Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



from the baptism of John down to the day when he was taken up from us ??of these men one must join us as a witness to his resurrection." Verse ConceptsBeginning Of SalvationContemporary Witness To ChristChrist Is Risen

Then Jerusalem and the whole of Judaea and all the Jordan-district went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he noticed a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? read more.
Now, produce fruit that answers to your repentance,


Then Jesus came on the scene from Galilee, to get baptized by John at the Jordan. John tried to prevent him; "I need to get baptized by you," he said, "and you come to me!" But Jesus answered him, "Come now, this is how we should fulfil all our duty to God." Then John gave in to him. read more.
Now when Jesus had been baptized, the moment he rose out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove upon him.

Where did the baptism of John come from? From heaven or from men?" Now they argued to themselves, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' Verse ConceptsDiscussionsNot Believing PeopleGod Acts From HeavenWhy Do People Not Do This?Man's Teaching

and the whole of Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit." Now it was in those days that Jesus arrived from Nazaret in Galilee and got baptized in the Jordan by John. And the moment he rose from the water he saw the heavens cleft and the Spirit coming down upon him like a dove;

What about the baptism of John? Was it from heaven or from men?" Verse ConceptsMan's Teaching

To the crowds who came out to get baptized by him John said, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? Now, produce fruits that answer to your repentance, instead of beginning to say to yourselves, 'We have a father in Abraham.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

Taxgatherers also came to get baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what are we to do?" Verse ConceptsSinnersTeachablenessBaptised By JohnOne's Deeds

Show 13 more verses
Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened Verse ConceptsJohn The BaptistThe Act Of OpeningOpening HeavenBaptised By JohnChrist's BaptismJesus PrayingBaptismTrinity

(On hearing this all the people and the taxgatherers acknowledged the justice of God, as they had been baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and jurists, who had refused his baptism, frustrated God's purpose for themselves.)

did the baptism of John come from heaven or from men?" Verse ConceptsGod Acts From HeavenMan's TeachingBaptism

so they asked him, saying, "Then why are you baptizing people, if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" "I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize,

This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. Verse ConceptsBeyond JordanBaptism

I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." Verse ConceptsManifesting (making Something Clear)Messianic HopeWater For BaptismNot Knowing About ChristMaking Christ KnownSalvation For IsraelWhy It Happened

I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritSending Of The Holy SpiritMissionaries, Call OfPromises Of The Holy SpiritAbiding With GodGod Going DownWater For BaptismNot Knowing About Christ

John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, as there was plenty of water there, and people came to him and were baptized Verse ConceptsJohn's BaptismJohn The BaptistWater For BaptismBaptised By JohnBaptism

and went across the Jordan, back to the spot where John had baptized at first. There he stayed; Verse ConceptsJohn The Baptist


you know how it spread over the whole of Judaea, starting from Galilee after the baptism preached by John ??38 how God consecrated Jesus of Nazaret with the holy Spirit and power, and how he went about doing good and curing all who were harassed by the devil; for God was with him. Verse ConceptsTo The Jew First

and I remembered the saying of the Lord, that 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritJohn's BaptismBaptism, practice ofPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismRemembering ChristBaptism

"Then," said he, "what were you baptized in?" "In John's baptism," they replied. "John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus."


and I remembered the saying of the Lord, that 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritJohn's BaptismBaptism, practice ofPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismRemembering ChristBaptism

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, he will clean out his threshing-floor, his wheat he will gather into the granary, but the straw he will burn with fire unquenchable." Then Jesus came on the scene from Galilee, to get baptized by John at the Jordan. read more.
John tried to prevent him; "I need to get baptized by you," he said, "and you come to me!"

He announced, "After me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to stoop and untie the string of his sandals: I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit." Now it was in those days that Jesus arrived from Nazaret in Galilee and got baptized in the Jordan by John.

Now as people's expectations were roused and as everybody thought to himself about John, "Can he be the Christ," John said to them all, "I baptize you with water, but after me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to purge his threshing-floor, to gather the wheat into his granary and burn the straw with fire unquenchable." read more.
Thus with many another appeal he spoke his message to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife as well as for all the wickedness that he, Herod, had committed, crowned all by shutting John up in prison. Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened

Next day he observed Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, there is the lamb of God, who is to remove the sin of the world! That is he of whom I said, 'The man who is to succeed me has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.' I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." read more.
And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' Now I did see it, and I testify that he is the Son of God."

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.


and I remembered the saying of the Lord, that 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritJohn's BaptismBaptism, practice ofPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismRemembering ChristBaptism

In those days John the Baptist came on the scene, preaching in the desert of Judaea, "Repent, the Reign of heaven is near." (This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.') read more.
This John had his clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather girdle round his loins; his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and the whole of Judaea and all the Jordan-district went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he noticed a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? Now, produce fruit that answers to your repentance, instead of presuming to say to yourselves, 'We have a father in Abraham.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! The axe is lying all ready at the root of the trees; any tree that is not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.

He announced, "After me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to stoop and untie the string of his sandals: I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

John said to them all, "I baptize you with water, but after me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritBaptism, in the GospelsSending Of The Holy SpiritThe Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit,ShoesThe Holy Spirit, And SanctificationPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismUndoing FasteningsSymbols of the Holy Spirit

"I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandal." This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. read more.
Next day he observed Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, there is the lamb of God, who is to remove the sin of the world! That is he of whom I said, 'The man who is to succeed me has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.' I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' Now I did see it, and I testify that he is the Son of God."

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism

John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, as there was plenty of water there, and people came to him and were baptized Verse ConceptsJohn's BaptismJohn The BaptistWater For BaptismBaptised By JohnBaptism

before whose coming John had already preached a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. Verse ConceptsJohn's BaptismSigns Of Repentance

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism

Then Jerusalem and the whole of Judaea and all the Jordan-district went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he noticed a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? read more.
Now, produce fruit that answers to your repentance, instead of presuming to say to yourselves, 'We have a father in Abraham.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! The axe is lying all ready at the root of the trees; any tree that is not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, he will clean out his threshing-floor, his wheat he will gather into the granary, but the straw he will burn with fire unquenchable."


whom he asked, "Did you receive the holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they said, "we never even heard of its existence." "Then," said he, "what were you baptized in?" "In John's baptism," they replied. "John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." read more.
When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.

Let not your hearts be disquieted; you believe ??believe in God and also in me. In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, would I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you?

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism








You can recognize the Spirit of God by this: every spirit which confesses Jesus as the Christ incarnate comes from God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus [incarnate] does not come from God. This latter is the spirit of antichrist; you were told it was coming, and here it is already in the world.

Still, a number even of the authorities believed in him, though they would not confess it on account of the Pharisees, in case of being excommunicated; are relocated after vs 50] With these words Jesus went away and hid from them. they preferred the approval of men to the approval of God.

It is not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord!', who will get into the Realm of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me at that Day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? did we not cast out daemons in your name? did we not perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from my presence, you workers of iniquity.'

Everyone who will acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven; and whoever will disown me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

(John testified to him with the cry, 'This was he of whom I said, my successor has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.') For we have all been receiving grace after grace from his fulness; while the Law was given through Moses, grace and reality are ours through Jesus Christ. read more.
Nobody has ever seen God, but God has been unfolded by the divine One, the only Son, who lies upon the Father's breast.

(His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed him to be Christ should be excommunicated. That was why the man's parents said, "He is of age, ask himself.") So the man born blind was summoned a second time, and told, "Now give God the praise; this man, we know quite well, is only a sinner." read more.
To which he replied, "I do not know whether he is a sinner; one thing I do know, that once I was blind and now I can see." "What did he do to you?" they repeated; "How did he open your eyes?" He retorted, "I have told you that already, and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it over again? Do you want to be disciples of his?" Then they stormed at him: "You are his disciple, we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man replied to them, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes! God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will. It is unheard of, since the world began, that anyone should open a blind man's eyes. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They retorted, "And so you would teach us ??you, born in utter depravity!" Then they expelled him. Jesus heard that they had expelled him, and on meeting him he said, "You believe in the Son of man?" "Who is that, sir?" said the man, "tell me, that I may believe in him." "You have seen him," Jesus said, "he is talking to you." He said, "I do believe, Lord" ??and he worshipped him.

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Then Philip opened his lips, and starting from this scripture preached the gospel of Jesus to him. As they travelled on, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Here is water! What is to prevent me being baptized?" --

By the time Silas and Timotheus came south from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in this preaching of the word, arguing to the Jews that the messiah was Jesus. Verse ConceptsPreaching, Content OfPreaching, Importance OfPreaching ChristSaid To Be The ChristSalvation For IsraelSubsequent Witness To ChristNervousness

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,

Confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord,' believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved; for with his heart man believes and is justified, with his mouth he confesses and is saved. No one who believes in him, the scripture says, will ever be disappointed. No one ??12 for there is no distinction of Jew and Greek, the same Lord is Lord of them all, with ample for all who invoke him.



"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.

In our one body we have a number of members, and the members have not all the same function; so too, for all our numbers, we form one Body in Christ and we are severally members one of another. Our talents differ with the grace that is given us; if the talent is that of prophecy, let us employ it in proportion to our faith; read more.
if it is practical service, let us mind our service; the teacher must mind his teaching, the speaker his words of counsel; the contributor must be liberal, the superintendent must be in earnest, the sick visitor must be cheerful.

But I want you to understand about spiritual gifts, brothers. You know when you were pagans, how your impulses led you to dumb idols; so I tell you now, that no one is speaking in the Spirit of God when he cries, 'Cursed be Jesus,' and that no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except in the holy Spirit. read more.
There are varieties of talents, but the same Spirit; varieties of service, but the same Lord; varieties of effects, but the same God who effects everything in everyone. Each receives his manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. One man is granted words of wisdom by the Spirit, another words of knowledge by the same Spirit; one man in the same Spirit has the gift of faith, another in the one Spirit has gifts of healing; one has prophecy, another the gift of distinguishing spirits, another the gift of 'tongues' in their variety, another the gift of interpreting 'tongues.' But all these effects are produced by one and the same Spirit, apportioning them severally to each individual as he pleases.


and I remembered the saying of the Lord, that 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritJohn's BaptismBaptism, practice ofPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismRemembering ChristBaptism

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, he will clean out his threshing-floor, his wheat he will gather into the granary, but the straw he will burn with fire unquenchable." Then Jesus came on the scene from Galilee, to get baptized by John at the Jordan. read more.
John tried to prevent him; "I need to get baptized by you," he said, "and you come to me!"

He announced, "After me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to stoop and untie the string of his sandals: I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit." Now it was in those days that Jesus arrived from Nazaret in Galilee and got baptized in the Jordan by John.

Now as people's expectations were roused and as everybody thought to himself about John, "Can he be the Christ," John said to them all, "I baptize you with water, but after me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to purge his threshing-floor, to gather the wheat into his granary and burn the straw with fire unquenchable." read more.
Thus with many another appeal he spoke his message to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife as well as for all the wickedness that he, Herod, had committed, crowned all by shutting John up in prison. Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened

Next day he observed Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, there is the lamb of God, who is to remove the sin of the world! That is he of whom I said, 'The man who is to succeed me has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.' I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." read more.
And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' Now I did see it, and I testify that he is the Son of God."

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.



"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism





Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ [Jesus]. Verse ConceptsGood KissingKissingLove, For One AnotherAgape LoveFriendship And LoveLoving One AnotherBrothers Lovehugs

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism

Every valley shall be filled up, every hill and mound laid low, the crooked made straight, the rough roads smooth; so shall all flesh see the saving power of God.'

He replied, "Elijah to come and restore all things? Verse ConceptsRestoring Things

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Here I send my messenger before your face to prepare the way for you: the voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him' ??4 John appeared baptizing in the desert and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; and the whole of Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. read more.
John was dressed in camel's hair, with a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He announced, "After me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to stoop and untie the string of his sandals: I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, he will drink neither wine nor strong drink, he will be filled with the holy Spirit from his very birth; he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, he will go in front of Him with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make a people ready and prepared for the Lord."

And you, my child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go in front of the Lord to make his ways ready, to bring his people the knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins by the tender mercy of our God, who will make the Dawn visit us from on high, read more.
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our steps into the way of peace."

he came for the purpose of witnessing, to bear testimony to the Light, so that all men might believe by means of him. He was not the Light; it was to bear testimony to the Light that he appeared.


"Then who are you?" they said; "tell us, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one who cries in the desert, 'level the way for the Lord' ??as the prophet Isaiah said." Now it was some of the Pharisees who had been sent to him; read more.
so they asked him, saying, "Then why are you baptizing people, if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" "I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandal." This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' read more.
Now I did see it, and I testify that he is the Son of God."

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I have Another to bear testimony to me, and I know the evidence he bears for me is valid. You sent to John, and he bore testimony to the truth (though I accept no testimony from man ??I only speak of this testimony, that you may be saved); read more.
he was a burning and a shining lamp, and you chose to rejoice for a while in his light.

before whose coming John had already preached a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. And as John was closing his career he said, 'What do you take me for? I am not He; no, he is coming after me, and I am not fit to untie the sandals on his feet!'


and I remembered the saying of the Lord, that 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit.' Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritJohn's BaptismBaptism, practice ofPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismRemembering ChristBaptism

In those days John the Baptist came on the scene, preaching in the desert of Judaea, "Repent, the Reign of heaven is near." (This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.') read more.
This John had his clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather girdle round his loins; his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and the whole of Judaea and all the Jordan-district went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he noticed a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? Now, produce fruit that answers to your repentance, instead of presuming to say to yourselves, 'We have a father in Abraham.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! The axe is lying all ready at the root of the trees; any tree that is not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.

He announced, "After me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to stoop and untie the string of his sandals: I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

John said to them all, "I baptize you with water, but after me one who is mightier will come, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritBaptism, in the GospelsSending Of The Holy SpiritThe Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit,ShoesThe Holy Spirit, And SanctificationPromises Of The Holy SpiritWater For BaptismUndoing FasteningsSymbols of the Holy Spirit

"I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize, and I am not fit to untie the string of his sandal." This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. read more.
Next day he observed Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, there is the lamb of God, who is to remove the sin of the world! That is he of whom I said, 'The man who is to succeed me has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.' I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel." And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I myself did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, that is he who baptizes with the holy Spirit.' Now I did see it, and I testify that he is the Son of God."

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism

After spending some time there he went off on a journey right through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. There came to Ephesus a Jew called Apollos, who was a native of Alexandria, a man of culture, strong in his knowledge of the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and he preached and taught about Jesus with ardour and accuracy, though all the baptism he knew was that of John. read more.
In the synagogue he was very outspoken at first; but when Aquila and Priscilla listened to him, they took him home and explained more accurately to him what the Way of God really meant. As he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers wrote and urged the disciples there to give him a welcome. And on his arrival he proved of great service to those who by God's grace had believed, for he publicly refuted the Jews with might and main, showing from the scriptures that the messiah was Jesus. It was when Apollos was in Corinth that Paul, after passing through the inland districts, came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, whom he asked, "Did you receive the holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they said, "we never even heard of its existence." "Then," said he, "what were you baptized in?" "In John's baptism," they replied. "John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied. They numbered all together about twelve men. Then Paul entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out fearlessly, arguing and persuading people about the Reign of God. But as some grew stubborn and disobedient, decrying the Way in presence of the multitude, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued his argument every day from eleven to four in the lecture-room of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them. Some strolling Jewish exorcists also undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!" The seven sons of Sceuas, a Jewish high priest, used to do this. But the evil spirit retorted, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but you ??who are you?" And the man in whom the evil spirit resided leapt at them, overpowered them all, and belaboured them, till they rushed out of the house stripped and wounded. This came to the ears of all the inhabitants of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks; awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many believers would also come to confess and disclose their magic spells; and numbers who had practised magic arts collected their books and burned them in the presence of all. On adding up the value of them, it was found that they were worth two thousand pounds. Thus did the word of the Lord increase and prevail mightily. After these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must also visit Rome." So he despatched two of his assistants to Macedonia, Timotheus and Erastus, while he himself stayed on awhile in Asia. It was about that time that a great commotion arose over the Way. This was how it happened. By making silver shrines of Artemis a silversmith called Demetrius was the means of bringing rich profit to his workmen. So he got them together, along with the workmen who belonged to similar trades, and said to them: "My men, you know this trade is the source of our wealth. You also see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost all over Asia this fellow Paul has drawn off a considerable number of people by his persuasions. He declares that hand-made gods are not gods at all. Now the danger is not only that we will have our trade discredited but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will fall into contempt and that she will be degraded from her majestic glory, she whom all Asia and the wide world worship." When they heard this they were filled with rage and raised the cry, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" So the city was filled with confusion. They rushed like one man into the amphitheatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travelling with Paul. (Paul wanted to enter the popular assembly, but the disciples would not allow him. Some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, also sent to beg him not to venture into the amphitheatre.) Some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority had no idea why they had met. Some of the mob concluded it must be Alexander, as the Jews pushed him to the front. So Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to defend himself before the people; but when they discovered he was a Jew, a roar broke from them all, and for about two hours they shouted, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" The secretary of state then got the mob calmed down, and said to them, "Men of Ephesus, who on earth does not know that the city of Ephesus is Warden of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? All this is beyond question. So you should keep calm and do nothing reckless. Instead of that, you have brought these men here who are guilty neither of sacrilege nor of blasphemy against our goddess. If Demetrius and his fellow tradesmen have a grievance against anybody, let both parties state their charges; assizes are held and there are always the proconsuls. Any wider claim must be settled in the legal assembly of the citizens. Indeed there is a danger of our being charged with riot over to-day's meeting; there is not a single reason we can give for this disorderly gathering." With these words he dismissed the assembly. When the tumult had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them; he then took leave of them and went his way to Macedonia. After passing through the districts of Macedonia and encouraging the people at length, he came to Greece, where he spent three months. Just as he was on the point of sailing for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him. He therefore resolved to return through Macedonia. His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went on to wait for us at Troas, while we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we spent seven days. On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread; Paul addressed them, as he was to leave next day, and he prolonged his address till midnight (there were plenty of lamps in the upper room where we met). In the window sat a young man called Eutychus, and as Paul's address went on and on, he got overcome with drowsiness, went fast asleep, and fell from the third storey. He was picked up a corpse, but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate; finally, after conversing awhile with them till the dawn, he went away. As for the lad, they took him away alive, much to their relief. Now we had gone on beforehand to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was his own arrangement, for he intended to travel by land. So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and got to Mitylene. Sailing thence on the following day we arrived off Chios; next day we crossed over to Samos, and [after stopping at Trogyllium] we went on next day to Miletus. This was because Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, to avoid any loss of time in Asia; he wanted to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church. When they came to him, he said, "You know quite well how I lived among you all the time ever since I set foot in Asia, how I served the Lord in all humility, with many a tear and many a trial which I encountered owing to the plots of the Jews, how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, bearing my testimony, both to Jews and Greeks, of repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign. Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated. Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'" With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all. They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we made a straight run to Cos, next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara; as we found a ship there bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left, we sailed for Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload her cargo. We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home. By sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais we completed our voyage; we saluted the brothers, spent a day with them, and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven, and had four unmarried daughters who prophesied). We stayed with him. While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." After these days we packed up and started for Jerusalem,

After spending some time there he went off on a journey right through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. There came to Ephesus a Jew called Apollos, who was a native of Alexandria, a man of culture, strong in his knowledge of the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and he preached and taught about Jesus with ardour and accuracy, though all the baptism he knew was that of John. read more.
In the synagogue he was very outspoken at first; but when Aquila and Priscilla listened to him, they took him home and explained more accurately to him what the Way of God really meant. As he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers wrote and urged the disciples there to give him a welcome. And on his arrival he proved of great service to those who by God's grace had believed, for he publicly refuted the Jews with might and main, showing from the scriptures that the messiah was Jesus. It was when Apollos was in Corinth that Paul, after passing through the inland districts, came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, whom he asked, "Did you receive the holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they said, "we never even heard of its existence." "Then," said he, "what were you baptized in?" "In John's baptism," they replied. "John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they had themselves baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied. They numbered all together about twelve men. Then Paul entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out fearlessly, arguing and persuading people about the Reign of God. But as some grew stubborn and disobedient, decrying the Way in presence of the multitude, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued his argument every day from eleven to four in the lecture-room of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them. Some strolling Jewish exorcists also undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!" The seven sons of Sceuas, a Jewish high priest, used to do this. But the evil spirit retorted, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but you ??who are you?" And the man in whom the evil spirit resided leapt at them, overpowered them all, and belaboured them, till they rushed out of the house stripped and wounded. This came to the ears of all the inhabitants of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks; awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many believers would also come to confess and disclose their magic spells; and numbers who had practised magic arts collected their books and burned them in the presence of all. On adding up the value of them, it was found that they were worth two thousand pounds. Thus did the word of the Lord increase and prevail mightily. After these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must also visit Rome." So he despatched two of his assistants to Macedonia, Timotheus and Erastus, while he himself stayed on awhile in Asia. It was about that time that a great commotion arose over the Way. This was how it happened. By making silver shrines of Artemis a silversmith called Demetrius was the means of bringing rich profit to his workmen. So he got them together, along with the workmen who belonged to similar trades, and said to them: "My men, you know this trade is the source of our wealth. You also see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost all over Asia this fellow Paul has drawn off a considerable number of people by his persuasions. He declares that hand-made gods are not gods at all. Now the danger is not only that we will have our trade discredited but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will fall into contempt and that she will be degraded from her majestic glory, she whom all Asia and the wide world worship." When they heard this they were filled with rage and raised the cry, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" So the city was filled with confusion. They rushed like one man into the amphitheatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travelling with Paul. (Paul wanted to enter the popular assembly, but the disciples would not allow him. Some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, also sent to beg him not to venture into the amphitheatre.) Some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority had no idea why they had met. Some of the mob concluded it must be Alexander, as the Jews pushed him to the front. So Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to defend himself before the people; but when they discovered he was a Jew, a roar broke from them all, and for about two hours they shouted, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" The secretary of state then got the mob calmed down, and said to them, "Men of Ephesus, who on earth does not know that the city of Ephesus is Warden of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? All this is beyond question. So you should keep calm and do nothing reckless. Instead of that, you have brought these men here who are guilty neither of sacrilege nor of blasphemy against our goddess. If Demetrius and his fellow tradesmen have a grievance against anybody, let both parties state their charges; assizes are held and there are always the proconsuls. Any wider claim must be settled in the legal assembly of the citizens. Indeed there is a danger of our being charged with riot over to-day's meeting; there is not a single reason we can give for this disorderly gathering." With these words he dismissed the assembly. When the tumult had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them; he then took leave of them and went his way to Macedonia. After passing through the districts of Macedonia and encouraging the people at length, he came to Greece, where he spent three months. Just as he was on the point of sailing for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him. He therefore resolved to return through Macedonia. His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went on to wait for us at Troas, while we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we spent seven days. On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread; Paul addressed them, as he was to leave next day, and he prolonged his address till midnight (there were plenty of lamps in the upper room where we met). In the window sat a young man called Eutychus, and as Paul's address went on and on, he got overcome with drowsiness, went fast asleep, and fell from the third storey. He was picked up a corpse, but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate; finally, after conversing awhile with them till the dawn, he went away. As for the lad, they took him away alive, much to their relief. Now we had gone on beforehand to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was his own arrangement, for he intended to travel by land. So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and got to Mitylene. Sailing thence on the following day we arrived off Chios; next day we crossed over to Samos, and [after stopping at Trogyllium] we went on next day to Miletus. This was because Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, to avoid any loss of time in Asia; he wanted to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church. When they came to him, he said, "You know quite well how I lived among you all the time ever since I set foot in Asia, how I served the Lord in all humility, with many a tear and many a trial which I encountered owing to the plots of the Jews, how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, bearing my testimony, both to Jews and Greeks, of repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign. Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated. Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'" With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all. They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we made a straight run to Cos, next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara; as we found a ship there bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left, we sailed for Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload her cargo. We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home. By sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais we completed our voyage; we saluted the brothers, spent a day with them, and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven, and had four unmarried daughters who prophesied). We stayed with him. While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." After these days we packed up and started for Jerusalem,

In those days John the Baptist came on the scene, preaching in the desert of Judaea, "Repent, the Reign of heaven is near." (This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.') read more.
This John had his clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather girdle round his loins; his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and the whole of Judaea and all the Jordan-district went out to him and got baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he noticed a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the coming Wrath? Now, produce fruit that answers to your repentance, instead of presuming to say to yourselves, 'We have a father in Abraham.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! The axe is lying all ready at the root of the trees; any tree that is not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.

"John," said Paul, "baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse ConceptsFaith, Necessity OfJohn's BaptismBelieve In Christ!Signs Of RepentanceBaptism

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert; and he went into all the Jordan-district preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins ??4 as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.