The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-28)

1NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; 2Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. 3And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;

4As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

5Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;

6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into the fire.

10And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do? 11And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. 12And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? 13But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. 14And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay.

15And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ; 16John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier that I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

18And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people. 19But Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done; 20He added this also above all, and shut up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34)

21Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened; 22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

The Genealogy of Jesus

(Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17)

23And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years; being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Mathat, 24Who was of Levi, who was of Melchi, who was of Janne, who was of Joseph, 25Who was of Mathathias, who was of Amos, who was of Nahum, who was of Hesli, who was of Nagge, 26Who was of Mahath, who was of Mathathias, who was of Semei, who was of Joseph, who was of Juda, 27Who was of Joanna, who was of Reza, who was of Zorobabel, who was of Salathiel, who was of Neri, 28Who was of Melchi, who was of Addi, who was of Cosan, who was of Helmadan, who was of Her, 29Who was of Jesus, who was of Eliezer, who was of Jorim, who was of Mathat, who was of Levi, 30Who was of Simeon, who was of Judas, who was of Joseph, who was of Jona, who was of Eliakim, 31Who was of Melea, who was of Menna, who was of Mathatha, who was of Nathan, who was of David, 32Who was of Jesse, who was of Obed, who was of Booz, who was of Salmon, who was of Naasson, 33Who was of Aminadab, who was of Aram, who was of Esron, who was of Phares, who was of Judas, 34Who was of Jacob, who was of Isaac, who was of Abraham, who was of Thare, who was of Nachor, 35Who was of Sarug, who was of Ragau, who was of Phaleg, who was of Heber, who was of Sale, 36Who was of Cainan, who was of Arphaxad, who was of Sem, who was of Noe, who was of Lamech, 37Who was of Mathusale, who was of Henoch, who was of Jared, who was of Malaleel, who was of Cainan, 38Who was of Henos, who was of Seth, who was of Adam, who was of God.