1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (Jos 15:61; Jud 1:16; Mr 1:2; Lu 3:2; Joh 1:6)2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[1] (Da 2:44; Mt 4:17; Mt 6:10; Mt 10:7; Mr 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.’” (Isa 40:3; Lu 1:76; Joh 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. (Le 11:22; 1Sa 14:26; 2Ki 1:8; Zec 13:4; Heb 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. (Ac 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? (Ps 140:3; Mt 12:34; Mt 22:23; Mt 23:13; Mt 23:15; Mt 23:33; Ro 5:9; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; 1Th 1:10)8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Ac 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. (Mt 4:3; Joh 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. (Mt 7:19; Lu 13:7; Lu 13:9; Joh 15:2; Joh 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. (Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:26; Joh 1:27; Joh 1:33; Joh 3:30; Ac 1:5; Ac 2:3; Ac 11:16; Ac 13:24; Ac 13:25; Ac 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.” (Isa 30:24; Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30; Mr 9:43; Mr 9:48)
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Mt 2:22; Mr 1:9; Lu 3:21; Joh 1:32)14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Joh 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; (Lu 4:18; Lu 4:21; Joh 1:32; Ac 7:56; Ac 10:38)17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[4] with whom I am well pleased.” (Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1; Mt 17:5; Joh 12:28; Eph 1:6; Col 1:13; 2Pe 1:17; 1Jo 5:9)
Matthew 3
New International Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”[1]4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.11“I baptize you with[2] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[3] the Holy Spirit and fire.12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3
King James Version
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for 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 now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.11I indeed baptize you with 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 with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3
New Int. Readers Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the Desert of Judea.2He said, “Turn away from your sins! The kingdom of heaven is near.”3John is the one the prophet Isaiah had spoken about. He had said, “A messenger is calling out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’ ” (Isa 40:3)4John's clothes were made out of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all of Judea. They also came from the whole area around the Jordan River.6When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan.7John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing. He said to them, “You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God's anger?8Produce fruit that shows you have turned away from your sins.9Don't think you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.10The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don't produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.11“I baptize you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. And I'm not fit to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.12His pitchfork is in his hand to clear the straw from his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the storeroom. But he will burn up the husks with fire that can't be put out.”
Jesus Is Baptized
13Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He wanted to be baptized by John.14But John tried to stop him. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?”15Jesus replied, “Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God's holy plan.” Then John agreed.16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove.17A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”