Matthew 3:1 In those days, John the Baptizer
came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For
this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet,
saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the
way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair
with a leather belt around his waist. His food was
locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem,
all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan
went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the
Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You
offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of
repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is
able to raise up children to Abraham from these
stones. 10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the
trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good
fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but
he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose
sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you
in the Holy Spirit.* 12 His winnowing fork is in his
hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing
floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the
chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John,
to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered
him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you
come to me?”
15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now,
for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all
righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from
the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him.
He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and
coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens
said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased.”