Matthew 3:13-17

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John in order to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to prevent him, saying, "{I need} to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

15 But Jesus answered [and] said to him, "Permit [it] now, for in this way it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted him.

16 Now [after he] was baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water, and behold, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him.

17 And behold, [there was] a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Footnotes

• [a] *The imperfect verb is understood as conative ("tried to")
• [b] Literally "I have need"
• [c] *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [d] *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was baptized") which is understood as temporal
• [e] Some manuscripts have "opened to him"
• [f] Some manuscripts have "and coming"
• [g] The words "[there was]" are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete sentence in English