John the Baptist preaches repentance in the wilderness. Jesus comes to be baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven calls him my beloved Son.
1 In those days came John the Baptist , preaching in the wilderness of Judaea ,
2 And saying , Repent ye : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand .
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias , saying , The voice of one crying in the wilderness , Prepare ye the way of the Lord , make his paths straight .
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair , and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and his meat was locusts and wild honey .
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem , and all Judaea , and all the region round about Jordan ,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan , confessing their sins .
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism , he said unto them , O generation of vipers , who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance :
9 And think not to say within yourselves , We have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you , that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham .
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees : therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire .
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance : but he that cometh after me is mightier than I , whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost , and with fire :
12 Whose fan is in his hand , and he will throughly purge his floor , and gather his wheat into the garner ; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire .
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John , to be baptized of him .
14 But John forbad him, saying , I have need to be baptized of thee , and comest thou to me ?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him , Suffer it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness . Then he suffered him .
16 And Jesus , when he was baptized , went up straightway out of the water : and , lo , the heavens were opened unto him , and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove , and lighting upon him :
17 And lo a voice from heaven , saying , This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased .