Matthew Three
In those days came John the Baptist;
and he was preaching in the wilderness
of Judaea, Saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven
is near. For it was he of whom it was said by the
prophet Isaiah, The voice which cries in the
wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, and
straighten his highways.
Now the same John’s clothes were made
of camel’s hair, and he had leathern belts
around his waist, and his food was locusts
and wild honey. Then there went out to him, Jerusalem and
all of Judaea, and the whole country around
Jordan. And they were baptized by him in the river
Jordan, as they confessed their sins. But when he saw a great many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming
to be baptized, he said to them, O offspring
of scorpions, who has warned you to escape
from the anger which is to come? Bring forth therefore fruits which are worthy
of repentance; And do not think and say within yourselves,
We have Abraham as our father; for I
say to you that God can raise up children for
Abraham from these stones. Behold, the axe is already placed at the
root of the trees; therefore, every tree which
bears not good fruits shall be cut down and
dropped in the fire. I am just baptizing you with water for
repentance; but he who is coming after me
is greater than I, the one even whose shoes I
am not worthy to remove; he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Whose shovel is in his hand, and he purifies
his threshings; the wheat he gathers into
his barns, and the straw he burns up in the
unquenchable fire.
¶ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the
Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, and said, I
need to be baptized by you, and yet have you
come to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, Permit
now, for this is necessary for us so that
all righteousness may be fulfilled; and then
he permitted him.
¶ When Jesus was baptized, he immediately
came out of the water; and the heavens
were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove, and coming
upon him; And behold, a voice from heaven, which
said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I
am pleased. |