3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
3:2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
3:3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ [Isaiah 40:3]
3:4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River.
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
3:9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
3:10 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11 I baptise you with [Or in] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.
3:14 But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?
3:15 Jesus replied, Let it be so now it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness. Then John consented.
3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
3:17 And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love with him I am well pleased.