New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,
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Now in the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being ruler of Judaea, and Herod being king of Galilee, his brother Philip king of the country of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias king of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
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When Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the waste land.
3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
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And he came into all the country round about Jordan, preaching baptism as a sign of forgiveness of sin for those whose hearts were changed.
4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
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As it says in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;
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Every valley will be lifted up, and all the mountains and hills made low, and the twisted will be made straight, and the rough ways smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "
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And all flesh will see the salvation of God.
7 John said 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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So he said to the people who went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
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Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
9 Even now the ax is lying at 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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And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; and every tree which does not have good fruit will be cut down and put into the fire.
10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
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And the people put questions to him, saying, What have we to do?
11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
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And he made answer and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has not even one; and he who has food, let him do the same.
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
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Then tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said to him, Master, what have we to do?
13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."
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And he said to them, Do not make an attempt to get more money than the right amount.
14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
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And men of the army put questions to him, saying, And what have we to do? And he said to them, Do no violent acts to any man, and do not take anything without right, and let your payment be enough for you.
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
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And while the people were waiting, and all men were questioning in their hearts about John, if he was the Christ or not,
16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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John made answer, saying to them all, Truly, I give you baptism with water, but one is coming who is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to undo: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:
17 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."
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In whose hand is the instrument with which he will make clean his grain; he will put the good grain in his store, but the waste will be burned in the fire which will never be put out.
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
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And so comforting them with these and other words, he gave the good news to the people;
19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,
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But Herod the king, because John had made a protest on account of Herodias, his brother's wife, and other evil things which Herod had done,
20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
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Did this most evil thing of all, and had John shut up in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
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Now it came about that when all the people had been given baptism, Jesus, having had baptism with them, was in prayer, when, the heaven being open,
22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
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The Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli,
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And Jesus at this time was about thirty years old, being the son (as it seemed) 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 Jannai, 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 Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
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The son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, 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 Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, 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 Elmadam, 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 Jesus, the son of Eliezer, 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 Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
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The son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, 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 Boaz, the son of Salmon, 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 Amminadab, 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 Reu, 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 Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,
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The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.