The Mission of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28)

1In the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod tetrarch of Gallilee: Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis: and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene: 2under the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, JOHN, the son of Zacharias, received his divine commission in the wilderness. 3in pursuance of which, he went into all the country about Jordan, exhorting all to repent and be baptized, in order to obtain the remission of their sins.

4as it is written in the book of the prophecies of Esaias, "the voice of one crying in the desart, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths clear.

5every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be level'd: the crooked shall be made strait, and the rough ways shall be made smooth,

6and all men shall behold the divine saviour."

7he said therefore to the people that crowded to be baptized by him, ye brood of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from approaching wrath? 8let your actions therefore show your repentance, and don't pretend to say within yourselves, "we have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9the ax is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree then, which does not produce good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10Upon which the people asked him, what then shall we do? 11he answer'd them, let him that hath two coats give one to him that hath none; and let him that has plenty of provisions act in like manner. 12the Publicans likewise came to be baptized, and said to him, master, how are we to act? 13exact, said he, no more than what the law requires. 14the soldiers too made the same demand, how are we to act? he answer'd them, injure no man either by violence or by fraud, and be content with your pay.

15As the people were in suspence, every man imagining in his own mind that John might be the Messiah; 16he address'd himself to them all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water; but there is one coming, who is superiour to me, whose shoes I am unworthy to untie: he shall baptize you with the holy spirit, under the appearance of fire. 17and with the fan in his hand he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will lay up the wheat in his grainery: but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire.

18many other things he delivered to the people in his exhortations. 19but having reproved Herod the tetrarch upon account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and for all the mischiefs that Herod had done; 20to compleat all the rest, Herod confin'd John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; John 1:29–34)

21When all the people were baptizing, Jesus was likewise baptized, and whilst he was praying, the clouds opened, 22and the holy spirit descended upon him in a corporeal form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased.

The Genealogy of Jesus
(Matthew 1:1–17)

23Jesus was then about thirty years of age, being, as was suppos'd, the son of Joseph, 24son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Janna, son of Joseph, 25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Naum, son of Esli, son of Nagge, 26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semi, son of Joseph, son of Juda, son of Joanna, 27son of Rhesa, son of Zorobabel, son of Salathiel, 28son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmodam, son of Er, 29son of Jose, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, 30son of Juda, son of Joseph, son of Jonan, son of Eliakim, 31son of Melea, son of Menan, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, 32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Booz, son of Salmon, 33son of Naasson, son of Aminadab, son of Aram, son of Esrom, son of Phares, son of Juda, 34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Thara, son of Nachor, son of Saruch, 35son of Ragau, son of Phalec, son of Heber, son of Sala, 36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Sem, son of Noe, son of Lamech, son of Mathusala, 37son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Maleleel, 38son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, the son of God.