Luke 3:1-6

1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod's brother, the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis; and Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene.

2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

3 He went all over the area around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins.

4 As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: "This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him.

5 Every valley should be filled in, and every mountain and hill should be made flat. Roads with turns should be made straight, and rough roads should be made smooth.

6 And all people will know about the salvation of God!'"