MSB LUKE Chapter 3

The Mission of John the Baptist

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

3 In [the] fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, [while] Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during [the] high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,[fn] [the] word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for [the] forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in [the] book of [the] words of Isaiah [the] prophet:

“[A] voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for [the] Lord,

make straight paths for Him.

5 Every valley shall be filled in,

and every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked [ways] shall be made straight,

and the rough ways smooth.

6 And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’ ”[fn]

7 Then [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? 8 Produce fruit, then, 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. 9 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into [the] fire.”

10 The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

11 [John] replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized.[fn] “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.

14 Then [some] soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

“Do not take money by force or false accusation,[fn]” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and {were} all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16 John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water,[fn] but [One] more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.[fn] He will baptize you with [the] Holy Spirit and with fire.[fn] 17 [His] winnowing fork [is] in His hand, and He will clear[fn] His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

18 [With these and] many other exhortations, [John] proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s[fn] wife Herodias and all [the] evils [he] had done, 20 [Herod] added this to them all: He locked John {up} in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

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

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, saying,[fn] “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus

(Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:1–17)

23 Jesus Himself was about thirty years [old] when He began [His ministry].

He was regarded as [the] son of Joseph,

the [son] of Heli,[fn]

24 the [son] of Matthat,[fn] the [son] of Levi, the [son] of Melchi,

the [son] of Janna,[fn] the [son] of Joseph,

25 the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Amos, the [son] of Nahum,

the [son] of Esli,[fn] the [son] of Naggai,

26 the [son] of Maath, the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Semei,[fn]

the [son] of Josech, the [son] of Judah,[fn]

27 the [son] of Joanan,[fn] 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 Elmodam,[fn] the [son] of Er,

29 the [son] of Jose,[fn] 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 Jonan,[fn] the [son] of Eliakim,

31 the [son] of Melea, the [son] of Mainan,[fn] 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,[fn] the [son] of Nahshon,

33 the [son] of Amminadab, the [son] of Aram,[fn]

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 Mahalalel, the [son] of Cainan,

38 the [son] of Enosh,[fn] the [son] of Seth, the [son] of Adam,

the [son] of God.