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1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea

2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.'"

4 And the same John had his clothing of camel's hair and a leather belt around his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees had come to his baptism, he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Therefore bring forth fruits fitting for repentance,

9 and do not think to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

10 And also now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance, but He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

12 His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the storehouse. But He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him.

14 But John forbade Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 And when He was baptized, Jesus went up immediately out of the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him.

17 And behold, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."