1 I n those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert in the country of Judea.

In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

2 H e said, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them! The holy nation of heaven is near.”

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

3 T he early preacher Isaiah spoke of this man. He said, “Listen! His voice calls out in the desert! ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!’”

For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”

4 J ohn wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

5 T hen the people of Jerusalem and of all the country of Judea and those from near the Jordan River went to him.

Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

6 T hose who told of their sins were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

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

7 H e saw many proud religious law-keepers and other people of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead. They were coming to him to be baptized. He said to them, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from God’s anger that is coming?

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

8 D o something to show me that your hearts are changed.

Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

9 D o not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.

Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

10 “ Even now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

11 F or sure, I baptize with water those who are sorry for their sins and turn from them. The One Who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is greater than I. I am not good enough to take off His shoes.

I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

12 H e comes ready to clean the grain. He will gather the grain in and clean it all. The clean grain He will put into a building. He will burn that which is no good with a fire that cannot be put out.” The Baptism of Jesus

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

13 J esus came from Galilee. He went to John at the Jordan River to be baptized by him.

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

14 J ohn tried to stop Him. He said, “I need to be baptized by You. Do You come to me?”

But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

15 J esus said to him, “Let it be done now. We should do what is right.” John agreed and baptized Jesus.

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

16 W hen Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. He saw the Spirit of God coming down and resting on Jesus like a dove.

Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.

17 A voice was heard from heaven. It said, “This is My much-loved Son. I am very happy with Him.”

Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”