¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(A) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(B) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[a] water.^(C) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(D) 17} His winnowing fork^(E) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^{(F) 18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod^(G) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.^(H)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus^(I)(J)

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

²³ Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.^(O) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,^(P)