John the Baptist Prepares the Way
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Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, a Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
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while b Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to c John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
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d And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance e for the remission of sins,
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as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
f "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.
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Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
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And g all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "
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Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, h "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
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"Therefore bear fruits i worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
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"And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore j every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
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So the people asked him, saying, k "What shall we do then?"
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He answered and said to them, l "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, m let him do likewise."
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Then n tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
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And he said to them, o "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."
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Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone p or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."
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Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
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John answered, saying to all, q "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will r baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and s gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
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And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
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t But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
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also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.
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When all the people were baptized, u it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
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And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am v well pleased."
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Cross References
Matthew 27:2
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
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Cross References
John 11:49
And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.
John 18:13
And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Acts 4:6
As well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
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Cross References
Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
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Cross References
Matthew 3:1
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
Mark 1:4
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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Cross References
Luke 1:77
To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins.
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Cross References
Isaiah 40:3 - 5
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
Matthew 3:3
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ' Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'
Mark 1:3
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ' Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"
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Cross References
Psalms 98:2
The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
Isaiah 52:10
The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.
Luke 2:10
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Romans 10:8 - 18
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
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Cross References
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 12:34
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 23:33
Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:9 - 11
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
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Cross References
Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Luke 13:6 - 9
He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
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Cross References
Luke 3:12
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, a...
Luke 3:14
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And w...
Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the ...
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every...
Acts 16:30
And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what m...
Acts 16:31
So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...
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Cross References
Luke 11:41
But rather give alms of such things as you have...
2 Corinthians 8:14
But by an equality, that now at this time your ...
James 2:15
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute o...
James 2:16
And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, ...
1 John 3:17
But whoever has this world's goods, and sees hi...
1 John 4:20
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his br...
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Cross References
Isaiah 58:7
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:18
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.
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Cross References
Matthew 21:32
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Luke 7:29
And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
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Cross References
Luke 19:8
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.
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Cross References
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus 23:1
You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Leviticus 19:11
You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
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Cross References
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:12
"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Mark 1:7
And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
Mark 1:8
"I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
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Cross References
John 7:39
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1 - 4
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
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Cross References
Micah 4:12
But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, Nor do they understand His counsel; For He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
Matthew 13:24 - 30
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
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Cross References
Matthew 14:3
For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
Mark 6:17
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.
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Cross References
Matthew 3:13 - 17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
John 1:32
And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
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Cross References
Psalms 2:7
I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to...
Isaiah 42:1
Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One ...
Matthew 3:17
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ...
Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright c...
Mark 1:11
Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My belo...
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said to her, " The H...
Luke 9:35
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "Thi...
2 Peter 1:17
For He received from God the Father honor and g...
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.