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

¹ Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ² and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh. ³ For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

⁴ And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan, ⁶ and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire; ¹² whose winnowing fan is in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

¹ Beginning of the glad tidings of Jesus Christ, Son of God; ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way. ³ Voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

⁴ There came John baptising in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. ⁵ And there went out to him all the district of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem, and were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ And John was clothed in camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, There comes he that is mightier than I after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not fit to stoop down and unloose. ⁸ I indeed have baptised you with water, but he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

¹ Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ² in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the district round the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. ⁵ Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked places shall become a straight path, and the rough places smooth ways, ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

⁷ He said therefore to the crowds which went out to be baptised by him, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ And already also the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him saying, What should we do then?

¹¹ And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.

¹² And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?

¹³ And he said to them, Take no more money than what is appointed to you.

¹⁴ And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying, And we, what should we do? And he said to them, Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay.

¹⁵ But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered all, saying, I indeed baptise you with water, but the mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not fit to unloose; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire; ¹⁷ whose winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. ¹⁸ Exhorting then many other things also he announced his glad tidings to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him as to Herodias, the wife of his brother, and as to all the wicked things which Herod had done, ²⁰ added this also to all the rest, that he shut up John in prison.