The Preaching of John the Baptist

1Now in those days John the Baptist *[a]came, [b]preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven [c]is at hand.” 3For this is the one referred to [d]by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“THE VOICE OF ONE [e]CALLING [f]OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’” 4Now John himself had [g]a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan; 6and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for [h]baptism, he said to them, “You [i]offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance; 9and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

11“As for me, I baptize you [j]with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you [k]with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *allowed Him. 16After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and [l]he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and [m]settling on Him, 17and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is [n]My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”