¹⁵ Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, ¹⁶ John answered, saying to all, ^(A)“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will ^(B)baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and ^(C)gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸ And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

John Baptizes Jesus^(A)

^13 (B)Then Jesus came ^(C)from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

¹⁵ But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

^16 (D)When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and ^[a]He saw ^(E)the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ^17 (F)And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ^(G)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ^(A)

²³ Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at ^(B)about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) ^(C)the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,