John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Luke 3

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of j Tiberius Caesar, k Pontius Pilate l being governor of Judea, and m Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during n the high priesthood of Annas and o Caiaphas, p the word of God came to q John the son of Zechariah in r the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming s a baptism of repentance t for the forgiveness of sins.

4 As it is written in u the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
v "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
w 'Prepare the way of the Lord, 1
make his paths straight.
 5 x Every valley shall be filled,
y and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
z and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
 6 a and all flesh shall see b the salvation of God.'"

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, c "You brood of d vipers! Who warned you to flee from e the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits f in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, g 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from h these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. i Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

10 And the crowds asked him, j "What then shall we do?" 11 And he answered them, k "Whoever has two tunics 2 is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." 12 l Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, j what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, m "Collect no more than you are authorized to do." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, j what shall we do?" And he said to them, m "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your n wages."

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, o whether he might be p the Christ, 16 q John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but r he who is mightier than I is coming, s the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you t with the Holy Spirit and with u fire. 17 His v winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to w gather the wheat into his barn, x but the chaff he will burn with y unquenchable fire."

18 So z with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But a Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that b he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when c Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, d the heavens were opened, 22 and e the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and f a voice came from heaven, g "You are my beloved Son; 3 with you I am well pleased." 4

  1. Cross References
    Luke 2:1
    In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 27:2
    And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 2:2
    This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 3:19
    But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved b...
    Luke 8:3
    And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's househol...
    Luke 9:7
    Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was...
    Luke 9:9
    Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this a...
    Luke 13:31
    At that very hour some Pharisees came and said ...
    Luke 23:7
    And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's...
    Matthew 14:1
    At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the...
    Acts 4:27
    For truly in this city there were gathered toge...
    Acts 13:1
    Now there were in the church at Antioch prophet...
    Mark 6:14
    King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had bec...
  5. Cross References
    John 18:13
    First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
    John 18:24
    Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
    Acts 4:6
    With Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 26:3
    Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.
  7. Cross References
    Luke 3:2 - 17
    During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
    Matthew 3:1 - 12
    In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
    Mark 1:2 - 8
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
  8. Cross References
    John 1:6 - 7
    There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 1:80
    And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
    Joshua 15:61
    In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah.
    Judges 1:16
    And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 3:2 - 17
    During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
    Matthew 3:1 - 12
    In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
    Mark 1:2 - 8
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 2:38
    And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 26:28
    For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
    Luke 1:77
    To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.
  13. Cross References
    Luke 4:17
    And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written.
    Acts 8:28
    And was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
  14. Cross References
    John 1:23
    He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.
    Isaiah 40:3 - 5
    A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  15. Cross References
    Luke 1:76
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:3 - 5
    A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 57:14
    And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:11
    And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up.
    Zechariah 4:7
    Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'
  19. Cross References
    Isaiah 42:16
    And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
    Isaiah 45:2
    I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 52:10
    The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
    Psalms 98:2 - 3
    The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
  21. Cross References
    Luke 2:30
    For my eyes have seen your salvation
    Acts 28:28
    Therefore let it be known to you that this salv...
    Luke 1:69
    And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in...
    Luke 1:71
    That we should be saved from our enemies and fr...
    Luke 1:77
    To give knowledge of salvation to his people in...
    Titus 2:11
    For the grace of God has appeared, bringing sal...
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 12:34
    You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
    Matthew 23:33
    You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 140:3
    They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
  24. Cross References
    Romans 5:9
    Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
    Ephesians 5:6
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    Colossians 3:6
    On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
    1 Thessalonians 1:10
    And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 26:20
    But declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
  26. Cross References
    John 8:39
    They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did.
  27. Cross References
    Luke 4:3
    The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.
  28. Cross References
    Luke 13:7
    And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?
    Luke 13:9
    Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'
    Matthew 7:19
    Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
    John 15:2
    Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
    John 15:6
    If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 2:37
    Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?
    Acts 16:30
    Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
    Acts 22:10
    And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.
  30. Cross References
    Isaiah 58:7
    Is it not to share your bread with the hungry a...
    Daniel 4:27
    Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable...
    Ephesians 4:28
    Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let h...
    James 2:15 - 16
    If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and la...
    1 John 3:17
    But if anyone has the world's goods and sees hi...
    Luke 18:22
    When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thi...
  31. Cross References
    Luke 7:29
    ( When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
    Matthew 21:32
    For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
  32. Cross References
    Luke 3:10
    And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?
  33. Cross References
    Luke 19:8
    And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
  34. Cross References
    Luke 3:10
    And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?
  35. Cross References
    Luke 3:13
    And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do.
  36. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:7
    Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
  37. Cross References
    John 1:19 - 20
    And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?
  38. Cross References
    Matthew 1:17
    So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
  39. Cross References
    John 1:26
    John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know.
    Acts 1:5
    For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
  40. Cross References
    John 1:15
    ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
    John 1:27
    Even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
    John 3:30 - 31
    He must increase, but I must decrease.
    Acts 13:25
    And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.
  41. Cross References
    Isaiah 5:27
    None is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a waistband is loose, not a sandal strap broken.
  42. Cross References
    John 1:33
    I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
    Acts 11:16
    And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
  43. Cross References
    Malachi 3:2 - 3
    But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
    Acts 2:3
    And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
  44. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:24
    And the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork.
  45. Cross References
    Matthew 13:30
    Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'
  46. Cross References
    Malachi 4:1
    For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
  47. Cross References
    Mark 9:43
    And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
    Mark 9:48
    'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'
  48. Cross References
    John 20:30
    Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.
    John 21:25
    Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
  49. Cross References
    Matthew 14:3
    For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
    Mark 6:17 - 18
    For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.
    Luke 3:1
    In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene.
  50. Cross References
    John 3:24
    (for John had not yet been put in prison).
  51. Cross References
    Luke 3:21 - 22
    Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened.
    Matthew 3:13 - 17
    Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
    Mark 1:9 - 11
    In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
    John 1:32 - 34
    And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
  52. Cross References
    Acts 7:56
    And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
  53. Cross References
    Luke 3:21 - 22
    Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened.
    Matthew 3:13 - 17
    Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
    Mark 1:9 - 11
    In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
  54. Cross References
    Luke 4:18
    The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
    Luke 4:21
    And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
    Acts 10:38
    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
  55. Cross References
    John 12:28
    Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.
  56. Cross References
    Luke 9:35
    And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "Thi...
    Psalms 2:7
    I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me,...
    Isaiah 42:1
    Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in...
    Ephesians 1:6
    To the praise of his glorious grace, with which...
    Colossians 1:13
    He has delivered us from the domain of darkness...
    2 Peter 1:17
    For when he received honor and glory from God t...
    1 John 5:9
    If we receive the testimony of men, the testimo...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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