Matthew 3:1-17
3 In those days John* the Baptist*+ came preaching* in the wilderness+ of Ju·deʹa,
2 saying: “REPENT,+ for the kingdom of the heavens* has drawn near.”+
3 This, in fact, is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet+ in these words: “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare+ the way of Jehovah,* YOU people! Make his roads straight.’”
4 But this very John had his clothing of camel’s hair+ and a leather girdle*+ around his loins; his food too was insect locusts+ and wild honey.+
5 Then Jerusalem* and all Ju·deʹa and all the country around the Jordan made their way out to him,
6 and people were baptized by him in the Jordan River,+ openly confessing their sins.
7 When he caught sight of many of the Pharisees and Sadducees+ coming to the baptism, he said to them: “YOU offspring of vipers,+ who has intimated to YOU to flee from the coming wrath?+
8 So then produce fruit that befits repentance;*+
9 and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘As a father we have Abraham.’+ For I say to YOU that God is able to raise up children to Abraham+ from these stones.
10 Already the ax+ is lying at the root of the trees; every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down+ and thrown into the fire.+
11 I, for my part, baptize* YOU with water+ because of YOUR repentance;+ but the one coming+ after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off.+ That one will baptize YOU people with holy spirit*+ and with fire.+
12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will completely clean up his threshing floor, and will gather his wheat into the storehouse,+ but the chaff he will burn+ up with fire that cannot be put out.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galʹi·lee+ to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized+ by him.
14 But the latter tried to prevent him, saying: “I am the one needing to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?”
15 In reply Jesus said to him: “Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous.”+ Then he quit preventing him.
16 After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up,+ and he saw descending like a dove+ God’s spirit coming upon him.+
17 Look! Also, there was a voice+ from the heavens that said: “This is my Son,+ the beloved,+ whom I have approved.”+
Footnotes
^ Or, “heralding.” Gr., ke·rysʹson; Lat., praeʹdi·cans.
^ “John.” Gr., I·o·aʹnes; J1-14,16-18,22(Heb.), Yoh·cha·nanʹ, “Johanan,” meaning “Jehovah Has Shown Favor; Jehovah Has Been Gracious.”
^ Or, “the Immerser; the Dipper.” Gr., ho Ba·pti·stesʹ; J17,22(Heb.), ham·Mat·bilʹ.
^ “Kingdom of the heavens.” Gr., ba·si·leiʹa ton ou·ra·nonʹ; Lat., reʹgnum cae·loʹrum; J22(Heb.), mal·khuthʹ sha·maʹyim.
^ See App 1D.
^ Or, “belt.”
^ Meaning “Possession [or, Foundation] of Twofold Peace.” Gr., I·e·ro·soʹly·ma; J22(Heb.), Yeru·sha·laʹyim.
^ Lit., “change of mind.” Gr., me·ta·noiʹas.
^ Or, “immerse; dip.” Gr., ba·ptiʹzo.
