14. The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”John said to them, “Don’t force people to give you money. Don’t lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”
15. All the people were hoping for the Christ to come, and they wondered about John. They thought, “Maybe he is the Christ.”
16. John answered everyone, “I baptize you with water, but there is one coming later who can do more than I can. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17. He will come ready to clean the grain. He will separate the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn. Then he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.”
18. And John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people.
19. But John spoke against Herod, the governor, because of his sin with Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother. John also criticized Herod for the many other evil things Herod did.
20. So Herod did another evil thing: He put John in prison.
21. When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. While Jesus was praying, heaven opened and
22. the Holy Spirit came down on him. The Spirit was in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven and said, “You are my Son and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”
23. When Jesus began to teach, he was about 30 years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph’s son.Joseph was the son of Heli.
24. Heli was the son of Matthat.Matthat was the son of Levi.Levi was the son of Melki.Melki was the son of Jannai.Jannai was the son of Joseph.
25. Joseph was the son of Mattathias.Mattathias was the son of Amos.Amos was the son of Nahum.Nahum was the son of Esli.Esli was the son of Naggai.
26. Naggai was the son of Maath.Maath was the son of Mattathias.Mattathias was the son of Semein.Semein was the son of Josech.Josech was the son of Joda.