Matthew 3:5-17 ▼

5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, |You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 |Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 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 axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 |As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 |His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.|

13 Then Jesus arrived 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 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 he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove [and] lighting on Him,

17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, |This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.|