• John the Baptist Prepares the Way

  • 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
  • 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
  • 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
  • 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
  • 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
  • 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
  • 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
  • 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
  • 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
  • 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
  • 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  • 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

  • The Baptism of Jesus

  • 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
  • 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, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
  • 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”