The Proclamation of John the Baptist
1 IN THE fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler [1] of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler [2] of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler [3] of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 John proclaiming, 5 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." [4]
6 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 7 The people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 8 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
9 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 10 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 11 Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 12 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
13 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 14 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 15 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 16 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 17 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
18 The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 19 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." [5] 20 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 21 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 22 He said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' "
23 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 24 They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, [6] nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 25 John answered them, "I baptize you with [7] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with [8] the Holy Spirit and fire. 26 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 27 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan.
The Baptism of Jesus
28 Then Jesus came from his home of Nazareth of Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 29 John saw him and would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 30 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 31 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 32 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, [9] with whom I am well pleased."
33 John declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 34 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 35 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." 36 And John testified, "37 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 38 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." [10]
