Prepare the Way

John Prepares the Way · Luke 3

Story guide: Luke locates the moment within imperial and regional rule, then turns to the wilderness where the word comes to John and a way is prepared for God’s salvation.

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1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governing Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,

2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

3And he came into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of reorientation toward God for the forgiveness of sins,

4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”

5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low, and the crooked places will become straight, and the rough ways smooth roads.

6and all flesh will see the salvation of God.

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