The Baptism of Jesus^(A)

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.^{(B) 14} But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,^(C) and he saw the Spirit of God^(D) descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven^(E) said, “This is my Son,^(F) whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^(G)

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(A) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(B) for the forgiveness of sins.^{(C) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^(D) and he ate locusts^(E) and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{(F) 8} I baptize you with^[a] water, but he will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(G)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus^(H)(I)

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth^(J) in Galilee and was baptized by John^(K) in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.^{(L) 11} And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,^(M) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^(N)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus^(A)(B)

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,^(C) heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him^(D) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,^(E) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^(F)

²⁶ “I baptize with^[a] water,”^(A) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(B) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(C)

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,^(D) where John was baptizing.

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(E) who takes away the sin of the world!^{(F) 30} This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’^{(G) 31} I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.^{(H) 33} And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(I) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^{(J) 34} I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[b](K)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus^(L)

³⁵ The next day John^(M) was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”^(N)

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.^{(A) 33} And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(B) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^(C)