Luke 3:4-18

⁴This was in fulfilment of what is said in the writings of the prophet Isaiah — ‘The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: “Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

⁵Every chasm will be filled, Every mountain and hill will be levelled, The winding ways will be straightened, The rough roads made smooth,

⁶and everyone will see the salvation of God.”’

⁷And John said to the crowds that went to be baptised by him, “You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgement?

⁸Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say amongst yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!

⁹Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰“What are we to do then?” the people asked.

¹¹“Let anyone who has two coats,” answered John, “share with the person who has none; and anyone who has food do the same.”

¹²Even tax-gatherers came to be baptised, and said to John, “Teacher, what are we to do?”

¹³“Do not collect more than you have authority to demand,” John answered.

¹⁴And when some soldiers on active service asked “And we — what are we to do?” he said, “Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay.”

¹⁵Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ,

¹⁶John, addressing them all, said, “I, indeed, baptise you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

¹⁷His winnowing-fan is in his hand so that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.”

¹⁸And so with many different appeals John told his good news to the people.