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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Luke 3 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/luke/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/luke/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Luke 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../luke/2.htm" title="Luke 2">◄</a> Luke 3 <a href="../luke/4.htm" title="Luke 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Preaching of John the Baptist</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 3:1-12">Matthew 3.1-12</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 1:1-8">Mark 1.1-8</ref>; <ref loc="JHN 1:19-28">John 1.19-28</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_1"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.1" class="v42_3_1">1</span>For 15 years<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.1!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. </span><span class="v42_3_2"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.2" class="v42_3_2">2</span>Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.2!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_2">At that time God spoke to Zechariah's son John, who was living in the desert. </span><span class="v42_3_3"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.3" class="v42_3_3">3</span>So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.” </span><span class="v42_3_4"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.4" class="v42_3_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_4">“In the desert</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_4">someone is shouting,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_4">‘Get the road ready</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_4">for the Lord!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_4">Make a straight path</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_4">for him.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_5"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.5" class="v42_3_5">5</span>Fill up every valley</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_5">and level every mountain</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_5">and hill.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_5">Straighten the crooked paths</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_5">and smooth out</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_5">the rough roads.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_3_6"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.6" class="v42_3_6">6</span>Then everyone will see</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_3_6">the saving power of God.’ ”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_7"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.7" class="v42_3_7">7</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.7!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, “You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? </span><span class="v42_3_8"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.8" class="v42_3_8">8</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.8!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.8!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_3_9"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.9" class="v42_3_9">9</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.9!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_10"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.10" class="v42_3_10">10</span>The crowds asked John, “What should we do?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_11"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.11" class="v42_3_11">11</span>John told them, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_12"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.12" class="v42_3_12">12</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.12!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> When tax collectors<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.12!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> came to be baptized, they asked John, “Teacher, what should we do?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_13"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.13" class="v42_3_13">13</span>John told them, “Don't make people pay more than they owe.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_14"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.14" class="v42_3_14">14</span>Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us? What do we have to do?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_14">John told them, “Don't force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_15"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.15" class="v42_3_15">15</span>Everyone became excited and wondered, “Could John be the Messiah?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_16"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.16" class="v42_3_16">16</span>John said, “I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.16!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. </span><span class="v42_3_17"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.17" class="v42_3_17">17</span>His threshing fork<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the husks with a fire that never goes out.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_18"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.18" class="v42_3_18">18</span>In many different ways John preached the good news to the people. </span><span class="v42_3_19"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.19" class="v42_3_19">19</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.19!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But to Herod the ruler, he said, “It was wrong for you to take Herodias, your brother's wife.” John also said Herod had done many other bad things. </span><span class="v42_3_20"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.20" class="v42_3_20">20</span>Finally, Herod put John in jail, and this was the worst thing he had done.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Baptism of Jesus</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 3:13-17">Matthew 3.13-17</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 1:9-11">Mark 1.9-11</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_21"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.21" class="v42_3_21">21</span>While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, </span><span class="v42_3_22"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.22" class="v42_3_22">22</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.3.22!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Ancestors of Jesus</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 1:1-17">Matthew 1.1-17</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_23"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.23" class="v42_3_23">23</span>When Jesus began to preach, he was about 30 years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back through Heli, </span><span class="v42_3_24"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.24" class="v42_3_24">24</span>Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph, </span><span class="v42_3_25"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.25" class="v42_3_25">25</span>Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, </span><span class="v42_3_26"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.26" class="v42_3_26">26</span>Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda;</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_27"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.27" class="v42_3_27">27</span>Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, </span><span class="v42_3_28"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.28" class="v42_3_28">28</span>Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, </span><span class="v42_3_29"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.29" class="v42_3_29">29</span>Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi;</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_30"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.30" class="v42_3_30">30</span>Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, </span><span class="v42_3_31"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.31" class="v42_3_31">31</span>Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, </span><span class="v42_3_32"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.32" class="v42_3_32">32</span>Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon;</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_33"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.33" class="v42_3_33">33</span>Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, </span><span class="v42_3_34"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.34" class="v42_3_34">34</span>Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, </span><span class="v42_3_35"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.35" class="v42_3_35">35</span>Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah;</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_36"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.36" class="v42_3_36">36</span>Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, </span><span class="v42_3_37"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.37" class="v42_3_37">37</span>Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Kenan, </span><span class="v42_3_38"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.3.38" class="v42_3_38">38</span>Enosh, and Seth.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_3_38">The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">For 15 years: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This was either <char style="sc">a.d.</char> 28 or 29, and Jesus was about 30 years old (see 3.23).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Herod: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.2 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Annas and Caiaphas … high priests: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Annas was high priest from <char style="sc">a.d.</char> 6 until 15. His son-in-law Caiaphas was high priest from <char style="sc">a.d.</char> 18 until 37.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.8 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">children for Abraham: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish people thought they were God's chosen people because of God's promises to their ancestor Abraham.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.12 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">tax collectors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">These were usually Jewish people who paid the Romans for the right to collect taxes. They were hated by other Jews who thought of them as traitors to their country and to their religion.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">untie his sandals: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This was the duty of a slave.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">threshing fork: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">After Jewish farmers had trampled out the grain, they used a large fork to pitch the grain and the husks into the air. Wind would blow away the light husks, and the grain would fall back to the ground, where it could be gathered up.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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