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

¹ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ² saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³ For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"

⁴ And John himself had his raiment of camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country about the Jordan; ⁶ and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ And already is the axe lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that beareth not good fruit is to be cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you in water, for repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹² His winnowingshovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshingfloor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

¹ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ; ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Lo! I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way;" ³ "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"

⁴ John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁵ And there went out to him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ And John was clothed with camels hair, and with a leathern girdle about his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

¹ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ² when Annas and Caiaphas were highpriests, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths! ⁵ Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that came forth to be baptized by him, Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ And already also is the axe lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that beareth not good fruit is to be cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹⁰ And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?

¹¹ He answered and said to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

¹² And there came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what must we do?

¹³ And he said to them, Exact no more than hath been ordered you.

¹⁴ And soldiers also asked him, saying, And what must we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no one, accuse no one falsely, and be content with your wages.

¹⁵ And while the people were in expectation, and all were considering in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered and said to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹⁷ His winnowingshovel is in his hand to thoroughly cleanse his threshingfloor, and gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. ¹⁸ And giving many other exhortations he published the glad tidings to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias the wife of his brother, and on account of all the evil deeds which Herod had done, ²⁰ added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.