King James Version, Updated™

(1) Now in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

(2) when Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

(3) And he came into all the region around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

(4) As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'YOU prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

(5) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

(6) And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "

(7) Then he said to the multitude that came out to be baptized by him, "O you offspring of vipers, who has warned YOU to flee from the wrath to come?

(8) Therefore bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father;' for I say to YOU, That God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

(9) Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

(10) And the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"

(11) He answered and said to them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."

(12) Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Master, what shall we do?"

(13) And he said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to YOU."

(14) Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not intimidate any man with violence, or accuse any falsely; and be content with YOUR wages."

(15) As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ, or not;

(16) John answered, saying to them all, "I indeed baptize YOU with water, but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize YOU with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

(17) His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

(18) Then with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

(19) But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

(20) added this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

(21) Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus was also baptized, and while praying, the heaven was opened,

(22) and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased."

(23) When Jesus himself began his ministery at about 30 years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,

(24) who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,

(25) Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,

(26) who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Judah,

(27) who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri,

(28) who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,

(29) who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,

(30) who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,

(31) who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,

(32) who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Naasson,

(33) who was the son of Aminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Esrom, who was the son of Phares, who was the son of Judah,

(34) who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Thara, who was the son of Nachor,

(35) who was the son of Saruch, who was the son of Ragau, who was the son of Phalec, who was the son of Heber, who was the son of Sala,

(36) who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,

(37) who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who was the son of Cainan,

(38) who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.