Now ain those
days
bJohn
the Baptist
* 1came
, 2preaching
in the cwilderness
of Judea
, saying
,
" aRepent, for bthe kingdom
of heaven
1is at hand
."
For this is the aone referred
to 1by Isaiah
the prophet
when he said
, " bTHE VOICE
OF ONE 2CRYING
IN THE WILDERNESS
, ` cMAKE
READY
THE WAY
OF THE LORD
, MAKE
HIS PATHS
STRAIGHT
!' "
Now John
himself
had
1 aa garment
of camel's
hair
and a leather
belt
around
his waist
; and his food
was blocusts
and wild
honey
.
Then Jerusalem
awas going
out to him, and all
Judea
and all
bthe district
around
the Jordan
;
and they were being abaptized by him in the Jordan
River
, as they confessed
their sins
.
But when he saw many
of the aPharisees
and bSadducees
coming
for baptism
, he said
to them, "You cbrood
of vipers
, who
warned
you to flee
from dthe wrath
to come
?
" aTherefore bear
fruit
bin keeping
with repentance
;
and do not suppose that you can say
to yourselves
, ` aWe have
Abraham
for our father
'; for I say
to you that from these
stones
God
is able
to raise
up children
to Abraham
.
"The aaxe is already
laid
at the root
of the trees
; therefore
bevery
tree
that does not bear
good
fruit
is cut
down
and thrown
into the fire
.
"As for me, aI baptize you 1with water
for repentance
, but He who is coming
after
me is mightier
than I, and I am
not fit
to remove
His sandals
; bHe will baptize
you 1with the Holy
Spirit
and fire
.
"His awinnowing fork
is in His hand
, and He will thoroughly
clear
His threshing
floor
; and He will bgather
His wheat
into the barn
, but He will burn
up the cchaff
with dunquenchable
fire
."
aThen Jesus
*arrived
bfrom Galilee
at the Jordan
coming to John
, to be baptized
by him.
But John tried to prevent
Him, saying
, "I have
need
to be baptized
by You, and do You come
to me?"
But Jesus answering
said
to him, "Permit
it at this
time
; for in this
way
it is fitting
for us ato fulfill
all
righteousness
." Then
he *permitted
Him.
After being baptized, Jesus
came
up immediately
from the water
; and behold
, the heavens
were opened
, and 1 ahe saw
the Spirit
of God
descending
as a dove
and 2lighting
on Him,
and behold, a voice
out of the heavens
said
, " aThis
is 1My beloved
Son
, in whom
I am
well-pleased
."