1In those days John the Baptist came, Mk 1:3-8; Lk 3:2-17; Jn 1:6-8,19-28 preaching in the Wilderness of Judea Jos 15:61; Jdg 1:16

2and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! ” Dn 2:44; Mt 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; Mk 1:15; Lk 10:9; 11:20; 21:31

3For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

4John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to him,

6and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. Mt 23:37; Mk 1:5; Lk 3:3; Jn 15:22; Ac 19:18

7When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees Mt 16:1; 22:23; 23:15; Ac 4:1; 5:17; 23:6 coming to the place of his baptism, Lit to his baptism he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Mt 12:34; 23:33; Rm 5:9; 1Th 1:10

8Therefore produce fruit Mt 3:10; 12:33; 13:8,26; 21:19,34,41,43; Mk 11:14 consistent with Lit fruit worthy of repentance.

9And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ Lk 3:8; Jn 8:33,39; Ac 13:26; Rm 4:1 For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

10Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Mt 7:19; Lk 13:7,9; Jn 15:2,6

11“I baptize you with Or in water for repentance, Baptism was the means by which repentance was expressed publicly. Mk 1:4,8; Jn 1:26; Ac 1:5 but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove Or to carry His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with Or in the Holy Spirit and fire. Is 4:4; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:3-4; 11:16; Ti 3:5

12His winnowing shovel A wooden farm implement used to toss threshed grain into the wind so the lighter chaff would blow away and separate from the heavier grain is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never goes out.” Is 30:24; Mt 13:30; Mk 9:43,48; Lk 3:17

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:31-34

14But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me? ”

15Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized.

16After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens Mt 24:35; Lk 12:33; Ac 17:24; Eph 6:9; Rv 21:10 suddenly opened for Him, Other mss omit for Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. Is 11:2; Jn 1:32; Ac 7:56; 2Pt 1:17

17And there came a voice from heaven: