²⁵ Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over ^(A)purification.

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there ^(A)for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty ^(B)gallons.^[a]

²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(A)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(B)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(C)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

¹³ For if ^(A)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(B)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[a] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(C)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(D)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(E)purify our^[b] conscience ^(F)from dead works ^(G)to serve the living God.

² and of ^(A)instruction about washings,^{[a] (B)}the laying on of hands, ^(C)the resurrection of the dead, and ^(D)eternal judgment.

² they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were ^(A)defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,^[a] holding to ^(B)the tradition of ^(C)the elders, ⁴ and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.^[b] And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as ^(D)the washing of ^(E)cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.^[c]) ⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to ^(F)the tradition of ^(G)the elders, ^(H)but eat with ^(I)defiled hands?”

^11 (A)“I baptize you with water ^(B)for repentance, but ^(C)he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you ^(D)with the Holy Spirit and ^(E)fire.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(A)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

¹⁰ but deal only with ^(A)food and drink and ^(B)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.