1And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa , saying, 2Repent ye ; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . 3For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet , saying , The voice of one crying in the wilderness , Make ye ready the way of the Lord , Make his paths straight . 4Now John himself had his raiment of camel ’ s hair , and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and his food was locusts and wild honey . 5Then went out unto him Jerusalem , and all Judæa , and all the region round about the Jordan ; 6and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan , confessing their sins.
The Baptism of Jesus
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them , Ye offspring of vipers , who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? 8Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance : 9and 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. 10And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees : every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire . 11I indeed baptize you in 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 in the Holy Spirit and in fire : 12whose fan is in his hand , and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire . 13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John , to be baptized of him . 14But John would have hindered him , saying , I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? 15But Jesus answering said unto him , Suffer it now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness . Then he suffereth him . 16And Jesus , when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water : and lo , the heavens were opened unto him , and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove , and coming upon him ; 17and lo , a voice out of the heavens , saying , This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased .