IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS CAESAR--WHEN PONTIUS PILATE WAS GOVERNOR OF JUDEA, HEROD TETRARCH OF GALILEE, HIS BROTHER PHILIP TETRARCH OF ITUREA AND TRACONITIS, AND LYSANIAS TETRARCH OF ABILENE--
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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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HE WENT INTO ALL THE COUNTRY 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, EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL MADE LOW. THE CROOKED ROADS SHALL BECOME STRAIGHT, THE ROUGH WAYS SMOOTH.
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AND ALL PEOPLE WILL SEE GOD'S SALVATION.''
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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 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 AX IS ALREADY 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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WHAT SHOULD WE DO THEN?' THE CROWD ASKED.
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JOHN ANSWERED, 'ANYONE WHO HAS TWO SHIRTS SHOULD SHARE WITH THE ONE WHO HAS NONE, AND ANYONE WHO 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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DON'T COLLECT ANY MORE THAN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO,' HE TOLD THEM.
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THEN SOME SOLDIERS ASKED HIM, 'AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO?' HE REPLIED, 'DON'T EXTORT MONEY AND DON'T ACCUSE PEOPLE FALSELY--BE CONTENT WITH YOUR PAY.'
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THE PEOPLE WERE WAITING EXPECTANTLY AND WERE ALL WONDERING IN THEIR HEARTS IF JOHN MIGHT POSSIBLY BE THE MESSIAH.
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JOHN ANSWERED THEM ALL, 'I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER. BUT ONE WHO IS 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 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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AND WITH MANY OTHER WORDS JOHN EXHORTED THE PEOPLE AND PROCLAIMED THE GOOD NEWS TO THEM.
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BUT WHEN JOHN REBUKED HEROD THE TETRARCH BECAUSE OF HIS MARRIAGE TO HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER'S WIFE, AND ALL THE OTHER EVIL THINGS 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 BODILY FORM LIKE A DOVE. AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN: 'YOU ARE MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.'
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NOW JESUS HIMSELF WAS ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY. HE WAS THE SON, SO IT WAS THOUGHT, OF JOSEPH, THE SON OF HELI,
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THE SON OF MATTHAT, THE SON OF LEVI, THE SON OF MELKI, 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 JOSEK, 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 MELKI, 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 SALMON, THE SON OF NAHSHON,
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THE SON OF AMMINADAB, THE SON OF RAM, 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 KENAN,
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the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.