Luke 3:1-14

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1In the fifteenth year of the reign of aTiberius Caesar, bPontius Pilate cbeing governor of Judea, and dHerod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2during ethe high priesthood of Annas and fCaiaphas, gthe word of God came to hJohn the son of Zechariah in ithe wilderness. 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming ja baptism of repentance kfor the forgiveness of sins. 4As it is written in lthe book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

m“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
nPrepare the way of the Lord,
Or  crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord

make his paths straight.
5 pEvery valley shall be filled,
qand every mountain and hill shall be made low,
rand the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 sand all flesh shall see tthe salvation of God.’”
7He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, u“You brood of vvipers! Who warned you to flee from wthe wrath to come? 8Bear fruits xin keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, y‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from zthese stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. aaEvery tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10And the crowds asked him, abWhat then shall we do?” 11And he answered them, ac“Whoever has two tunics
Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
12 aeTax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, afwhat shall we do?” 13And he said to them, agCollect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, ahwhat shall we do?” And he said to them, ai“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your ajwages.”

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