1 Now in the fifteenth yeere of the reigne of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being Gouernour of Iudea, & Herode being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high Priests, the word of God came vnto Iohn the sonne of Zacharias, in the wildernesse.
3 And he came into all the countrey about Iordane, preaching the baptisme of repentance, for the remissiĆ of sinnes,
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the Prophet, saying, The voyce of one crying in the wildernesse, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Euery valley shall be filled, and euery mountaine and hill shalbe brought low, and the crooked shall bee made straight, and the rough wayes shall be made smooth.
6 And all flesh shal see the saluation of God.
7 Then said hee to the multitude that came forth to bee baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therfore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: For I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid vnto the root of the trees: Euery tree therefore which bringeth not foorth good fruit, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we doe then?
11 He answereth, and saith vnto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, and he that hath meat, let him doe likewise.
12 Then came also Publicanes to be baptized, and said vnto him, Master, what shall we doe?
13 And he said vnto them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you.
14 And the souldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we doe? And he said vnto them, Doe violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, & be content with your wages.
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Iohn, whether he were the Christ or not:
16 Iohn answered, saying vnto them all, I indeede baptize you with water, but one mightier then I commeth, the latchet of whose shooes I am not worthy to vnloose, he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.
17 Whose fanne is in his hand, and he will thorowly purge his floore, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaffe he will burne with fire vnquencheable.
18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he vnto the people.
19 But Herode the Tetrarch being reprooued by him for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the euils which Herode had done,
20 Added yet this aboue all, that he shut vp Iohn in prison.
Lk 3:1-20
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).