Open English Translation LUKE Chapter 3

3 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius when Pontius Pilate was the governor of Yudea and Herod was the ruler of the Galilean quarter. His brother Philip was the ruler of the Iturean quarter and of the region of Traconitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of the Abilene quarter. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests in Yerushalem, and this was the time when Yohan (son of Zechariah) began preaching God’s message in the wilderness. 3 He went around all the areas surrounding the Yordan River, telling the people that they could get immersed in water as a sign they were turning away from disobeying God and requesting forgiveness 4 [ref]just like the prophet Isayah had written:

‘The voice shouting in the wilderness

prepare Yahweh’s road,

make his paths straight.

5 Every valley will be filled up,

and every mountain and hill will be levelled off.

What’s crooked will be made straight,

and the rough roads will be made smooth.

6 and everybody will see God’s salvation.’

7 [ref]Because of that, he was telling the crowds that went out there to be immersed by him, “Bunch of snakes! Who warned you all to flee from the severe anger that’s coming? 8 [ref]So then start demonstrating the qualities that show you have actually turned from your disobedience. And don’t start by telling me that you’re descendants of Abraham, because I can tell you all that God could make descendants out of these stones here. 9 [ref]The axe is already sitting at the base of the trees, so that every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then,” the crowds asked him.

11 “If you’ve got two jackets, give one to someone who doesn’t have one,” he replied, “and similarly if you’ve got food.”

12 [ref]Even some tax-collectors came to be immersed, and they asked Yohan, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any extra on top of what you’ve been told to collect,” he said.

14 “And what about us too,” some soldiers inquired.

“Don’t bully people or falsely accuse anyone,” Yohan answered, “and be content with your wages.”

15 The people were expecting that the messiah might come to save them and started wondering in their minds if maybe it was Yohan 16 but he explained to them all, “I’ve been immersing you all in water, but there’s one coming who’s greater than me, in fact I’m not even worthy to unlace his sandals. He will immerse you all with the holy spirit and with fire. 17 He’ll hold the winnowing fork so he can clear out the threshing floor, gathering the wheat into his barn and burning up the chaff with a fire that never goes out.”

18 Yohan preached the good message to the people and also encouraged them to change for the better. 19 [ref]But Herod who was the ruler of the Galilean quarter had been scolded by Yohan about taking his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, and about many other evil things that he’d done, 20 added to his evils when he locked Yohan up in prison.

21 One day along with all the other people being immersed, Yeshua had come and been immersed, and while he prayed, the sky opened up 22 [ref]and the holy spirit came down onto him in the bodily form of a dove, and a voice came from the sky, “You are my son that I love and take pleasure in.”

23 Yeshua was about thirty when he started his ministry. He was the son (as it was thought) of Yosef, son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Yannai, the son of Yosef, 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 Yosek, the son of Yoda, 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 Melki, 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 Yudah, the son of Yosef, the son of Yonam, 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 Yesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Yudah, 34 the son of Yacob, 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 Yared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.