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Common English Bible CEB
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
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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,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
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during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God's word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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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.
4 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.
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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.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,
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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.
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ’”
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All humanity will see God's salvation."
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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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?
8 Bear fruits in keeping with 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 for Abraham.
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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.
9 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. ”
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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."
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do? ”
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The crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. ”
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He answered, "Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do? ”
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Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do. ”
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He replied, "Collect no more than you are authorized to collect."
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do? ” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. ”
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Soldiers asked, "What about us? What should we do?" He answered, "Don't cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay."
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
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The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ.
16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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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.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. ”
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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."
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
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With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,
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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.
20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
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He added this to the list of his evil deeds: he locked John up in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
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When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. ”
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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."
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. People supposed that he was the son of Joseph son of Heli
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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son of Matthat son of Levi son of Melchi son of Jannai son of Joseph
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
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son of Mattathias son of Amos son of Nahum son of Esli son of Naggai
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
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son of Maath son of Mattathias son of Semein son of Josech son of Joda
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
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son of Joanan son of Rhesa son of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel son of Neri
28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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son of Melchi son of Addi son of Cosam son of Elmadam son of Er
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
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son of Joshua son of Eliezer son of Jorim son of Matthat son of Levi
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
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son of Simeon son of Judah son of Joseph son of Jonam son of Eliakim
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
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son of Melea son of Menna son of Mattatha son of Nathan son of David
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
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son of Jesse son of Obed son of Boaz son of Sala son of Nahshon
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
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son of Amminadab son of Admin son of Arni son of Hezron son of Perez son of Judah
34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
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son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham son of Terah son of Nahor
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
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son of Serug son of Reu son of Peleg son of Eber son of Shelah
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
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son of Cainan son of Arphaxad son of Shem son of Noah son of Lamech
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
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son of Methuselah son of Enoch son of Jared son of Mahalalel son of Cainan
38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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son of Enos son of Seth son of Adam son of God.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible