Scriptures
Matthew 3


Chapter 3

John the Baptist preaches in Judæa—Jesus is baptized, and the Father acclaims Him as His Beloved Son.

1 In those days came aJohn the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,

2 And saying, aRepent ye: for the bkingdom of heaven cis at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet aEsaias, saying, The bvoice of one crying in the wilderness, cPrepare ye the way of the Lord, make his dpaths straight.

4 And the same John had his araiment of bcamel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was clocusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, aconfessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his abaptism, he said unto them, O bgeneration of vipers, who hath cwarned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 aBring forth therefore fruits bmeet for crepentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham ato our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which abringeth not forth good fruit is bhewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 aI indeed bbaptize you with water unto crepentance: but dhe that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not eworthy to bear: he shall fbaptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with gfire:

12 Whose afan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the bgarner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable cfire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be abaptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 aAnd Jesus answering said unto him, bSuffer it to be so now: for thus it cbecometh us to dfulfil all erighteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was abaptized, went up bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the cSpirit of God descending like a ddove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a avoice from heaven, saying, This is my bbeloved cSon, in whom I am well pleased.