1 Fazia quinze anos que Tibério era o Imperador romano. Nesse tempo Pôncio Pilatos era o governador da Judeia, Herodes governava a Galileia, o seu irmão Filipe governava a região da Itureia e Traconites, e Lisânias era o governador de Abilene. 2 E Anás e Caifás eram os Grandes Sacerdotes . Foi nesse tempo que a mensagem de Deus foi dada, no deserto, a João, filho de Zacarias. 3 E João atravessou toda a região do rio Jordão, anunciando esta mensagem:

— Arrependam-se dos seus pecados e sejam batizados, que Deus perdoará vocês.

4 Isso aconteceu como o profeta Isaías tinha escrito no seu livro:

"Alguém está gritando no deserto:

Preparem o caminho para o Senhor passar!

Abram estradas retas para ele!

5 Todos os vales serão aterrados,

e todos os morros e montes

serão aplanados.

Os caminhos tortos serão endireitados,

e as estradas esburacadas

serão consertadas.

6 E todos verão a salvação que Deus dá."

7 As multidões iam se encontrar com João para serem batizadas por ele. Ele dizia a todos:

— Ninhada de cobras venenosas! Quem disse que vocês escaparão do terrível castigo que Deus vai mandar? 8 Façam coisas que mostrem que vocês se arrependeram dos seus pecados. E não digam uns aos outros: "Nós somos descendentes de Abraão." Pois eu afirmo a vocês que até destas pedras Deus pode fazer descendentes de Abraão! 9 O machado já está pronto para cortar as árvores pela raiz. Toda árvore que não dá frutas boas será cortada e jogada no fogo.

10 Então o povo perguntava:

— O que devemos fazer?

11 Ele respondia:

— Quem tiver duas túnicas dê uma a quem não tem nenhuma, e quem tiver comida reparta com quem não tem.

12 Alguns cobradores de impostos também chegaram para serem batizados e perguntaram a João:

— Mestre, o que devemos fazer?

13 — Não cobrem mais do que a lei manda! — respondeu João.

14 Alguns soldados também perguntavam:

— E nós, o que devemos fazer?

E João respondia:

— Não tomem dinheiro de ninguém, nem pela força nem por meio de acusações falsas. E se contentem com o salário que recebem.

15 As esperanças do povo começaram a aumentar, e eles pensavam que talvez João fosse o Messias. 16 Mas João disse a todos:

— Eu batizo vocês com água, mas está chegando alguém que é mais importante do que eu, e não mereço a honra de desamarrar as correias das sandálias dele. Ele os batizará com o Espírito Santo e com fogo. 17 Com a pá que tem na mão, ele vai separar o trigo da palha. Guardará o trigo no seu depósito, mas queimará a palha no fogo que nunca se apaga.

18 João anunciava de muitas maneiras diferentes a boa notícia ao povo e apelava a eles para que mudassem de vida. 19 Mas falou contra o governador Herodes porque ele havia casado com Herodias, a esposa do irmão do próprio Herodes. E também porque ele tinha feito muitas outras coisas más. 20 Então Herodes fez uma coisa ainda pior: mandou pôr João na cadeia.

21 Depois do batismo de todo aquele povo, Jesus também foi batizado. E, quando Jesus estava orando, o céu se abriu, 22 e o Espírito Santo desceu na forma de uma pomba sobre ele. E do céu veio uma voz, que disse:

— Tu és o meu Filho querido e me dás muita alegria.

23 Jesus começou o seu trabalho quando tinha mais ou menos trinta anos de idade. Ele era, conforme pensavam, filho de José, que era filho de Eli, 24 filho de Matate, filho de Levi, filho de Melqui, filho de Janai, filho de José, 25 filho de Matatias, filho de Amós, filho de Naum, filho de Esli, filho de Nagai, 26 filho de Maate, filho de Matatias, filho de Semei, filho de José, filho de Jodá, 27 filho de Joanã, filho de Resa, filho de Zorobabel, filho de Salatiel, filho de Neri, 28 filho de Melqui, filho de Adi, filho de Cosã, filho de Elmadã, filho de Er, 29 filho de Josué, filho de Eliézer, filho de Jorim, filho de Matate, filho de Levi, 30 filho de Simeão, filho de Judá, filho de José, filho de Jonã, filho de Eliaquim, 31 filho de Meleá, filho de Mená, filho de Matatá, filho de Natã, filho de Davi, 32 filho de Jessé, filho de Obede, filho de Boaz, filho de Sala, filho de Nasom, 33 filho de Aminadabe, filho de Admim, filho de Arni, filho de Esrom, filho de Peres, filho de Judá, 34 filho de Jacó, filho de Isaque, filho de Abraão, filho de Tera, filho de Naor, 35 filho de Serugue, filho de Reú, filho de Pelegue, filho de Éber, filho de Selá, 36 filho de Cainã, filho de Arpaxade, filho de Sem, filho de Noé, filho de Lameque, 37 filho de Matusalém, filho de Enoque, filho de Jarede, filho de Maalalel, filho de Cainã, 38 filho de Enos, filho de Sete, filho de Adão, filho de Deus.

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius the tetrarch of Abilene,

2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins;

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

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;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

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

11 He answereth and saith to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?

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

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

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

16 John answered, saying to 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 will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18 And many other things in his exhortation he preached to the people.

19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Spirit 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.

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,

24 Who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,

25 Who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Naum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Nagge,

26 Who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Juda,

27 Who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri,

28 Who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,

29 Who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,

30 Who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,

31 Who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,

32 Who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Booz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Naasson,

33 Who was the son of Aminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Esrom, who was the son of Phares, who was the son of Judah,

34 Who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor,

35 Who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Heber, who was the son of Sala,

36 Who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,

37 Who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who was the son of Cainan,

38 Who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.