John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1Tiberius Caesar had been ruling for 15 years. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis. Lysanias was ruler of Abilene. 2Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time God’s word came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3He went into all the countryside around the Jordan River. There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. 4Here is what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet. It says,
“A messenger is calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make straight paths for him.
5Every valley will be filled in.
Every mountain and hill will be made level.
The crooked roads will become straight.
The rough ways will become smooth.
6And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3–5)
7John spoke to the crowds coming to be baptized by him. He said, “You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger? 8Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones. 9The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.”
10“Then what should we do?” the crowd asked.
11John answered, “Anyone who has extra clothes should share with the one who has none. And anyone who has extra food should do the same.”
12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” John told them.
14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
John replied, “Don’t force people to give you money. Don’t bring false charges against people. Be happy with your pay.”
15The people were waiting. They were expecting something. They were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Messiah. 16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I am will come. I’m not good enough to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His pitchfork is in his hand to toss the straw away from his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn. But he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.” 18John said many other things to warn the people. He also announced the good news to them.
19But John found fault with Herod, the ruler of Galilee, because of his marriage to Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother. John also spoke strongly to Herod about all the other evil things he had done. 20So Herod locked John up in prison. Herod added this sin to all his others.
The Baptism and Family Line of Jesus
21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened. 22The Holy Spirit came to rest on him in the form of a dove. A voice came from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”
23Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his special work for God and others. It was thought that he was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
24Heli was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Jannai.
Jannai was the son of Joseph.
25Joseph was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Nahum.
Nahum was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Naggai.
26Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josek.
Josek was the son of Joda.
27Joda was the son of Joanan.
Joanan was the son of Rhesa.
Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the son of Neri.
28Neri was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Addi.
Addi was the son of Cosam.
Cosam was the son of Elmadam.
Elmadam was the son of Er.
29Er was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Eliezer.
Eliezer was the son of Jorim.
Jorim was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
30Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
31Eliakim was the son of Melea.
Melea was the son of Menna.
Menna was the son of Mattatha.
Mattatha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
32David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.
Salmon was the son of Nahshon.
33Nahshon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Ram.
Ram was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
34Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Terah.
Terah was the son of Nahor.
35Nahor was the son of Serug.
Serug was the son of Reu.
Reu was the son of Peleg.
Peleg was the son of Eber.
Eber was the son of Shelah.
36Shelah was the son of Cainan.
Cainan was the son of Arphaxad.
Arphaxad was the son of Shem.
Shem was the son of Noah.
Noah was the son of Lamech.
37Lamech was the son of Methuselah.
Methuselah was the son of Enoch.
Enoch was the son of Jared.
Jared was the son of Mahalalel.
Mahalalel was the son of Kenan.
38Kenan was the son of Enosh.
Enosh was the son of Seth.
Seth was the son of Adam.
Adam was the son of God.
Johannes döparen banar väg för Jesus
(Matt 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Joh 1:19-28)
1Det var nu kejsaren Tiberius femtonde regeringsår. Pontius Pilatus var landshövding i Judeen, Herodes var tetrark över Galileen, hans bror Filippos över Itureen och Trachonitis och Lysanias över Abilene. 2Hannas och Kajafas var överstepräster.
Vid den här tiden kom Guds ord till Johannes, Sakarias son, i ödemarken. 3Han gav sig iväg till trakterna kring Jordanfloden och förkunnade omvändelsens dop för syndernas förlåtelse, 4så som det står skrivet i boken om profeten Jesajas ord:
”En röst ropar i ödemarken:
’Bana väg för Herren!
Jämna vägen för honom!
5Varje dal ska fyllas,
alla berg och höjder sänkas,
krokiga stigar rätas
och steniga vägar jämnas.
6Då ska alla människor få se Guds räddning.’ ”3:6 Se Jes 40:3-5; 52:10.
7När stora mängder människor nu kom till Johannes för att bli döpta, sa han till dem: ”Ni huggormsyngel, tror ni att ni kan klara er undan den kommande vreden? 8Nej, handla3:8 Ordagrant: Bär då sådan frukt. som det anstår en som är omvänd! Tänk inte att ni bara kan säga: ’Abraham är vår stamfar.’ Jag säger er att Gud kan förvandla de här stenarna till Abrahams ättlingar! 9Yxan är redan satt till roten på träden. Varje träd som inte bär god frukt ska huggas ner och kastas i elden!”
10Då frågade folket: ”Vad ska vi då göra?”
11Han svarade: ”Om någon har två skjortor, ska han ge bort en av dem till någon som ingen har. Och den som har mat ska göra likadant.”
12Även tullindrivare3:12 Tullindrivarna var judar som arbetade med att ta in skatt åt romarna, och de var avskydda av alla. kom för att döpas, och de frågade: ”Mästare, vad ska vi göra?”
13Han svarade: ”Kräv inte mer än vad ni fått order om.”
14”Och vi då, vad ska vi göra?” frågade några soldater.
Johannes svarade: ”Tvinga inte till er pengar genom hot och våld, utan nöj er med er lön.”
15Hela folket levde i väntan, och alla undrade i sina hjärtan om inte Johannes kunde vara Messias. 16Men Johannes svarade dem alla: ”Jag döper er med vatten, men snart kommer en som är starkare än jag. Jag är inte ens värdig att knyta upp hans sandalremmar.3:16 Detta var en slavs uppgift. Han ska döpa er i den heliga Anden och eld. 17Han har kastskoveln i sin hand för att rensa upp sin tröskplats och samla vetet i ladan, men agnarna ska han bränna upp i en eld som aldrig slocknar.”
18På många olika sådana sätt förmanade Johannes folket när han framförde sitt budskap för dem.
Herodes sätter Johannes i fängelse
19Johannes riktade också direkt kritik mot Herodes, tetrarken i Galileen, för hans förhållande med sin brors hustru Herodias och för allt annat ont han gjort. 20Därför lät Herodes sätta Johannes i fängelse, och gjorde på det viset ännu en ond gärning.
Jesus blir döpt
(Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Joh 1:32-34)
21Men när nu allt folket kom för att bli döpta, och också Jesus hade blivit döpt och stod där och bad, öppnades himlen. 22Den heliga Anden sänkte sig ner över honom i form av en duva, och en röst från himlen sa: ”Du är min älskade Son, du är min glädje.”
Jesus släkttavla
(Matt 1:1-17)
23Jesus var runt trettio år när han började sin verksamhet. Han ansågs vara son till Josef,
som var son till Eli, 24son till Mattat,
son till Levi, son till Melki,
son till Jannaj, son till Josef,
25son till Mattatias, son till Amos,
son till Nahum, son till Hesli,
son till Naggaj, 26son till Machat,
son till Mattatias, son till Shimi,
son till Josek, son till Joda,
27son till Jochanan, son till Resa,
son till Serubbabel, son till Shealtiel,
son till Ner, 28son till Melki,
son till Addi, son till Kosam,
son till Elmadam, son till Er,
29son till Josua, son till Elieser,
son till Jorim, son till Mattat,
son till Levi, 30son till Symeon,
son till Juda, son till Josef,
son till Jonam, son till Eljakim,
31son till Melea, son till Menna,
son till Mattatta, son till Natan,
son till David, 32son till Jishaj,
son till Oved, son till Boas,
son till Salma, son till Nachshon,
33son till Amminadav, son till Admin,
son till Arni, son till Hesron,
son till Peres, son till Juda,
34son till Jakob, son till Isak,
son till Abraham, son till Terach,
son till Nachor, 35son till Serug,
son till Regu, son till Peleg,
son till Ever, son till Shelach,
36son till Kenan, son till Arpakshad,
son till Sem, son till Noa,
son till Lemek, 37son till Metushelach,
son till Henok, son till Jered,
son till Mahalalel, son till Kenan,
38son till Enosh, son till Set,
son till Adam, son till Gud.
