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

¹ About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judea: ² "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." ³ This is he who was spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, where he says--'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight."'

⁴ John wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him ⁶ And were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? ⁸ Let your life, then, prove your repentance; ⁹ And do not think that you can say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! ¹⁰ Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but He who is Coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."

¹ The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ. ² It is said in the Prophet Isaiah--'Behold! I send my Messenger before thy face; He shall prepare thy way.' ³ 'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight."'

⁴ And in fulfillment of this, John the Baptizer appeared in the Wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ John was clad in clothing of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; ⁷ And he proclaimed--"There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene, ² And when Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests, a Command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness. ³ And John went through the whole district of the Jordan, proclaiming baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah--'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. ⁵ Every chasm shall be filled, Every mountain and hill shall be leveled, The winding ways shall be straightened, The rough roads made smooth, ⁶ And all mankind shall see the Salvation of God."'

⁷ And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? ⁸ Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! ⁹ Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

¹⁰ "What are we to do then?" the people asked.

¹¹ "Let the man who has two coats," answered John, "share with him who has none; and the man who has food do the same."

¹² Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John: "Teacher, what are we to do?"

¹³ "Do not collect more than you have authority to demand," John answered.

¹⁴ And when some soldiers on active service asked "And we--what are we to do?" he said: "Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay."

¹⁵ Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ, ¹⁶ John, addressing them all, said: "I, indeed, baptize you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing-fan is in his hand, that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire." ¹⁸ And so with many different exhortations John told his Good News to the people. ¹⁹ But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done, ²⁰ Crowned them all by shutting John up in prison.