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He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
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as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
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Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
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And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
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Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
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The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
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The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
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John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
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Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
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“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
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Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
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The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
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John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
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But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
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Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
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When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
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and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
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Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
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the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
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the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
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the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
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the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
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the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
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the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
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the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
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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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the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
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the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
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the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
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the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
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the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.