1Naqueles dias, surgiu João Batista, pregando no deserto da Judeia.2Ele dizia: “Arrependam-se, pois o Reino dos céus está próximo”.3Este é aquele que foi anunciado pelo profeta Isaías: “Voz do que clama no deserto: ‘Preparem[1] o caminho para o Senhor, façam veredas retas para ele’ ”.4As roupas de João eram feitas de pelos de camelo, e ele usava um cinto de couro na cintura. O seu alimento era gafanhotos e mel silvestre.5A ele vinha gente de Jerusalém, de toda a Judeia e de toda a região ao redor do Jordão.6Confessando os seus pecados, eram batizados por ele no rio Jordão.7Quando viu que muitos fariseus e saduceus vinham para onde ele estava batizando, disse-lhes: “Raça de víboras! Quem deu a vocês a ideia de fugir da ira que se aproxima?8Deem fruto que mostre o arrependimento!9Não pensem que vocês podem dizer a si mesmos: ‘Abraão é nosso pai’. Pois eu digo que destas pedras Deus pode fazer surgir filhos a Abraão.10O machado já está posto à raiz das árvores, e toda árvore que não der bom fruto será cortada e lançada ao fogo.11“Eu os batizo com[2] água para arrependimento. Mas depois de mim vem alguém mais poderoso do que eu, tanto que não sou digno nem de levar as suas sandálias. Ele os batizará com o Espírito Santo e com fogo.12Ele traz a pá em sua mão e limpará sua eira, juntando seu trigo no celeiro, mas queimará a palha com fogo que nunca se apaga”.
O Batismo de Jesus
13Então Jesus veio da Galileia ao Jordão para ser batizado por João.14João, porém, tentou impedi-lo, dizendo: “Eu preciso ser batizado por ti, e tu vens a mim?”15Respondeu Jesus: “Deixe assim por enquanto; convém que assim façamos, para cumprir toda a justiça”. E João concordou.16Assim que Jesus foi batizado, saiu da água. Naquele momento, o céu se abriu, e ele viu o Espírito de Deus descendo como pomba e pousando sobre ele.17Então uma voz dos céus disse: “Este é o meu Filho amado, de quem me agrado”.
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (Js 15:61; Jz 1:16; Mc 1:2; Lc 3:2; Jo 1:6)2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[1] (Dn 2:44; Mt 4:17; Mt 6:10; Mt 10:7; Mc 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.’” (Is 40:3; Lc 1:76; Jo 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. (Lv 11:22; 1 Sm 14:26; 2 Rs 1:8; Zc 13:4; Hb 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. (At 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? (Sl 140:3; Mt 12:34; Mt 22:23; Mt 23:13; Mt 23:15; Mt 23:33; Rm 5:9; Ef 5:6; Cl 3:6; 1 Ts 1:10)8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (At 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; Jo 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; Lc 13:7; Lc 13:9; Jo 15:2; Jo 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. (Is 4:4; Ml 3:2; Jo 1:15; Jo 1:26; Jo 1:27; Jo 1:33; Jo 3:30; At 1:5; At 2:3; At 11:16; At 13:24; At 13:25; At 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.” (Is 30:24; Ml 4:1; Mt 13:30; Mc 9:43; Mc 9:48)
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Mt 2:22; Mc 1:9; Lc 3:21; Jo 1:32)14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Jo 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; (Lc 4:18; Lc 4:21; Jo 1:32; At 7:56; At 10:38)17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[4] with whom I am well pleased.” (Sl 2:7; Is 42:1; Mt 17:5; Jo 12:28; Ef 1:6; Cl 1:13; 2 Pe 1:17; 1 Jo 5:9)