Mat 3 | ABEn | STEP | And in those days came John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,

‏ Matthew 3

CHAPTER 3 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 And in those days came John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, Repent! [⁶approaches ¹for ²the ³kingdom ⁴of the ⁵heavens]. 3 For this is the thing having been spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, A voice yelling in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord! [²straight ¹Make] his roads! 4 And he, John, had his garment from [²hair ¹camel's], and a belt made of skin around his loin. And his nourishment was locusts and [²honey ¹wild]. 5 Then came forth to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the place round about the Jordan. 6 And they were immersed in the Jordan by him, acknowledging their sins. 7 And beholding many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming upon his immersion, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who showed plainly to you to flee from the about to come anger? 8 Do then fruits worthy of repentance! 9 For you should not seem to say in yourselves, [²father ¹We have] Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able [⁴from out of ⁵these stones ¹to raise up ²children ³to Abraham]. 10 And already even the axe to the root of the trees is situated. For every tree not producing [²fruit ¹good], is cut down and [²into ³fire ¹thrown]. 11 Forasmuch as I immerse you in water for repentance, the one [²after ³me ¹coming ⁵stronger than ⁶me ⁴is]; of whom I am not fit [²the ³sandals ¹to bear]. He shall immerse you in [²spirit ¹holy] and fire -- 12 of which the winnowing fan is in his hand, and he shall thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, and shall gather together his grain into the storehouse; but the straw he shall incinerate [²fire ¹by inextinguishable].

John Immerses Jesus

13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee unto the Jordan to John, to be immersed by him. 14 And John restrains him, saying, I [²need ¹have ⁴by ⁵you ³to be immersed], and you come to me? 15 And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it just now! for to this it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allows him. 16 And Jesus having been immersed, ascended straightway from the water. And behold, [³were opened ⁴to him ¹the ²heavens], and he beheld the spirit of God coming down as a dove, and coming upon him. 17 And behold, a voice from out of the heavens, saying, This is my son the beloved, in whom I take pleasure.