1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3
English Standard Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (Jos 15:61; Jud 1:16; Mr 1:2; Lu 3:2; Joh 1:6)2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[1] (Da 2:44; Mt 4:17; Mt 6:10; Mt 10:7; Mr 1:15)3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare[2] the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” (Isa 40:3; Lu 1:76; Joh 1:23)4Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (Le 11:22; 1Sa 14:26; 2Ki 1:8; Zec 13:4; Heb 11:37)5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Ac 19:18)7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Ps 140:3; Mt 12:34; Mt 22:23; Mt 23:13; Mt 23:15; Mt 23:33; Ro 5:9; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; 1Th 1:10)8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Ac 26:20)9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (Mt 4:3; Joh 8:39)10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Mt 7:19; Lu 13:7; Lu 13:9; Joh 15:2; Joh 15:6)11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:26; Joh 1:27; Joh 1:33; Joh 3:30; Ac 1:5; Ac 2:3; Ac 11:16; Ac 13:24; Ac 13:25; Ac 19:4)12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Isa 30:24; Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30; Mr 9:43; Mr 9:48)
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Mt 2:22; Mr 1:9; Lu 3:21; Joh 1:32)14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Joh 13:6)15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[3] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (Lu 4:18; Lu 4:21; Joh 1:32; Ac 7:56; Ac 10:38)17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[4] with whom I am well pleased.” (Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; Mt 17:5; Joh 12:28; Eph 1:6; Col 1:13; 2Pe 1:17; 1Jo 5:9)