1 In those days John the Baptist arrived, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."
3 For this is the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke, saying, "A voice of one calling out in the wilderness: 'Make ready the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"
4 John himself had clothing made of camel's hair, with a belt of leather around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the country surrounding the Jordan,
6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan as they confessed their sins.
7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "Offspring of vipers! Who showed you how to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Then produce fruits befitting repentance,
9 and do not suppose you can say among yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' For I say to you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10 The axe is already lying at the root of the trees; so every tree not producing good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I for my part baptize you in water for repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I am; I am not fit to carry his sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor; he will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with fire that cannot be quenched.
13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him.
14 But John kept trying to stop him, saying, "It is I who need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me?"
15 Jesus answered him, "Allow it for now; it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then John allowed him.
16 Once baptized, Jesus went up at once from the water, and look, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove and alighting on him.
17 And there came a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I have delighted."