Matthew 3

₁In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, ₂and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ₃For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying,

₇But 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? ₈Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ₉and 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. ₁₀And 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. ₁₁I 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: ₁₂whose 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.

₁₃Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. ₁₄But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ₁₅And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. ₁₆And 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: ₁₇and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.