1Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” 3For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.’ ” 4Now John himself had his clothing made from camel’s hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan were going out to him, 6and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentence! 9And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 10Already now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I baptize you with water for repentence, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John in order to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, “˻I need˼ to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it now, for in this way it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted him. 16Now after he was baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water, and behold, the heavens opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. 17And behold, there was a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”