Luke:3:1-20

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* Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius , Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea , Herod tetrarch of Galilee , Philip , his brother , tetrarch of Iturea , and the province of Trachonitis , and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene ; * in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas , the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias , in the wilderness . * And he went through all the country along the Jordan , publishing the immersion of reformation for the remission of sins . * «As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah ,» 'The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness , Prepare a way for the Lord , make for him a straight passage .' * Let every valley be filled , every mountain and hill be leveled ; let the crooked roads be made straight , and the rough ways smooth , * «that all flesh may see the salvation of God .» * Then said he to the multitudes , who flocked out to be immersed by him , Offspring of vipers , who has prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance ? * Produce , then , the proper fruits of reformation ; and say not within yourselves , We have Abraham for a father ; for I assure you , that of these stones God can raise children to Abraham . * And even now the ax lies at the root of the trees . Every tree , therefore , which produces not good fruit , is cut down , and thrown into the fire . * Upon this , the multitude asked him , What must we do then ? * He answered , Let him who has two coats , impart to him who has none ; and let him who has victuals do the same . * There came also publicans to be immersed , who said , Rabbi , what must we do ? * He answered , Exact no more than what is appointed you . * Soldiers likewise asked him , And what must we do ? He answered , Injure no man , either by violence , or false accusation , and be content with your allowance . * As the people were in suspense concerning John , every man imagining within himself that he might be the Messiah , * John addressed them all , saying , I , indeed , immerse in water ; but one mightier than I comes , whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to untie ; he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire ; * his winnowing shovel is in his hand , and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain ; he will gather the wheat into his granary , and consume the chaff in unquenchable fire . * And with many other exhortations , he published the good tidings to the people . * But Herod , the tetrarch , having been reproved by him , on account of Herodias , his brother 's wife , and for all the crimes which Herod had committed , * added this to the number , that he confined John in prison .

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