Matthäus 3,8 | New International Reader’s Version

John the Baptist prepares the way

1 In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the Desert of Judea. 2 He said, ‘Turn away from your sins! The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3 John is the one Isaiah the prophet 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.” ’ 4 John’s clothes were made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea. They also came from the whole area around the River Jordan. 6 When they confessed their sins, John baptised them in the Jordan. 7 John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising. He said to them, ‘You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger? 8 Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins. 9 Don’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. 10 The axe is ready to cut 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 baptise you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone is coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His 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 the husks with fire that can’t be put out.’

Jesus is baptised

13 Jesus came from Galilee to the River Jordan. He wanted to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to stop him. So he told Jesus, ‘I need to be baptised by you. So why do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus 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. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, 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. 17 A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.’

English Standard Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”* 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare* the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But 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? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And 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. 10 Even 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. 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. 12 His 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.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,* and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,* with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthäus 3,8 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

John the Baptist prepares the way

Jesus is baptised

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

The Baptism of Jesus