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Matthew 3
From the Blue Letter Bible

New American Standard Bible
CHAPTER 3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
1 Now
in those
days
John
the Baptist
[!] came
,
preaching
in the wilderness
of Judea
, saying
,
2 "Repent
, for the kingdom
of heaven
is at hand
."
3 For this
is the one referred
to
by Isaiah
the prophet
when he said
,
"THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
4 Now
John
himself
had
a garment
of camel's
hair
and a leather
belt
around
his waist
; and his food
was locusts
and wild
honey
.
5 Then
Jerusalem
was going
out to him, and all
Judea
and all
the district
around
the Jordan
;
6 and they were being baptized
by him in the Jordan
River
, as they confessed
their sins
.
7 But when he saw
many
of the Pharisees
and Sadducees
coming
for baptism
, he said
to them, "You brood
of vipers
, who
warned
you to flee
from the wrath
to come
?
8 Therefore
bear
fruit
in keeping
with repentance
;
9 and do not suppose
that you can say
to yourselves
, 'We have
Abraham
for our father
'; for I say
to you that from these
stones
God
is able
to raise
up children
to Abraham
.
10 The axe
is already
laid
at the root
of the trees
; therefore
every
tree
that does not bear
good
fruit
is cut
down
and thrown
into the fire
.
11 "As for me, I baptize
you
with water
for repentance
, but He who is coming
after
me is mightier
than I, and I am
not fit
to remove
His sandals
; He will baptize
you
with the Holy
Spirit
and fire
.
12 His winnowing
fork
is in His hand
, and He will thoroughly
clear
His threshing
floor
; and He will gather
His wheat
into the barn
, but He will burn
up the chaff
with unquenchable
fire
."
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then
Jesus
[!] arrived
from Galilee
at the Jordan
coming to John
, to be baptized
by him.
14 But John
tried to prevent
Him, saying
, "I have
need
to be baptized
by You, and do You come
to me?"
15 But Jesus
answering
said
to him,
"Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then
he
[!] permitted
Him.
16 After being baptized
, Jesus
came
up immediately
from the water
; and behold
, the heavens
were opened
, and
he saw
the Spirit
of God
descending
as a dove
and lighting
on Him,
17 and behold
, a voice
out of the heavens
said
, "This
is
My beloved
Son
, in whom
I am
well-pleased
."
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New American Standard Bible
Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
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