupait nevienu un neizspiediet nevienam naudu un esiet mierā ar savu algu." 15 Bet, kad ļaudis savās gaidās par Jāni savās sirdīs domāja, vai tas varbūt neesot Kristus, 16 tad Jānis visiem atbildēdams sacīja: "Es kristīju jūs ar ūdeni, bet pēc manis nāks viens spēcīgāks, nekā es esmu, kam es neesmu cienīgs atraisīt kurpju siksnas. Tas jūs kristīs ar Svēto Garu un uguni. 17 Tam vēteklis ir rokā, un Viņš tīrīs Savu klonu caurcaurīm un sakrās kviešus Savā klētī, bet pelavas sadedzinās neizdziestošā ugunī." 18 Arī vēl daudz citas pamācības viņš deva ļaudīm, sludinādams evaņģēliju. 19 Bet tetrarhs Hērods, kam Jānis pārmeta viņa laulību ar viņa brāļasievu Hērodiju un visus viņa pārējos ļaunos darbus, 20 pievienoja visiem ļauniem darbiem vēl to, ka viņš lika iemest Jāni cietumā. 21 Kad nu visi ļaudis likās kristīties un arī Jēzus bija kristīts, tad, Viņam Dievu lūdzot, debesis piepeši atvērās, 22 un Svētais Gars redzamā veidā uz Viņu kā balodis nolaidās, un balss atskanēja no debesīm: "Tu esi Mans mīļais Dēls, uz Tevi Man labs prāts." 23 Un Jēzus pats, kad Viņš Savu darbu sāka, bija trīsdesmit gadus vecs. Viņš bija, kā mēdza domāt, Jāzepa dēls, Jāzeps - Ēļa, 24 tas Matata, tas Levija, tas Melhija, tas Janaja, tas Jāzepa dēls, 25 tas Matatija, tas Amosa, tas Nauma, tas Eslija, tas Nagaja dēls, 26 tas Maāta, tas Matatija, tas Semeina, tas Jozeha, tas Jodas dēls, 27 tas Joanana, tas Rezas, tas Zorobabela, tas Šalatiēla, tas Nerija dēls, 28 tas Melhija, tas Adīja, tas Kozama, tas Elmadama, tas Era dēls, 29 tas Jozuas, tas Ēliēzera, tas Jorima, tas Matata, tas Levija dēls, 30 tas Sīmeana, tas Jūdas, tas Jāzepa, tas Jonama, tas Eljakīma dēls, 31 tas Melejas, tas Mennas, tas Matata, tas Nātāna, tas Dāvida dēls, 32 tas Isaja, tas Jobeda, tas Boāsa, tas Salas, tas Naāsona dēls, 33 tas Aminadaba, tas Admina, tas Arnija, tas Hecrona, tas Faresa, tas Jūdas dēls, 34 tas Jēkaba, tas Īzāka, tas Ābrahāma, tas Taras, tas Nahora dēls, 35 tas Seruha, tas Reus, tas Faleka, tas Ēbera, tas Salas dēls, 36 tas Kainana, tas Arfaksada, tas Šema, tas Noas, tas Lameha dēls, 37 tas Metuzāla, tas Ēnoha, tas Jareda, tas Maleleēla, tas Kainana dēls, 38 tas Ēnoša, tas Seta, tas Ādama dēls, tas Dieva.
