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Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilatus was governor of Yehudah, and Herod was tetrarch of Galil, and Philippos his brother was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
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during the high-priestly rule of Chanan and Qayafa, the Word of Elohim came to Yochanan, son of Zekharyah, in the wilderness.
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And he went through all the region around the Yarden, proclaiming an immersion of turning back for the forgiveness of sins,
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just as it is written in the sefer of the words of Yeshayahu the prophet: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of Yahuah. Make straight His paths.
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Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. And the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
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And all flesh shall see the deliverance of Elohim.”
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Therefore he said to the crowds coming out to be immersed by him: “Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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Therefore produce fruit worthy of turning back. And do not begin to say within yourselves: ‘We have Avraham as our father.’ For I tell you that Elohim is able from these stones to raise up children for Avraham.
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And already the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.”
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And the crowds asked him: “What then shall we do?”
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And he answered and said to them: “Whoever has two tunics must share with the one who has none. And whoever has food must do likewise.”
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And tax collectors also came to be immersed and said to him: “Teacher, what shall we do?”
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And he said to them: “Collect nothing beyond what has been appointed for you.”
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And soldiers also questioned him, saying: “And we— what shall we do?” And he said to them: “Extort silver from no one. Do not accuse anyone falsely. And be satisfied with your wages.”
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And while the people were waiting expectantly, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he himself might be the Anointed,
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Yochanan answered them all, saying: “I indeed immerse you in water. But one stronger than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He shall immerse you in Holy Ruach and fire.
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His winnowing fork is in his hand to cleanse his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his storehouse. But the chaff he shall burn with fire that cannot be quenched.”
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And with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good message to the people.
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But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, the ishah of his brother, and concerning all the evil things Herod had done,
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added this also to them all: he shut Yochanan in prison.
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And it happened, when all the people had been immersed, Yahushua also was immersed. And while he was praying, the heavens were opened,
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and Holy Ruach descended upon him in bodily appearance like a dove. And a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”
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And Yahushua himself was about thirty years old when he began. Being, as it was reckoned, son of Yoseph, son of Eli,
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son of Mattat, son of Levi, son of Melki, son of Yannai, son of Yoseph,
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son of Mattityahu, son of Amots, son of Nachum, son of Chesli, son of Naggai,
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son of Ma’at, son of Mattityahu, son of Shim’i, son of Yoseph, son of Yehudah,
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son of Yochanan, son of Resa, son of Zerubbavel, son of She’altiel, son of Neri,
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son of Melki, son of Addi, son of Qosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
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son of Yahushua, son of Eliezer, son of Yorim, son of Mattat, son of Levi,
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son of Shim’on, son of Yehudah, son of Yoseph, son of Yonam, son of Elyaqim,
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son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattata, son of Natan, son of Daviyd,
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son of Yishai, son of Oved, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nachshon,
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son of Amminadav, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Chetzron, son of Peretz, son of Yehudah,
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son of Yaaqov, son of Yitzchaq, son of Avraham, son of Terach, son of Nachor,
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son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Ever, son of Shelach,
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son of Qeinan, son of Arpakhshad, son of Shem, son of Noach, son of Lemekh,
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son of Metushelach, son of Chanokh, son of Yered, son of Mahalalel, son of Qeinan,
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son of Enosh, son of Shet, son of Adam, son of Elohim.