Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene,
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In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God's word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
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in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness;
3 John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins.
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and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, A voice crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.
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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places made smooth.
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Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 All humanity will see God's salvation."
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and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
7 Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, "You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon?
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He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don't even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham's children from these stones.
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Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire."
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Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
10 The crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
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And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?"
11 He answered, "Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same."
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And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
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Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
13 He replied, "Collect no more than you are authorized to collect."
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And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you."
14 Soldiers asked, "What about us? What should we do?" He answered, "Don't cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay."
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Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
15 The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ.
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As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
16 John replied to them all, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I'm not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can't be put out."
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His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
18 With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
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So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
19 But Herod the ruler had been criticized harshly by John because of Herodias, Herod's brother's wife, and because of all the evil he had done.
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But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Hero'di-as, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,
20 He added this to the list of his evil deeds: he locked John up in prison.
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added this to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened
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Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness."
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and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
23 Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. People supposed that he was the son of Joseph son of Heli
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Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24 son of Matthat son of Levi son of Melchi son of Jannai son of Joseph
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the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jan'na-i, the son of Joseph,
25 son of Mattathias son of Amos son of Nahum son of Esli son of Naggai
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the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Nag'ga-i,
26 son of Maath son of Mattathias son of Semein son of Josech son of Joda
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the son of Ma'ath, the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Sem'e-in, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 son of Joanan son of Rhesa son of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel son of Neri
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the son of Jo-an'an, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub'babel, the son of She-al'ti-el, the son of Neri,
28 son of Melchi son of Addi son of Cosam son of Elmadam son of Er
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the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elma'dam, the son of Er,
29 son of Joshua son of Eliezer son of Jorim son of Matthat son of Levi
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the son of Joshua, the son of Elie'zer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 son of Simeon son of Judah son of Joseph son of Jonam son of Eliakim
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the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eli'akim,
31 son of Melea son of Menna son of Mattatha son of Nathan son of David
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the son of Me'le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat'tatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 son of Jesse son of Obed son of Boaz son of Sala son of Nahshon
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the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Bo'az, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
33 son of Amminadab son of Admin son of Arni son of Hezron son of Perez son of Judah
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the son of Ammin'adab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34 son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham son of Terah son of Nahor
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the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 son of Serug son of Reu son of Peleg son of Eber son of Shelah
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the son of Serug, the son of Re'u, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 son of Cainan son of Arphaxad son of Shem son of Noah son of Lamech
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the son of Ca-i'nan, the son of Arphax'ad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 son of Methuselah son of Enoch son of Jared son of Mahalalel son of Cainan
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the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Maha'lale-el, the son of Ca-i'nan,
38 son of Enos son of Seth son of Adam son of God.
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the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.