Luk 3:2-17 | NASB2020 | STEP | in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas , the word of God came to John , the son of Zechariah , in the wilderness .

2 in the high priesthood of ^aAnnas and ^bCaiaphas, ^cthe word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all ^dthe region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance ^{▼▼Or with reference to}for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“ ^fThe voice of one calling ^{▼▼Or out, Prepare in the wilderness the way} out in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!
5 ‘ ^hEvery ravine will be filled,
And every mountain and hill will be lowered;
The crooked will become straight,
And the rough roads smooth;
6 ⁱAnd all ^{▼▼I.e., mankind}flesh will ^ksee the salvation of God!’”
7 So he was saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “ ^lYou ^{▼▼Or brood}offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and ⁿdo not start saying ^{▼▼Or among}to yourselves, ‘ ^pWe have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham. 9 But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so ^qevery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “ ^rThen what are we to do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The one who has two ^{▼▼A long shirt worn next to the skin}tunics is to ^tshare with the one who has none; and the one who has food is to do likewise.” 12 Now even ^utax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” 13 And he said to them, “ ^{▼▼Lit Do}Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 And soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “What are we to do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone, nor ^{▼▼Or blackmail
,} ^xharass anyone, and ^ybe content with your wages.”

15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, ^zwhether he himself perhaps was the ^{▼▼I.e., Messiah}Christ, 16 ^abJohn responded to them all, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you ^{▼▼The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by}with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His ^adwinnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with ^aeunquenchable fire.”