1In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the desert area of Judea. He said,
2“Change your ways, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”
3This was the one the prophet Isaiah spoke about when he said, “The voice of someone shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”
4John himself wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan River went out to him.
6They confessed their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You group of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment?
8So prove your changed hearts by the way you live!
9Don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father,’ because I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
10The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11I baptize you with water to show you’ve changed your hearts. But the one coming after me is more powerful than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
12He has his winnowing fork in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn the husks with a fire that cannot be put out.”
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to John, to be baptized by him.
14But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me?”
15But Jesus answered him, “Allow it to happen now, because this is how we should fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him.
16After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and landing on him.
17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am very pleased.”