Luke 1:5-25; 3:1-22 John the Baptist

Luke1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Luke1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Luke1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Luke1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, Luke1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. Luke1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Luke1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Luke1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Luke1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. Luke1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. Luke1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. Luke1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. Luke1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Luke1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Luke1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. Luke1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. Luke1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

Luke1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. Luke1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Luke1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Luke3:1 Now in the fifteenth 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, Luke3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Luke3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Luke3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke3:5 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; Luke3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Luke3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Luke3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Luke3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Luke3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

Luke3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

Luke3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Luke3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Luke3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

Luke3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Luke3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Luke3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Luke3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. Luke3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, Luke3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. is ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.