³ And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming ^(A)a baptism of repentance ^(B)for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in ^(C)the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

⁷ He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ^(K)“You brood of ^(L)vipers! Who warned you to flee from ^(M)the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruits ^(N)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ^(O)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from ^(P)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(Q)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

^16 (A)John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but ^(B)he who is mightier than I is coming, ^(C)the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you ^(D)with the Holy Spirit and ^(E)fire. ¹⁷ His ^(F)winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to ^(G)gather the wheat into his barn, ^(H)but the chaff he will burn with ^(I)unquenchable fire.”

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when ^(A)Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, ^(B)the heavens were opened, ²² and ^(C)the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and ^(D)a voice came from heaven, ^(E)“You are my beloved Son;^[a] with you I am well pleased.”^[b]