The work of the Prophet Yahyā (pbuh)
3
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,a when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,b Herodc was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were Jewish high priests,d the word of Allah came to Yahyā son of Zakarīyā in the wilderness. 3 He came to the entire region around the Jordan, preaching a ritual washinge of taubaf for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the Book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,“A voice calling out in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
5 Every valley will be filled in,
and every mountain and hill made low,
the twisted paths will become straight,
and the rough roads made smooth,
6 and all mankind will see Allah's salvation.’g
7 Yahyā said to the crowds coming out to receive ritual washing from him, ‘You offspring of snakes, who warned you to flee from the anger of Allah that is coming? 8 Produce fruits that show you have repented, and do not begin to say among yourselves, “We have Ibrāhīm as our father.” For I say to you that Allah is able from these stones to raise up children for Ibrāhīm. 9 Already, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is going to be cut down and thrown in the fire.’
10 The crowd asked him, ‘What should we do?’
11 Yahyā answered them, ‘Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do the same.’
12 Tax collectors came to receive ritual washing, and they said to him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’
13 He said to them, ‘Don't take more than you are ordered to.’
14 Some soldiers asked him, ‘What about us? What should we do?’
Yahyā said to them, ‘Don't take money from people using violence or blackmail. And be content with your wages.’
15 The people were waiting with hope and longing, and everyone was wondering in their hearts about Yahyā, whether he might perhaps be al-Masīh. 16 Yahyā answered them all, ‘I am the one who gives ritual washing to you with water. But one is coming who is more powerful than I. I'm not worthy even to loose the straps of his sandals.h He is the one who will give ritual washing to you with the Holy Spiriti and fire.j 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.’k
18 Yahyā urged the people with many more words and he proclaimed the good news to them. 19 (But later, when Yahyā reprimanded Herod the ruler concerning Herodias, his brother's wife,l and all the evil things which Herod had done, 20 Herod added this to them all - he locked up Yahyā in prison).
'Īsā al-Masīh (hpbuu) receives ritual washing
21 While all the people were receiving the ritual washing, 'Īsā also received it.m As he was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form like a dove.n And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my spiritual Son,o whom I love! In you I take delight!’p
The genealogy of al-Masīh 'Īsā (hpbuu)
23 When 'Īsā began his work,q he was about thirty years old. He was the son,r so people thought, of Yūsuf,s the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Yūsuf, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nāhūm, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Yoanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Kosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Yūsha', the son of Eliezer, the son of Yorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Yahuda, the son of Yūsuf, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of Dāwūd, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Yahuda, 34 the son of Ya'qūb, the son of Ishāq, the son of Ibrāhīm, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Nuh, the son of Lamek, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Idris, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the spiritual son of God.t