Matthew:3

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* About this time John the Baptist made his appearance , preaching in the Desert of Judaea . * »Repent ,« he said , »for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand .« * He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said , * This man John wore a garment of camel 's hair , and a loincloth of leather ; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey . * Then large numbers of people went out to him –people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea , and from the whole of the Jordan valley – * and were baptized by him in the Jordan , making full confession of their sins . * But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism , he exclaimed , `O vipers ' brood , who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath ? * Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart ; * and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves , `We have Abraham as our forefather ,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones . * And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees , so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire . * I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance ; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I : His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment ; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire . * His winnowing-shovel is in His hand , and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor , gathering His wheat into the storehouse , but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire .« * Just at that time Jesus , coming from Galilee to the Jordan , presents Himself to John to be baptized by him . * John protested . »It is I ,« he said , »who have need to be baptized by you , and do you come to me ?« * »Let it be so on this occasion ,« Jesus replied ; »for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty .« Then he consented ; * and Jesus was baptized , and immediately went up from the water . At that moment the heavens opened , and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him , * while a voice came from Heaven , saying , »This is My Son , the dearly loved , in whom is My delight .«

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