Matthew 3
The Ministry of John the Baptist
1 Now in those days John the Baptist comes preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 saying: Be repenting, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. 3 For this is he, the [one] spoken of through Isaiah the prophet when he says1:The voice of [one]
Crying in the wilderness,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
Be making his paths straight.
4 Now John himself was having his clothing from camel hairs and [an] animal skin girdle around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 At that time Jerusalem and all Judea and all the surrounding country of Jordan were coming to him 6 and were being baptized in the Jordan River by him, fully confessing their sins.
7 And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming up to his baptism, he said to them: [You] born of vipers, who has shown you to be fleeing from the impending wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. 9 And do not suppose to be saying among yourselves: [the] father we have [is] Abraham. For I say to you that God is able out of these stones to raise up children of Abraham. 10 Now the ax already lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that is not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I on the one hand baptize you in water to repentance. But on the other hand the [one] coming after me is greater than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to touch. He himself will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, 12 whose threshing fork [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing-floor, and he will gather his grain into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire.
The Baptism of Jesus
13 At that time Jesus comes to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 14 But he was hindering him saying: I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me? 15 And answering Jesus said to him: Permit it just now, for thus it is [a] fitting thing for us to fulfill all justice. Then he permitted him. 16 And Jesus having been baptized, immediately he came out from the water, and behold the heavens were opened, and he saw the spirit of God coming down like [a] dove, coming upon him. 17 And behold [a] voice out of the heavens said: This is my agape-beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased.1Isa.40:3