Matthew 3:1-12 - John The Baptist Begins His Ministry

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

⁴ And the same John had his clothing of camel's hair and a leather girdle about his loins. And his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea went out to him, and all the region round about Jordan. ⁶ And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance; ⁹ and do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ And now also, the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire; ¹² whose fan is in His hand, and He will cleanse His floor and gather His wheat into the storehouse; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

¹ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God: ² as it is written in the Prophets, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You. ³ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

⁴ John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁵ And all the land of Judea, and those of Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a leather girdle about his loin. And he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he proclaimed, saying, There is One coming after me who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down to loosen. ⁸ I indeed have baptized you in water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

¹ And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the Trachonitus country, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene-- ² Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests-- the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the country around Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the book of the Words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. ⁵ Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth. ⁶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

⁷ Then he said to the crowd that came forth to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

¹⁰ And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

¹¹ He answered and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise.

¹² And tax-collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?

¹³ And he said to them, Continue to do no more than that commanded to you.

¹⁴ And the soldiers also asked of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not forcibly extort anyone, nor accuse any falsely. And be content with your wages.

¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, lest perhaps he was the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I comes, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire, ¹⁷ whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His storehouse. But He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. ¹⁸ And then indeed exhorting many things, he proclaimed the gospel to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch (being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done) ²⁰ added still this above all, that he even shut John up in prison.