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And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

[a]The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight.

Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming [b]to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of [c]repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you [d]in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not [e]worthy to bear: he shall baptize you [f]in the Holy Spirit and in fire: 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [g]it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened [h]unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, [i]This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 Isa. 40:3.
  2. Matthew 3:7 Or, for baptism
  3. Matthew 3:8 Or, your repentance
  4. Matthew 3:11 Or, with
  5. Matthew 3:11 Greek sufficient.
  6. Matthew 3:11 Or, with
  7. Matthew 3:15 Or, me
  8. Matthew 3:16 Some ancient authorities omit unto him.
  9. Matthew 3:17 Or, This is my Son; my beloved in whom I am well pleased. See 12:18.

The Preaching of John the Baptist

Now (A)in those days (B)John the Baptist *[a]came, [b]preaching in the (C)wilderness of Judea, saying, (D)Repent, for (E)the kingdom of heaven [c]is at hand.” For this is the (F)one referred to [d]by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

(G)The voice of one [e]crying in the wilderness,
(H)Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

Now John himself had [f](I)a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was (J)locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem (K)was going out to him, and all Judea and all (L)the district around the Jordan; and they were being (M)baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

But when he saw many of the (N)Pharisees and (O)Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You (P)brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from (Q)the wrath to come? (R)Therefore bear fruit (S)in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘(T)We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The (U)axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore (V)every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “As for me, (W)I baptize you [g]with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; (X)He will baptize you [h]with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His (Y)winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will (Z)gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the (AA)chaff with (AB)unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 (AC)Then Jesus *arrived (AD)from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us (AE)to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and [i](AF)he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and [j]lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “(AG)This is [k]My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:1 Or arrived, or appeared
  2. Matthew 3:1 Or proclaiming as a herald
  3. Matthew 3:2 Lit has come near
  4. Matthew 3:3 Or through
  5. Matthew 3:3 Or shouting
  6. Matthew 3:4 Lit his garment
  7. Matthew 3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with or by
  8. Matthew 3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with or by
  9. Matthew 3:16 Or He
  10. Matthew 3:16 Lit coming upon Him
  11. Matthew 3:17 Or My Son, the Beloved