Luke 3:3-17

3And he came into all 1the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “2The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.53Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be 4brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth;65And all 6flesh will 7see the salvation of God.’”

7So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “8You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and 9do not begin to say 10to yourselves, ‘11We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so 12every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “13Then what shall we do?” 11And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to 14share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12And some 15tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13And he said to them, “16Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or 17accuse anyone falsely, and 18be content with your wages.”

15Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were 19wondering in their hearts about John, 20as to whether he was 21the Christ, 1622John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you 23with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His 24winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with 25unquenchable fire.”