Luke 3:1-9

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!'"

7 To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's coming punishment?

8 Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don't begin to say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.

9 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."