1 In the fifteenth year of the reign {hegemonias: civil governorship} of Tiberius Caesar, with Pontius Pilate administering Judea, Herod serving as tetrarch of Galilee, Philip, his brother, as tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias as tetrarch of Abilene {Abilenes: frontier hill region}.
2 In the days when Annas and Caiaphas held the high priesthood, the word of God {Theos, Divine Revealer} came to John, the son of Zechariah in the wilderness {eremos: deserted region}.
3 And he went through every district surrounding the Jordan, announcing a baptism of repentance {metanoias: Inner Transformation} leading to the forgiveness of sins {hamartion: Moral Failures}.
4 This happened just as it stands written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord {kyrios, Messianic King}; make His paths {tribous: routes for travel} straight.’”
5 Every valley {pharangx: deep ravine} will be filled up, every mountain and hill will be brought low, the crooked {skolia: crooked bends} will be made straight, and the rough places will turn into smooth roads.
6 And all flesh {sarx: humanity in frail condition} will look upon the salvation of God {Theos, Universal Deliverer}.
7 So he began speaking to the crowds as they came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers {echidnon: venomous snakes}, who pointed out to you to flee from the coming wrath {orges: impending judgment}?”
8 Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance {metanoias: Heartfelt Change}, and stop saying within yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I tell you, God {Theos, Sovereign Judge} can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.
9 Already the axe {axine: judgment instrument} lies at the root of the trees; so every tree that fails to bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire {pyr: consuming judgment}.
10 And the crowds {ochloi: assembled people} were asking him, “What then should we do {poiesomen: decisive action}?”
11 Having answered, he said to them, “Whoever has two tunics, let him share {metadotō: freely distribute} with the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do likewise {homoiōs: in similar fashion}.”
12 Tax collectors {telonai: revenue officers} also came seeking baptism, and they said to him, “Teacher {didaskale: authoritative guide}, what should we do?”
13 He said to them, “Collect nothing more {pleon: extra amount} than what has been appointed {diatetagmenon: officially fixed} for you.”
14 And soldiers who were serving asked him, “What then shall we do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort {diaseisete: by threat or force} anyone, do not accuse falsely, and be content with your wages {opsōniois: military pay}.”
15 As the people waited in expectation, all were reasoning {dialogizomenon: careful reflection} in their hearts about John, whether he himself might be the Christ {Christos, Expected Messiah}.
16 John answered, saying to them all, “I baptize you with water {hydati: cleansing element}, but One mightier than I is coming; I am not worthy to loosen His sandal strap. He {Christos, Spirit Baptizer} will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
17 His {Christos, Purifying Judge} winnowing fork {ptyon: separation tool} is in His hand to cleanse His threshing floor completely, gather the wheat into His storehouse, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
18 With many other appeals {parakalon: earnest moral summons}, he continued proclaiming {euengelizeto: glad proclamation} the good news to the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch was reproved {elenchomenos: publicly exposed} by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things {poneron: morally corrupt actions} Herod had done.
20 And beyond everything else, he added this too, and then he locked John {Ioannes: Yahweh is gracious} up in prison {phylake: place of confinement}.
21 Now it happened that after all the people had been baptized, Jesus {Iesous, Spirit-Anointed Son} also was baptized; and while He was praying {proseuchomenos: ongoing communion}, heaven was opened.
22 And the Holy Spirit {Pneuma Hagion, Manifesting Presence} descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are My beloved Son {huios, Messianic Heir}; in You I am well pleased.”
23 And Jesus {Iesous, Beginning His Ministry} Himself, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age {eton: counted years}, being the son, as was supposed, of Joseph, the son of Heli.
24 He was the son of Matthat, the son of Levi {Leui: Tribal Ancestor}, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai {Iannai: Faithful Forebear}, the son of Joseph,
25 Of Mattathias {Matthathiou: ancestral link}, of Amos, of Nahum {Naoum: family line}, of Esli, of Naggai.
26 The son of Maath {Maath: ancestral figure}, the son of Mattathiou {Mattathiou: gift of Yahweh}, the son of Semein, the son of Iosech, the son of Ioda.
27 He {Iesous, Davidic Heir} was the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zorobabel {Zorobabel: post-exilic governor}, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri.
28 Son of Melchi {Melchi: family ancestor}, son of Addi, son of Kosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er {Er: tribal forebear}.
29 The son of Joshua {Iesou: Yahweh saves}, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi {Leui: joined one},
30 The son of Simeon {Symeon: ancestral forefather}, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph {Ioseph: key family head}, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 Of Melea, of Menna, of Mattatha {Mattatha: Gift of God}, of Nathan, of David {Dauid: Royal Ancestor}.
32 Of Jesse, of Obed {Iobel: Messianic ancestor}, of Boaz {Boos: prominent ancestor}, of Sala, of Nahshon.
33 The son of Aminadab {Aminadab: Noble People}, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hesrom, the son of Phares, the son of Judah {Iouda: Tribe Patriarch}.
34 Son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah {Thara: Abraham's father}, son of Nahor {Nachor: early ancestor}.
35 The son of Serouch {Serouch: ancestral patriarch}, the son of Ragau, the son of Phalek {Phalek: division ancestor}, the son of Eber, the son of Sala.
36 Son of Kainam, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah {Noe: Ark Builder}, son of Lamech {Lamech: Father of Noah}.
37 The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared {Iaret: generational link}, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan {Kainam: ancestral lineage}.
38 Son of Enos {Enos: Early Ancestor}, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God {Theos, Creator of Humanity}.