1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (书15:61; 士1:16; 可1:2; 路3:2; 约1:6)2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[1] (但2:44; 太4:17; 太6:10; 太10:7; 可1:15)3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare[2] the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” (赛40:3; 路1:76; 约1:23)4Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (利11:22; 撒上14:26; 王下1:8; 亚13:4; 來11:37)5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (徒19:18)7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (诗140:3; 太12:34; 太22:23; 太23:13; 太23:15; 太23:33; 羅5:9; 弗5:6; 西3:6; 帖前1:10)8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (徒26:20)9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (太4:3; 约8:39)10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (太7:19; 路13:7; 路13:9; 约15:2; 约15:6)11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (赛4:4; 玛3:2; 约1:15; 约1:26; 约1:27; 约1:33; 约3:30; 徒1:5; 徒2:3; 徒11:16; 徒13:24; 徒13:25; 徒19:4)12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (赛30:24; 玛4:1; 太13:30; 可9:43; 可9:48)
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (太2:22; 可1:9; 路3:21; 约1:32)14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (约13:6)15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[3] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (路4:18; 路4:21; 约1:32; 徒7:56; 徒10:38)17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[4] with whom I am well pleased.” (诗2:7; 赛42:1; 太17:5; 约12:28; 弗1:6; 西1:13; 彼后1:17; 约一5:9)