1 | In those days came John the Baptist , preaching in the wilderness of Judaea , |
2 | And saying , Repent ye : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . |
3 | For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias , saying , The voice of one crying in the wilderness , Prepare ye the way of the Lord , make his paths straight . |
4 | And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair , and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and his meat was locusts and wild honey . |
5 | Then went out to him Jerusalem , and all Judaea , and all the region round about Jordan , |
6 | And were baptized of him in Jordan , confessing their sins . |
7 | But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism , he said unto them , O generation of vipers , who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? |
8 | Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance : |
9 | And think not to say within yourselves , We have Abraham to [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 bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire . |
11 | I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance : but he that cometh after me is mightier than I , whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost , and [with] fire : |
12 | Whose fan [is] in his hand , and he will throughly purge his floor , and gather his wheat into the garner ; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire . |
13 | Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John , to be baptized of him . |
14 | But John forbad him, saying , I have need to be baptized of thee , and comest thou to me ? |
15 | And Jesus answering said unto him , Suffer [it to be so] now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness . Then he suffered him . |
16 | And Jesus , when he was baptized , went up straightway out of the water : and , lo , the heavens were opened unto him , and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove , and lighting upon him : |
17 | And lo a voice from heaven , saying , This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased . |